Quadrotor configuration I think is the most common configuration for drones. Why has it not been made into a full-size production aircraft? I think that it could be better than helicopters as it does not need a tail.
In: Engineering
It works on drones because those propellers can be driven directly by a DC motor. That’s a very simple configuration.
One helicopter prop is already very complicated but at least it’s the only real load on the engine, so it can be easily throttled. Splitting off the tail rotor isn’t a big deal because it’s relatively a really small load. To have 4 big rotors, you’d either need 4 complicated engines with their own throttles or some kind of crazy transmission and differential gearing system to drive them all with one engine. Regardless, if any one of those complicated things fails, you’re in big trouble; whereas a normal helicopter can actually glide safely down during an engine failure.
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