Design and build a flying surveillance platform with coaxial counter-rotating rotors

The design and build of a flying surveillance platform

with coaxial counter-rotating rotors

Maziar Arjomandi

Stephen James J. Bell, Leon Wai-Tong W. Bennett, Mathew Peter P. Borgas, Kemuel James J. Kitto, Jeremy James J. Mellor, Steven Mark M. Parker and Samuel Randell

(Commenced: 01-Jan-2008, Concluded: 30-Nov-2008 )

Maziar Arjomandi

Stephen James J. Bell

Leon Wai-Tong W. Bennett

Mathew Peter P. Borgas

Kemuel James J. Kitto

Jeremy James J. Mellor

Steven Mark M. Parker

Samuel Randell

$C:\Users\Red\Documents\Uni\Eyesore\CAESAR photo shoot\CAESAR photo shoot 030.JPG$ The Coaxial Counter-Rotating Flying Platform was a Final Year Honours Project developed by seven students from the Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Adelaide. The project involved the design, manufacture and testing of such an aerial platform. The platform, nicknamed CÆSAR (Coaxial AErial Semi-Autonomous Rotorcraft), is aimed to be an innovative rotorcraft that could hover, fly and carry a significant payload.

The preliminary design involved developing an optimal configuration for the platform using statistical review, literature review and comprehensive theoretical analysis. The result of the conceptual design was a craft that utilised coaxial rotors above the airframe and incorporated a safety ring. In addition, it was decided that the platform would be powered electrically with control inputs given to the lower rotors via a swash plate. A detailed analysis of this concept followed, which involved designing, analysing and developing main components of the drive train, airframe, rotor assembly, rotor blades, control system, landing gear and safety ring.

Manufactured components primarily included the airframe, swash plate, landing gear and safety ring structure. Other components such as the batteries, motors, rotor blades, bearings and gears were selected based on their applicability. Assembly of the overall structure involved a quality control check and cost, weight and centre of gravity analysis. Testing of the platform concerned tuning the thrust and yaw capabilities and an analysis and comparison with theoretical calculations. Modifications of the main airframe and other components followed as some testing resulted in unforeseen implications. A tethered hover test revealed that the platform was capable of flight and that thrust, yaw, roll and pitch were controllable. Achieving this meant that the design goals of the platform were realised.

The project group managed to realise its main objectives that were set in the project specification, however were able to recognise that some extended goals were particularly ambitious. Regular organised group meetings and a thorough management system of manufacturing, cost and time allocation allowed the project to be successful in achieving its desired outcomes. The project was successful in achieving a prize at the Adelaide University Mechanical Engineering Final Year Exhibition for Best Project with Defence Potential.

Project Sponsors

· Sir Ross & Sir Keith Smith Fund

· Marino Uniforms

· Model Flight

Project Deliverables

Presentation

Final Report

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