Work

Investigation of Aerodynamic Interference Between Vertically Aligned Quadcopters at Varying Rotor Speeds and Separations

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: With the rapid proliferation of drone applications, multi-UAV formation flights are becoming increasingly prevalent. While most existing studies focus on the aerodynamics of a single drone, aerodynamic interactions within UAV formations—particularly in close-proximity hovering configurations—remain inadequately understood. This study employs computational fluid dynamics simulations to investigate the aerodynamic interactions between two hovering quadcopters at vertical distances of 1 m and 0.5 m, operating under different RPMs. The results indicate that, when the two quadrotors are spaced 1 m apart, increasing RPM enhances the downward airflow from the upper quadcopter, which benefits the lower quadcopter. When the vertical spacing is reduced to 0.5 m, the aerodynamic interaction between the UAVs becomes more pronounced. This configuration can be advantageous if the drones remain perfectly aligned at lower RPMs. However, at higher RPMs, especially above 5000, the intensified vortices disturb the lower UAV, causing destabilization. Additionally, the reduced spacing amplifies the downwash effect, increasing the risk of collisions and loss of control. This work highlights the importance of managing the spacing and RPMs of drone pairs to optimize performance and ensure stability in multiple drone formations.

Source: Drones

DOI: 10.3390/drones9100712

Authors: Khan Muhammad Arslan, Liangyu Zhao, Kuiju Xue

Institutions: Beijing Institute of Technology, Tianjin University of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Aerospace and Aviation Technology

Subfield: Aerospace Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137

Funder: National Natural Science Foundation of China