Flight Test Vehicle for Determination of Multi-Rotor UAV Trim Conditions

Multi-rotors are quickly becoming affordable research tools in many fields. However, rich empirical data sets linking aircraft performance to aerodynamic factors are not readily available. This research effort uses a simple quadrotor frame, a Pixhawk and a custom data acquisition system to log trim data composed of both flight attitude and motor performance data. The trim data is collected during field tests under hovering and yawing maneuvers. Motor performance data responded correctly with vehicle motions and pilot inputs proving the efficacy of the data acquisition system. Considerable attention to vehicle construction and sensor health is needed to produce repeatable motor performance data. In particular, the thrust load cells used in this work were not very well suited to the high vibration and crash prone environment of flight testing. Upgrading vehicle components and sensors should yield an aircraft capable of generating trim data sets for most flight scenarios.