Performance Evaluation and Design Method of Lifting-Wing Multicopters

As a novel vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial vehicle, a lifting-wing multicopter with simple structure, good stability, and longer flight range has been unveiled to be in service. However, how to make range as long as possible to realize its potential advantages is one of the key issues in the practical application of the lifting-wing multicopter. Thus, this study aims to propose a range and transition time performance evaluation to realize a sizing optimization design method for the lifting-wing multicopter. First, the dynamic model and the propulsion system model are established. Based on these models, evaluation methods for range and transition time performance are obtained with the consideration of mounting angle. Second, the influences of the main parameters on range performance are studied to offer references for design. Then, an explicit design process is proposed. Finally, a prototype is implemented, and flight experiments are performed to verify the evaluation and design method. The results indicate that the performance evaluation method has enough accuracy and suggest that it is possible to design a lifting-wing multicopter using the presented design method.