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Design, build and test of a novel X-shaped, tilt-wing quadcopter
van Deventer, D. 2025. Design, build and test of a novel X-shaped, tilt-wing quadcopter. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/20324f4d-107a-46b0-8f03-6b6e8b989207
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613781148827648 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Van Deventer, Dewald |
| author2 | Smit, Willem Jacobus |
| author_browse | Smit, Willem Jacobus Van Deventer, Dewald |
| author_facet | Smit, Willem Jacobus Van Deventer, Dewald |
| author_sort | Van Deventer, Dewald |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | van Deventer, D. 2025. Design, build and test of a novel X-shaped, tilt-wing quadcopter. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/20324f4d-107a-46b0-8f03-6b6e8b989207 |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132350 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:41:35.993Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132350 Design, build and test of a novel X-shaped, tilt-wing quadcopter Van Deventer, Dewald Smit, Willem Jacobus Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering. Vehicles, Remotely piloted Drone aircraft -- Control systems Actuators -- Automatic control Combinatorial designs and configurations UCTD van Deventer, D. 2025. Design, build and test of a novel X-shaped, tilt-wing quadcopter. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/20324f4d-107a-46b0-8f03-6b6e8b989207 Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Unmanned aerial vehicles, specifically quadcopters, have become integral to various industries. They are especially sought after for their ease of control, stability and practicality. Quadcopters can complete tasks while the operator remains safely grounded. The largest drawback of quadcopters is their inefficient nature and the consequential flight time and range. Although different configurations of quadcopters have been researched in recent years, many configurations remain unexplored. To combat the inefficiency of quadcopters, a novel configuration is proposed to increase flight time and distance while maintaining the desirable features. The configuration will enable all actuators and lift-generating surfaces to be utilised optimally, whether the quadcopter hovers or travels forward. The actuators and propellers were chosen to be optimal for the desired weight of the quadcopter without the added weight of the drivetrain and wings. A hybrid analytical-numerical model was then developed to evaluate the performance of the configuration in different flight modes. This ensures that adding extra components is beneficial even when the propulsion system is not optimised for the specific configuration. A custom frame, printed circuit board, wings, and drivetrain were designed and assembled. A novel control method and switching strategy were also developed to ensure that control is possible in the configuration. Multiple flight tests were conducted to tune the control system of the quadcopter and to ensure that it can transition reliably between the flight modes. The power draw data of the quadcopter was obtained with and without the addition of the extra components and then compared. The value of the research lies in the fact that this simplistic design and conceptual premise delivers an increase in efficiency whilst maintaining the desirable features of quadcopters, yet it has been overlooked until now. The novel configuration could inspire other configurations and, therefore, further advancements in quadcopter technology. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Onbemande vliegtuie, en meer spesifiek hommeltuie, het ’n integrale deel van verskeie industrieë geword. Hulle is veral gesog vir hul gemak van beheer, stabiliteit en praktiese gebruik. Hommeltuie kan take voltooi terwyl die operateur veilig op die grond bly. Die grootste nadeel van hommeltuie is hul ondoeltreffende aard en die gevolglike vlugtyd en vlugafstand wat direk benadeel word. Alhoewel verskillende konfigurasies van hommeltuie in onlangse jare nagevors is, is daar steeds baie konfigurasies wat onontgin bly. Om die ondoeltreffendheid van hommeltuie te bekamp, word ’n nuwe konfigurasie voorgestel met die doel om vlugtyd en vlugafstand te verhoog, terwyl die gewenste kenmerke behou word. Die konfigurasie sal dit moontlik maak om alle aktueerders en vlieggenererende oppervlaktes optimaal te benut, of die hommeltuig hang aldan vorentoe beweeg. Die aandrywers en skroewe is gekies om optimaal te wees vir die gewenste gewig van die hommeltuig sonder die bykomende gewig van die dryfstelsel en vlerke. ’n Hibriede analities-numeriese model is ontwikkel om die werkverrigting van die konfigurasie in verskillende vlugmodusse te evalueer. Dit verseker dat die byvoeging van addisionele komponente voordelig is selfs wanneer die aandrywingstelsel nie vir die spesifieke konfigurasie geoptimaliseer is nie. ’n Pasgemaakte raam, gedrukte stroombaan, pasgemaakte vlerke en pasgemaakte dryfstelsel is uniek ontwerp en saamgestel. ’n Nuwe beheermetode en skakelstrategie is ook ontwikkel om te verseker dat beheer in die ontwerp moontlik is. Veelvuldige vlugtoetse is uitgevoer om die beheerstelsel van die hommeltuig in te stel en om te verseker dat dit betroubaar tussen die vlugmodusse kan oorskakel. Die kraggebruik data van die hommeltuig is verkry met en sonder die byvoeging van die addisionele komponente en dan vergelyk. Die waarde van die navorsing lê daarin dat hierdie simplistiese ontwerp en konseptuele uitgangspunt ’n toename in doeltreffendheid lewer, terwyl die gewenste kenmerke van hommeltuie behoue bly, maar dit is tot nou toe oor die hoof gesien. Die nuwe konfigurasie kan ander konfigurasies beïnvloed en dien as inspirasie tot verdere vooruitgang in hommeltuig-tegnologie. Masters 2025-06-04T12:34:51Z 2025-06-04T12:34:51Z 2025-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132350 en Stellenbosch University xv, 80 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Vehicles, Remotely piloted Drone aircraft -- Control systems Actuators -- Automatic control Combinatorial designs and configurations UCTD Van Deventer, Dewald Design, build and test of a novel X-shaped, tilt-wing quadcopter |
| title | Design, build and test of a novel X-shaped, tilt-wing quadcopter
|
| title_full | Design, build and test of a novel X-shaped, tilt-wing quadcopter
|
| title_fullStr | Design, build and test of a novel X-shaped, tilt-wing quadcopter
|
| title_full_unstemmed | Design, build and test of a novel X-shaped, tilt-wing quadcopter
|
| title_short | Design, build and test of a novel X-shaped, tilt-wing quadcopter
|
| title_sort | design build and test of a novel x shaped tilt wing quadcopter |
| topic | Vehicles, Remotely piloted Drone aircraft -- Control systems Actuators -- Automatic control Combinatorial designs and configurations UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132350 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT vandeventerdewald designbuildandtestofanovelxshapedtiltwingquadcopter |