Propulsion Systems
What makes aircraft go, and how to make it better: electric and hybrid propulsion for drones and planes, micro jet engine study and testing, efficiency measurements on small engines, and quieter propellers.
About this project
The core tool of this track is a thrust test stand: a load cell, a current and voltage sensor and a tachometer logged together, so a motor, propeller and battery can be compared on numbers instead of guesswork. The same rig measures efficiency and, with a sound meter, noise.
Micro jet engines are studied through their thermodynamics and through commercially made model turbines, tested only under supervision and with proper safety measures. Hybrid propulsion starts as a design study.
What the team is working on
- Design electric and hybrid propulsion setups for drones and planes, matching motor, propeller and battery
- Study micro jet engine design and test a model turbine under supervision
- Measure the efficiency of small motors and engines on a thrust test stand (thrust per watt)
- Reduce propeller noise by testing blade count, shape and tip speed
Tools and technologies
- Thrust test stand
- Load cell + HX711
- BLDC motors & ESCs
- eCalc
- Propeller design
- Arduino data logging
- Thermodynamics
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