Help! is it possible to run three motors with only one channel?

[curiousmind]

hello guys, As you can see i want to build quad-copter , i have 12 motors, 12 ESCs and one FC. is it possible to run 3 motor using only one channel?
how?
what would be challenging?
which design is better?
and any suggestions?
thank you in advance.

 

[JasonK]

depends on the FC -> ESC protocol, some of the current 'quad' setups use bi-directional data between the ESC and FC, so you can't run multiple ESCs on a channel. But if you use a singular direction protocol, then you can have multiple ESCs running on a single channel.


now, is it a good idea? probably not, having individual control over each motor will allow the FC to have more control over the over all flying characteristics of the craft.

Also, for more then 4 motors, they are typically arranged as points on a n-gon with the angles and sides all the same length, with alternating CW/CCW rotation of the motors.

 

[curiousmind]

depends on the FC -> ESC protocol, some of the current 'quad' setups use bi-directional data between the ESC and FC, so you can't run multiple ESCs on a channel. But if you use a singular direction protocol, then you can have multiple ESCs running on a single channel.


now, is it a good idea? probably not, having individual control over each motor will allow the FC to have more control over the over all flying characteristics of the craft.

Also, for more then 4 motors, they are typically arranged as points on a n-gon with the angles and sides all the same length, with alternating CW/CCW rotation of the motors.

"Also, for more then 4 motors, they are typically arranged as points on a n-gon with the angles and sides all the same length, with alternating CW/CCW rotation of the motors."
can you please put some light on above,i didn't get that.

 

[JasonK]

N-gon generator, put in the number of motors you want to use (even) and it will show you the n-gon that has that many sides/corners.
https://www.desmos.com/calculator/xot4qkoi5b

for example here is it for 12:

for the CW/CCW:
CW -> clockwise
CCW -> counter clockwise
multirotor are setup with alternating CW/CCW prop spinning directions to cancel out torque from spinning the props. it can then generate yaw forces by speeding up all the props spinning the same direction and slowing down all the ones spinning the other direction.