Ducted VTOL RC Aircraft
Pushing the limits of aerodynamic control systems
Ring vs. Swing
Brainstorming a bespoke RC aircraft concept
Having flown RC aircraft as a kid and looking for a fun technical challenge, I decided I wanted to create an RC aircraft with a unique control system based on physics principals not typically leveraged in aviation.
I ultimately decided on the ducted, ring-shaped concept since it has not been researched or developed as extensively by others, and also because it would require a stronger emphasis on programming the flight computer.
Is it Possible?
Before buying parts or investing lots of time in the design phase, I used AI to help me ball park the physics of this unique system. Main considerations were the lift I could expect from a ring shaped wing, how much it might end up weighing, and the thrust I’d require to achieve not only lift off, but horizontal flight.
I am now in the second phase of this step, building test stands with load cells and an Arduino to see how close my prototypes are to my original expectations
The Spins
Counteracting rotational reaction forces
Once I began prototyping and did my first couple test flights, I realized how much I would need to correct for the angular reaction force caused by the propellor. I corrected for this with fins, since due to the ducted nature of the aircraft, any moments imparted by the propellor are reacted by the air which is being pushed through the duct. This means if you can straighten out this air before it leaves the aircraft, it will undo its own reaction and keep the aircraft more stable.
Tied Down Testing
During my initial tests I found that applying acceleration very quickly helped keep the aircraft more stable (in comparison to slowly ramping up the throttle). With this in mind, I decided to do some testing with the aircraft tied down with a rope so I could apply full throttle without concern of it flying away or damaging itself too badly.
Integrating Controls
*Current Project Status
This is the current status of the project. I’m working on designing control surfaces in CAD and soldering my flight computer so I can begin programming. I’m excited for this phase now that I have a solid base product and am ready to optimize!