ORCID Identifier(s)

0000-0003-3952-3776

Graduation Semester and Year

2019

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering

Department

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

First Advisor

Kamesh Subbarao

Abstract

Unmanned vehicles are the future. The aim of the future online retailers, delivery and transportation companies would be air delivery using unmanned aerial vehicles. Multicopters are becoming rapidly famous because they o er a relatively easy-to-fly platform that is also very stable, and their mechanical simplicity. The possibility of estimating the weight of the multicopter in real time is really useful. A weight estimation system that could be implemented in multicopters with cable suspended payloads without using any extra sensors is presented in this thesis. The weight estimation system uses a functional relationship that correlates Pulse Position Modulation (PPM) signal and the battery voltage with the thrust produced. Monitoring PPM signal and the battery voltage the total thrust produced is estimated. Total weight is equal to total thrust when the multicopter is flying in hover. Thrust, current drawn, power consumption, efficiency and RPM of the motors are also a function of PPM signal and the battery voltage. The estimation system was enhanced, extending its capability to estimate these performance parameters. A test bench was designed and built to conduct different experiments. As a result of these experiments and further data processing functional relationship that correlates PPM signal and the battery voltage with thrust, current drawn, power consumption, efficiency and RPM was obtained. The estimation system was tested and validated. Finally, the test bench was used to test different ESC-Motors-Propeller combinations and compare their performance in terms of thrust, current drawn, power consumption, efficiency, RPM and motor temperature.

Keywords

Payload weight estimation, Multicopter, Quadcopter, Payload estimation

Disciplines

Aerospace Engineering | Engineering | Mechanical Engineering

Comments

Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington

29176-2.zip (10249 kB)

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