Multi-Engine Helicopter Flight Dynamics And Modeling: An Introduction NASA Space Grant Undergraduate Research Symposium Pima Community College 4/12/14.

Multi-Engine Helicopter Flight Dynamics And Modeling: An Introduction

NASA Space Grant Undergraduate Research Symposium

Pima Community College4/12/14

Team Members

• Nick Patzke

• Gustavo Guerreo

• Nick Morris

Overview• Mission and Motivation

• What is a Quadcopter?

• Quadcopter Flight Dynamics

• Principles of Flight

• Variables of Flight

• Modeling Quadcopter Flight

• Why Models Are Important

• Conclusions

• Summary

• Questions

• I ask that you please hold all questions until the end

Our Mission and Motivation

• Apply physics and engineering concepts to optimize flight performance and model the flight of a quadcopter.

• Design and manufacture a UAV capable of:• Spanning sections of the Grand Canyon• Capturing Still Photos and HD Video• Expanding onboard sensors

• Test the feasibility of UAV systems for: • Remote or inaccessible location monitoring• Topographical style mapping

What is a Quadcopter?

• A Quadcopter is a type of aircraft that derives lift and propulsion from four sets of horizontally revolving rotors. (Google.com, revised definition)

Helicopter vs. Quadcopter

• How quadcopters fly compared to their single rotor counterpart• Anti-torque

• The advantages of quadcopters

Principles of Flight

We rely on a solid foundation of the following to allow us to understand the flight of these machines:

- Newtonian Mechanics- Bernoulli’ Principle - Fluid Dynamics

Isaac Newton (www.news.discovery.com)

Daniel Bernoulli (www.energyvanguard.com)

Giant Quadcopter Micro Quadcopter

Mountain Quadcopter H20 Quadcopter

• Variables:– Elevation of quad-copter (ft.)– Temperature (T)– Air Density (ρ)– Humidity level – Angle of Attack (axis of quad-copter) (Φ)– Speed (v)– Wind vector

• Fixed Parameters (per motor)– Lift coefficient (CL)

– Drag coefficient (CD)

– Angle of Attack (of propeller blades) (Ɵ)– Surface Area (s)

Variables That Define Flight Dynamics

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Matrix

A1 A2 A3 A4 A5

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5

C1 C2 C3 C4 C5

D1 D2 D3 D4 D5

?

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Basic Steps of Modeling• Step 1: Identify the system to be modeled

• Modeling is used to ensure the safety of an operation. It aims to reduce the level of risk by predicting future courses of events.

• Step 2: Define all the variables that effect the model• Shown on previous slide

• Step 3: Define the boundaries of the model• Step 4: Construct Model

• Either base a model off of fundamental theory, then collect data and correct as necessary OR collect as much data as possible and piece together a model based on the data gathered.

• Step 5: Test the Model

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Step 3: Define the BoundariesModeling as a Function of Altitude:

- There are three levels to look at in which the model of our aircraft drastically changes.

• High Altitude (Above)

• First stabilization point (Right)

• Ground hover (Below)

Which would I choose? Why?

Air Circulation Across a Rotor:

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Here we can see the difference in the air circulation when a helicopter is in ground effect (right) and out of ground effect (left). Notice the tips of the propellers.

Air Circulation Across a Rotor:

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BibliographyPrinciples of Helicopter Flight, Second Edition, W.J. Wagtendonk

GOOGLE Search EnginePictures:

•1. Big Quadcopter - Naza M. - www.coptercraft.com

•2. Small Quadcopter - Nathan Hurst - www.wired.com

•5. Video Quadcopter - Steve Lodefink - www.flickr.com

•6. Wood - 3D Printed Vampire Quadcopter - www.3ders.org

•7. Grass - XAIRCRAFT X650 QUADCOPTER - www.infmetry.com

• 8. Snow - microdrones GmbH - www.uasvision.com

• 9. Water - Jeffrey Hartog - www.makezine.com

• 10. Desert - Blade 350 QX Quadcopter - www.coolhunting.com

• 12. Quadcopter Sketch - roman01la - www.youtube.com

• 13. Helicopter air circulation patterns - www.faasafety.gov

• 14. Diagram - FabQuad - www.aeroquad.com

• 15. Helicopter Sketch - Jimi Brown - www.coroflot.com

• 16. Isaac Newton - www.news.discovery.com

• 17. Daniel Bernoulli - www.energyvanguard.com

• 18. Lift Formula - www.ppl-flight-training.com

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AcknowledgementsA HUGE thanks to the following for offering this opportunity!:

Jack Crabtree and ANSR

Susan Brew, University of Arizona

Arizona NASA Space Grant

Prof. Mike Sampogna

Dr. Denise Meeks

QUESTIONS?

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The hard part is yet to come as we prepare the quadcopter for flight and start collecting data as we work towards a model.