NanoPhan - Thrust Vectoring Nano Single Copter

[VAALLEON]

This is my Thanksgiving project:

It is a tiny thrust vectoring nano single copter: Nano-Phan.

Only 102grams with a 40mm amazingly smooth fan.

It took me a while but started making progress. This video shows some indoors tests. Still testing it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8yW7T_xlWo

The C rating of my batteries didn't handle it so will order some high C batteries for some longer flights. Will also work on working on making it a little lighter.

Thanks for watching!

 

[VAALLEON]

I redesigned the unit to accommodate a disc shaped fuselage.

Smaller unit is a big challenge to successfully balance in the air. Currently the servos are compensating at a very high rate. Disc shape is not something that I tested before. I am a little concerned about the aerodynamics of the forward flight.

Got high discharge batteries. Hoping to test it successfully, finalize PID and re-create a nano version of the Avrocar.

I'll post some videos if I successful.

Thanks for checking!

 

[VAALLEON]

The avrocar project hasn't been very successful with the initial design. There was something very wrong with center of gravity that needed to be addressed. I couldn't eliminate the toilet bowl effect with my existing and new solutions that I tried.

Made a revision on the body to fix the center of gravity problem. Flies way better now and the toilet bowl effect was reduced. However, it didn't disappear. Below videos is an outdoors test, which started good but didn't end very well, with the unit losing the flight capability with a fatal wobbling.

Damage was minimal and the unit is fixed. Next step is switching from 1 battery to 2 batteries, increasing the weight and therefore increasing the effectiveness of the thrust vectoring.

All challenges resulting from the characteristics of this unique design is being magnified as the size goes smaller

Great experience to learn the limits of the design!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1IPxzkwXHw&feature=youtu.be

 

[VAALLEON]

NanoPhan Rocks!!!

The new battery configuration made a huge positive difference, combined with the longer fan body.

I also upgraded the ESC by adding a mini heatsink on it, to handle the extra weight (originally it is a superlight multirotor ESC ).

Even though I built this for indoors, I felt comfortable enough to test it outdoors. There is a slight steady wind but it didn’t stop me. This is only a balance and flight time test and I just kept hovering against a headwind but I felt comfortable enough to take it around the park if I wanted.

The flight time is a whopping +3 minutes!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ic9W3mitkDE&feature=youtu.be

 

[VAALLEON]

The new face of Phan.

 

[VAALLEON]

The first flight videos with the new outfit. The new design restricted the airflow a little bit and added about 7 grams. This resulted in a reduced flight time, not using all the juice in the batteries offered.

So, I turned the batteries to 90 degrees to the fan axis to provide better airflow and lowered the cover to increase the airflow. You will see the pics of this configuration before the second flight. It helped but the unit still didn't complete the previously achieved flight time of 3+ minutes.

Next phase will be working on the cabling and some other things to reduce the weight and make the unit more efficient, and maybe try to find some tricks to increase the lift.

If not successful, will need to find a different solution to the looks

happy holidays!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Asi27JU9RKI

 

[VAALLEON]

This is the new minimalist design! I decided to call this one the mosquito. It looks very much like one on the flight video.

The other improvements that I made was, making some of the cables shorter, getting rid of some bullet connectors, etc... to make it lighter.

The reason of the surface at the front is to create some lift during forward flight. It tilts forward and will give it a little uplift. I will see if I can get close to 3.5 minutes or more with forward flight.

Again, there is a pretty strong wind for this size unit but handles it well. Looks like the flight time got up to 3 min again. One thing that I need to be careful about is not to fly it backwards too fast. This is what I did at the end of the video and t kinda lost balance.

I will also increase the yaw rate and make it more responsive for tighter maneuvering.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuzROCp5tBc

 

[VAALLEON]

The latest and the best design. Had to use my old camera, so the resolution is not great but it’s a freaking amazing flight from this freak!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLpkmRKMfZI&feature=youtu.be

 

[PBernett]

That last video was cool. I don't know anything about this aspect of flight. I have been flying planes but this video makes me want to learn more about what you and others are doing.

 

[AndyP57]

I agree. This is a most interesting design and I'd like to see more of the 'working parts' below the fan in close up to understand how the thrust is being vectored. Also, what controller etc. are you using? Well done by the way. It looks great in flight and it's obvious you know what makes it 'tick'

 

[VAALLEON]

That last video was cool. I don't know anything about this aspect of flight. I have been flying planes but this video makes me want to learn more about what you and others are doing.

Thank you sir! I have hundreds of videos on my youtube channel. Just google monophan and it will take you there if you'd like to see more.

 

[VAALLEON]

I agree. This is a most interesting design and I'd like to see more of the 'working parts' below the fan in close up to understand how the thrust is being vectored. Also, what controller etc. are you using? Well done by the way. It looks great in flight and it's obvious you know what makes it 'tick'

Thank you very much! I use a Multiwii board. This videos has some close-ups that show how the nozzles operate.

Ok. This is the final design. It looks phreaky sweet!!! Below is a combination of a couple of flights. After the first two, I replaced the thrust vectoring nozzles with new and larger ones. The reason is that when I fly it backwards, it gets into a cyclic motion, losing altitude. I didn’t have this problem in larger units.

Large nozzles are more responsive, so it is a little wobbly in the last flight, requiring the P rate to go down a little. So, will test it tomorrow again with the new P setting to see how the new nozzles perform.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN82JzQbGiI&feature=youtu.be

 

[AndyP57]

Thanks again. I think I'm getting it. If I can see this right, the vectoring is being accomplished by 'U' shaped channels attached to each of three servo arms, being directed something like a tricopter setting on the controller board. The rest of the attached strakes/fins etc. are being used to enhance stability once the system is in motion. Am I somewhere near?

By the way, and on a completely trivial sidenote, I could see this being the only way a Tie Fighter type model could be properly made to fly in atmospere ;-)

 

[VAALLEON]

Thanks again. I think I'm getting it. If I can see this right, the vectoring is being accomplished by 'U' shaped channels attached to each of three servo arms, being directed something like a tricopter setting on the controller board. The rest of the attached strakes/fins etc. are being used to enhance stability once the system is in motion. Am I somewhere near?

By the way, and on a completely trivial sidenote, I could see this being the only way a Tie Fighter type model could be properly made to fly in atmospere ;-)

You are absolutely correct on your observations. Tie Fighter is not a bad idea

Here’s the FPV phreak! I installed a cm205 cam on it. It adds about 8grams and reduces the flight time a bit but looks good, flies even better

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWDg0BGnb5A

 

[VAALLEON]

This is the first aerial video of the 40mm unit. I am using a CM205 camera with RC305 receiver and easycap AV USB converter to record it on my computer.

The cam is a little crooked and the resolution is not all that good but not bad for the first time. I am still learning the settings on the easycap and I should be able to get a better resolution. We’ll see…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW3eXaG0bYw&feature=youtu.be

 

[VAALLEON]

I think this resolution is way better:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaC2cFN43SM&feature=youtu.be

 

[VAALLEON]

A new nano unit in the making.

 

[VAALLEON]

Flight video of the new Nano unit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=echU1LLIjkg&feature=youtu.be

 

[PsyBorg]

This last video sounds a tad breezy yet that thing looks pretty stable and quick. Neat concept and implementation.

 

[VAALLEON]

This last video sounds a tad breezy yet that thing looks pretty stable and quick. Neat concept and implementation.

Yes, it was a pretty strong wind for this little one but handled it very good. Slowly getting better with the smaller units. Thank you!