[Quadcopter] Status Update / Progress!

[Christopher Tuckwood]

Thanks, Dan. I've found a few online calculators that have been useful too.
I'll check out the one linked in your spreadsheet later as I'm not able to
access it at work.

I'll be doing a fair bit of guessing as well with regard to both the
prop-and-motor combo (I'm resisting the urge to just assume that bigger is
better) and the right balance between battery capacity and weight. Does
anyone else have thoughts on either aspect?

On Fri, Mar 9, 2012 at 12:58 PM, Dan Fraser <dfraser at capybara.org> wrote:

> **
>
> From what I've seen, the motor and prop really work closely together as a
> system. I'm not sure of the physics or calculations behind it, so I'm
> choosing based on anecdotal evidence that the choices work.  Certain props
> are most efficient at certain rpm ranges, and there may be other factors...
>
> There are a bunch of online calculators (one is linked off my spreadsheet)
> that will help you calculate how much power the motor will draw, etc.  You
> can also do it experimentally with a wattmeter and a scale, I gather.
>
> As far as maximizing flight time, I guess you need a motor and prop combo
> that will get the most thrust with the least amount of power loss, and then
> make sure you size your speed controllers and power systems so that is
> achieved in the most efficient pwm band (most ESCs vary in efficiency at
> different throttle levels).
>
> Then you have to optimize the battery capacity vs weight.
>
> Lots of physics and calculus to get it all right. :)  I'm not much of a
> math guy so I'm doing a lot of guessing.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Dan
>



-- 
CHRISTOPHER TUCKWOOD | Executive Director
chris at thesentinelproject.org | +1 (647) 222-8821

The Sentinel Project for Genocide Prevention
www.thesentinelproject.org
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