M2, L8 Common UAS Configuration-Rotary Wing Flight

Common UAS Configuration- Rotary Wing Flight

Common UAS Configuration- Rotary Wing Flight

Lift is generated from a rotating wing called a rotor. A motor or engine drives a rotor through the air in a circular motion and if the RPM of the rotor and the AOA of the rotor blades are at the proper angle, the rotor produces lift. 

Multiple Select

Select two advantages of a rotary-wing UAS.

• They are capable of VTOL and hovering flight operations

• They can perform aerial tasks in where is limited space for takeoff and landing operations

• They have a longer flight and on- station mission duration

• They require less energy than fixed-wing aircraft

Rotary-wing aircraft must have at least two rotors to provide stability and control and fall into two categories.

Multiple Select

Which are the two categories of rotary-wing aircraft?

• Helicopters

• Multi-rotor

• Fixed-wing

• VTOL

Helicopters generally have a single primary lifting rotor and two or more blades where the AOA of each can be controlled individually or collectively. 

Multiple Select

Select two disadvantages of helicopters.

• Not capable of carrying heavy payloads

• Power required by the rotor to counteract the torque of the main rotor makes it less efficient than rotary-wing UAS

• The main rotor blade moves very fast and creates a hazard

To increase the payload capacity of a multirotor vehicle, an even number of rotors that alternate in direction can be added to the arms of the vehicle. 

Multiple Choice

How do these additional rotors help in the event of a motor/rotor failure?

• They add a level of propulsion and vehicle redundancy

• They allow the vehicle to fly higher and avoid crashing into objects

• The enable the vehicle to return to home quickly

A tri-copter is a multi-rotor with only three sets of lifting rotors. Movement is generated by a tail rotor that pivots laterally and uses a servo to change the lift vector to control the yaw axis of the vehicle. 

Multiple Choice

Why are tri-copters less efficient than multi-rotor vehicles with an even number of rotors?

• Because they have to use special power systems.

• Because they have to use a vectored thrust to control yaw.

• Tri-copters and multi-rotor vehicles with an even number of rotors are equally efficient.