Drones, also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), are
becoming increasingly popular for various applications such as surveillance, photography, delivery, and scientific research. The performance and efficiency of a drone largely depend on the materials used in its construction. This report explores the materials used in different drone components, focusing on metals, polymers, ceramics, and composites. The goal is to justify the material selection based on the relationship between material structure and properties.
Drone Assembly and Component
Analysis
A typical drone assembly consists of several key components, each
requiring specific material properties to function optimally. The main components include:
i. Frame: Provides structural support.
ii. Propellers: Generate lift and thrust. iii. Motors: Convert electrical energy into mechanical energy. iv. Battery: Stores and supplies power. v. Electronic Speed Controllers (ESCs): Regulate the speed of the motors. vi. Camera and Gimbal: Used for capturing images and stabilizing `footage. vii. Landing Gear: Provides stability and protection during landing.
Each of these components has different requirements based on their
function within the drone.
Identification of Properties Required for
Drone Applications
Below is a table outlining the properties required for each drone
component:
Component Required Properties
Frame High strength to weight ratio, corrosion resistance, rigidity Propellers Lightweight, fatigue resistance, impact resistance Motors High thermal conductivity, magnetic properties, mechanical strength Battery High energy density, lightweight, safety, thermal stability ESCs Electrical insulation, thermal conductivity, durability Camera and Gimbal Low weight, rigidity, vibration dampening
Component Material Properties Frame Carbon fibre High tensile composite strength, low weight, good fatigue resistance Propellers Polycarbonate or Lightweight, Nylon high impact resistance, good toughness Motors Aluminium alloy Good (e.g., 6061) thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance, adequate strength to weight ratio Battery Lithium polymer High energy (LiPo) density, low weight, high discharge rate ESCs Polymer based Good PCB materials electrical insulation, moderate thermal conductivity, lightweight
Camera Magnesium alloy Low density,
and gimbal good rigidity, excellent vibration dampening Landing Glass fiber High impact Gear reinforced plastic resistance, lightweight, good durability
Structure of Materials Used
Understanding the microstructure of the materials is crucial for
correlating their properties with the specific application requirements:
i. Carbon Fibre Composite: Consists of carbon fibres embedded in a
resin matrix, providing high tensile strength and rigidity due to the aligned fibre structure.
ii. Polycarbonate/Nylon (Propellers): These are semi-
crystalline polymers with regions of ordered molecular chains, providing good toughness and impact resistance. iii. Aluminium Alloy (Motors): Typically have a face centred cubic (FCC) crystal structure that offers a good combination of strength, ductility, and corrosion resistance.
iv. Lithium Polymer (Battery):
Composed of multiple thin layers of anode, cathode, and separator soaked in an electrolyte, designed to maximize energy density and discharge rates. v. Polymer based PCB materials (ESCs): These are usually made from fibreglass reinforced epoxy resin laminates, providing good electrical insulation and moderate thermal resistance. vi. Magnesium Alloy (Camera and Gimbal): A hexagonal close- packed (HCP) structure offers excellent vibration damping and a good strength-to-weight ratio.
vii. Glass Fibre Reinforced Plastic (Landing Gear): Consists of glass
fibres embedded in a polymer matrix, providing excellent impact resistance and durability due to the high strength of glass fibres.
Correlation of Structure with Properties
To understand why these materials are selected, we correlate their
microstructure with the required properties: i. Carbon Fibre Composite (Frame): The aligned carbon fibres provide high tensile strength and rigidity, ideal for a drone frame where minimizing weight while maximizing strength is critical. ii. Polycarbonate/Nylon (Propellers): The semi-crystalline structure provides excellent toughness and impact resistance, which is necessary for propellers that undergo repeated stress and possible collisions. iii. Aluminium Alloy (Motors): The FCC structure provides good strength to weight ratio and corrosion resistance, which is important for motor casings that must dissipate heat efficiently while remaining light. iv. Lithium Polymer (Battery): The layered structure maximizes energy storage while keeping the battery lightweight, crucial for maintaining long flight times without adding excessive weight. v. Polymer based PCB materials (ESCs): Fibreglass reinforcement provides structural stability and thermal resistance, which is essential for components that regulate high current loads. vi. Magnesium Alloy (Camera and Gimbal): The HCP structure allows for excellent vibration damping, crucial for stabilizing the camera and minimizing vibration induced blurring. vii. Glass Fibre Reinforced Plastic (Landing Gear): The strong glass fibres within the polymer matrix provide high impact resistance and durability, essential for withstanding rough landings.
Justification for Material Selection
The selection of materials for drone components is guided by the need to
balance multiple factors, including weight, strength, durability, and specific functional properties: i. Frame (Carbon Fibre Composite): The high strength to weight ratio is essential to minimize the overall weight while maintaining structural integrity. The corrosion resistance of carbon composites also ensures durability in various environmental conditions. ii. Propellers (Polycarbonate/Nylon): Lightweight and impact resistant materials are essential for propellers to withstand rotational stress and possible collisions without deforming or breaking. iii. Motors (Aluminium Alloy): Aluminium alloys provide a good balance between strength and weight while offering excellent thermal conductivity to dissipate heat generated by the motors. iv. Battery (Lithium Polymer): LiPo batteries provide high energy density with a lightweight design, crucial for maximizing flight time and performance without adding significant weight to the drone. v. ESCs (Polymer based PCB materials): Materials that offer good electrical insulation and moderate thermal conductivity are ideal for protecting sensitive electronic components from electrical shorts and overheating. vi. Camera and Gimbal (Magnesium Alloy): The combination of lightweight and excellent vibration damping properties makes magnesium alloys ideal for stabilizing camera equipment, which is essential for capturing clear and stable images or videos. vii. Landing Gear (Glass Fibre Reinforced Plastic): The high impact resistance and durability of glass fibre reinforced plastics provide reliable protection during landing impacts, reducing the risk of damage to the drone and its components. Conclusion
The selection of materials in drone construction is a highly specialized
process that involves balancing various material properties to optimize performance, durability, and functionality. By correlating the microstructure of each material with its corresponding properties, we can understand why specific materials are chosen for each component of a drone. This ensures that drones are not only lightweight and efficient but also robust and capable of withstanding various operational stresses.
References
1. Callister, W.D., & Rethwisch, D.G. (2014). Materials Science and
Engineering: An Introduction. Wiley. 2. Ashby, M.F. (2011). Materials Selection in Mechanical Design. Butterworth-Heinemann. 3. Jones, R.M. (1998). Mechanics of Composite Materials. Taylor & Francis. 4. Sharma, S.C., & Chawla, K.K. (2006). Composite Materials: Science and Engineering. Springer. 5. Researchgate.net 6. Wikipedia.org Made By: - Name PRN Work Jayank Patil 123B1G164 Made a final draft and helped in research Jui Mehendale 123B1G152 Researched about structures Poorva Pathak 123B1G160 Researched about drone properties
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