Svetoslav Zabunov, Garo Mardirossian and Katia Strelnitski
The current manuscript aims to propose a novel multirotor design.
Abstract
Purpose
The current manuscript aims to propose a novel multirotor design.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper presents a novel 16-rotor multicopter design named Emerald. The novel design innovations and benefits are disclosed. Comparison to existing 16-rotor designs is carried out. Implementation areas where the novel idea shall yield benefit are discussed. A prototype of the presented design is described.
Findings
The herein proposed 16-rotor design has a number of benefits over existing 16-rotor multicopters. The paper elaborates on those advantages.
Research limitations/implications
The research was limited to prototype testing, as the presented design is a novel concept.
Practical implications
The motivation to research and develop this novel design is implementing the vehicle for stereoscopic photography and reconnaissance. The design is also applicable to carrying payloads while flying indoors.
Details
Keywords
Svetoslav Zabunov and Roumen Nedkov
This paper aims to reveal the authors’ conceptual and experimental work on an innovative avionics paradigm for small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to reveal the authors’ conceptual and experimental work on an innovative avionics paradigm for small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Design/methodology/approach
This novel approach stipulates that, rather than being centralized at the autopilot, control of avionics devices is instead distributed among controllers – spread over the airframe span, in response to avionics devices’ natural location requirements. The latter controllers are herein referred to as edge controllers by the first author.
Findings
The edge controller manifests increased efficiency in a number of functions, some of which are unburdened from the autopilot. The edge controller establishes a new paradigm of structure and design of small UAVs avionics such that any functionality related to the periphery of the airframe is implemented in the controller.
Research limitations/implications
The research encompasses a workbench prototype testing on a breadboard, as the presented idea is a novel concept. Further, another test has been conducted with four controllers mounted on a quadcopter; results from the vertical attitude sustenance are disclosed herein.
Practical implications
The motivation behind developing this paradigm was the need to position certain avionics devices at different locations on the airframe. Due to their inherent functional requirements, most of these devices have hitherto been placed at the periphery of the aircraft construction.
Originality/value
The current paper describes the novel avionics paradigm, compares it to the standard approach and further reveals two experimental setups with testing results.
Details
Keywords
Svetoslav Zabunov and Garo Mardirossian
The purpose of this paper is to disclose a novel reconfiguration battery design suitable for electrically powered UAVs.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to disclose a novel reconfiguration battery design suitable for electrically powered UAVs.
Design/methodology/approach
A design of a reconfigurable battery module is presented. Test setup with prototype battery module is developed and described. Test results of measurements are shown and discussed.
Findings
The results ascertain the benefits of implementing a reconfigurable battery in small electrically powered UAVs and specifically prove the efficiency of the proposed design.
Originality/value
The proposed novel design is compared to previous work while advances from the latter and the gained advantages were established.