QTAR: Quad Thrust Aerial Robot 2005

The Quad Thrust Aerial Robot (QTAR) was my (Joshua Portlock's) final year Mechatronic Engineering Project in 2005 at Curtin University of Technology.

It is a quadrotor VTOL UAV with a 200 gram payload capacity and 15-20 minute flight endurance (depending on battery capacity and payload). I designed the attitude estimation and control system, which controls the pitch and roll angles within 15 degrees from level hover.

I undertook one year towards my PhD in VTOL UAV related research before beginning a career in the Aerospace R&D industry.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or want to share some knowledge about VTOL UAVs.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• quadrotor
• VTOL
• UAV
• QTAR
• Quad
• Thrust
• Aerial
• Robot
• unmanned
• flying
• vehicle
• hover
• X-4
• X-UFO
• UAVP
• Quadrocopter
• RC
• helicopter

[GRAUMAURO]

Hi Josh, thanks for your videos. I´m the spanish dentist again.

I posted a couple myself playing with the thinkgeek UFO. Have you tried it?

[JoshPsDVProductions]

Hi,

I have a couple of Jump Jets (one on RF and one still with IR) and have been tempted to get a Flying Saucer but haven't yet. From what I've read I think the Flying Saucer would struggle to carry an RF receiver, even without the foam body.

I'd like to see one available that has counter rotating props like the Flying Saucer but is slightly bigger than the Jump Jet so it can comfortably carry a camera.

Cheers,

Josh

[JoshPsDVProductions]

Well I'd recommend it. Aerospace engineering is a very exciting, sometimes challenging but inevitably rewarding career.

"Happiness comes from engaging in activities just beyond our skill level."

(Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi)

Cheers,

Josh

[JoshPsDVProductions]

Hi trikovich,

Just to correct you there, Entecho's vehicles don't employ the Coanda Effect as much as you may first think. They employ a radial drum fan that pumps the air underneath the peripheral skirt, not over the top. Although the flow does attach to the lower duct surface, the majority of the lift force is on the upper skirt.

Unfortunately we've been so busy flight testing the Mupod lately we've neglected to update our website, but we do have an update planned soon, so keep an eye on it!

[cannedpies]

Hi Josh me again

Just been doing some reading and found that ESC has to be updated quite quickley. Typical ESC's are about 50Hz. Did you find this fast enough or did you go for faster?

Thanks

[JoshPsDVProductions]

Hi cannedpies,

I thought I replied to this earlier but it mustn't have sent.

Yes, ESCs are typically 50Hz, which is barely adequate for active stability control of a quadrotor, however most can be operated as high as 300Hz. Depending on the size and inertia of your quad, there is a point of diminishing returns with increasing frequency. I found 100Hz was noticeably better than 50Hz, however I found negligible improvement after that. Smaller quads however do benefit from the higher frequencies.

[daveymilla]

200gram payload:

1 * electric motor with brushcutter rotor

stick the mower underneath the qtar and mow the lawn.

I make rc lawnmowers.

Yours would be the ultimate though.

[trikovich]

They also stopped updating their website last September and I based my design around theirs. I am looking at working towards a degree in aeronautical engineering as my current career is dull dull dull and I enjoy this project

[trikovich]

Yes I have scoured all the pictures and information available on your first test craft and I noticed the drum fan exits both below and slightly above the upper curved surface and I wondered if this was intended for taking advantage of the Coanda effect - which, based on my own experience would be a good way to go for extra lift. I have been following another company based here in England called GFS Projects Ltd. Take a look at their website, if you haven't already....

[trikovich]

Hi, I am one of the Coanda UAV builders and I can see that Entecho's design uses this effect. I have been keeping an eye on their website for nearly a year and they have not updated it. I assume the craft they build is either not successful or they need to withhold information to prevent competition. Do you have any information regarding how they are doing?

[cannedpies]

ok my internet connection was playn up an i ddnt thnk the first comment went through.

sorry bout the double post