Hackaday · Creativity & design

Radial Impeller Design Explored for Quadcopters

While propellers are standard for quadcopters, alternative designs like radial impellers are being explored for different flight characteristics.

A new radial impeller design, a departure from traditional axial propellers, has been developed for quadcopter drones. This design is a modification of an existing concept to fit a specific motor.

A significant drawback of these 3D-printed PETG impellers is their increased weight compared to standard propellers. The drone with impellers weighs 189 grams, versus 141 grams with three-bladed propellers, resulting in an additional 12.8 grams per impeller.

This added weight directly impacts flight time, reducing it. However, the impeller design offers a more pleasant noise profile and potentially greater robustness, similar to propeller guards on novice drones.

Despite potential benefits, the increased mass leads to higher inertia, and the larger surface area creates more drag. Consequently, standard three-blade propellers appear to offer superior performance in terms of agility, even with the impeller design demonstrating impressive maneuvers.

AI-samenvatting op basis van de bron.