Abstract
The hovering in ground effect (IGE) of a quadcopter is investigated numerically in terms of flow patterns and aerodynamic characteristics with two different rotor configurations with two different rotor-to-rotor distances. A model of variable-pitch-controlled rotors revealed complicated outwash flow patterns around the quadcopter, showing a pronounced directivity, particularly when the rotor-to-rotor distance was shortened. A narrow and intense outwash (jet) region formed between the rotors. A similar outwash pattern was also found in the diagonal plane. Our results further show that the rotor configuration effect on the aerodynamic performance of the quadcopter can vary significantly with changes in altitude from the ground. Moreover, the rotor configuration with a short rotor-to-rotor distance displayed a relationship between aerodynamic characteristics and altitude that was similar to that of a single rotor.
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Acknowledgements
This study was financially supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant No. JP19H02344 as part of research on the “Enhancement of safety of manned and unmanned multi-rotor aircraft and assessment of influences to surroundings.”
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Yonezawa, K. et al. (2023). Numerical Investigations of Ground Effect of a Quadcopter. In: Lee, S., Han, C., Choi, JY., Kim, S., Kim, J.H. (eds) The Proceedings of the 2021 Asia-Pacific International Symposium on Aerospace Technology (APISAT 2021), Volume 1. APISAT 2021. Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering, vol 912. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-2689-1_57
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-2689-1_57
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