Mission Oriented Multi-Prop UAV Analysis using Statistical Design Trends

The paper presents a methodology for sizing and preliminary analysis of Multi-Prop UAVs. The methodology is founded on design trends that emerge from a vast and unique database that has been collected for such vehicles. The database includes geometry parameters, components' weight, power required and flight performance estimation. For a given mission, the analysis enables optimization of a specific design of a Multi-Prop configuration for either minimal weight or minimal dimensions. As opposed to low-order and relatively simple analyses that are typically used in early design stages, the results presented in this paper include design trends and correlations within existing flying configurations, and therefore, contain many design constraints that typically emerge only during advanced stages of the design process.