Efficient sizing and optimization of multirotor drones based on scaling laws and similarity models

Abstract

In contrast to the current overall aircraft design techniques, the design of multirotor vehicles generally consists of skill-based selection procedures or is based on pure empirical approaches. The application of a systemic approach provides better design performance and the possibility to rapidly assess the effect of changes in the requirements. This paper proposes a generic and efficient sizing methodology for electric multirotor vehicles which allows to optimize a configuration for different missions and requirements. Starting from a set of algebraic equations based on scaling laws and similarity models, the optimization problem representing the sizing can be formulated in many manners. The proposed methodology shows a significant reduction in the number of function evaluations in the optimization process due to a thorough suppression of inequality constraints when compared to initial problem formulation. The results are validated by comparison to characteristics of existing multirotors. In addition, performance predictions of these configurations are performed for different flight scenarios and payloads.

Impact of UAV Hardware Options on Bridge Inspection Mission Capabilities

“…UAV hardware optimization is an efficient way to create a UAV configuration with mission-specific hardware capacities instead of using an off-the-shelf UAV. Overall geometry optimization has been conducted by S.Delbecq et al [88] and Xunhua Dai et al [89] using a sizing methodology that can provide the optimal UAV configuration based on the mission requirements such as payload capacity, endurance, and altitude.…”

Trajectory and design optimization of multirotor drones with system simulation

“…The overall sizing model has been adapted from [4] which is tailored for vertical flight applications of multirotor drones. The formulation proposed in [4] and illustrated in Figure 4 uses the Normalized Variable Hybrid formulation proposed in [9].…”

“…The overall sizing model has been adapted from [4] which is tailored for vertical flight applications of multirotor drones. The formulation proposed in [4] and illustrated in Figure 4 uses the Normalized Variable Hybrid formulation proposed in [9]. This formulation is very efficient regarding computational cost and robustness to scale change and thus has been chosen for the lifting and handling system case study.…”

“…If a wide range of applications is sought such as for consumer multirotor drones, the vehicle design is performed for a given maximum forward flight speed and such that the the hovering time or range in forward flight is maximized [1]. The analysis [2] and design optimization [3,4] of multirotor drones have been thoroughly achieved for such requirements. For specific applications, the vehicle design may consider a specific mission for which the vehicle is tailored perfectly resulting in optimized mass and cost but limited usage.…”

Mission Oriented Multi-Prop UAV Analysis Using Statistical Design Trends

“…Sizing and analysis of Multi-Prop/rotor UAVs are documented in the literature, see for example, Refs. [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14].…”