Development of an experimental setup for propeller performance measurements

With the increasing demand for efficient and adaptable unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), optimizing propeller performance has become essential to enhancing energy efficiency and thrust. This study introduces a compact, cost-effective experimental setup designed specifically for testing drone propelle...

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Main Authors: Pugna Andreea, Hrab Călin, Hînsa Liviu-Nicolae, Hopârtean Andrei, Giurgea Corina-Maria, Marcu Lucian
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: EDP Sciences 2025-01-01
Series:E3S Web of Conferences
Online Access:https://www.e3s-conferences.org/articles/e3sconf/pdf/2025/08/e3sconf_eenviro2024_02013.pdf
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author Pugna Andreea
Hrab Călin
Hînsa Liviu-Nicolae
Hopârtean Andrei
Giurgea Corina-Maria
Marcu Lucian
author_facet Pugna Andreea
Hrab Călin
Hînsa Liviu-Nicolae
Hopârtean Andrei
Giurgea Corina-Maria
Marcu Lucian
author_sort Pugna Andreea
collection DOAJ
description With the increasing demand for efficient and adaptable unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), optimizing propeller performance has become essential to enhancing energy efficiency and thrust. This study introduces a compact, cost-effective experimental setup designed specifically for testing drone propellers on a small scale, making it accessible for both research and educational applications. The setup integrates off-the-shelf components, including a brushless motor controlled by an electronic speed controller (ESC), a load cell for precise thrust measurement, and a custom-built current sensor for power consumption analysis. The experimental set-up enables real-time data acquisition and evaluation of propeller performance across various operating speeds. By testing two commercial propellers—a two-blade and a three-blade design—the setup demonstrates its ability to analyze thrust and efficiency trends effectively. This innovative framework bridges the gap between theoretical studies and practical UAV applications, providing a versatile and scalable platform for advancing UAV propulsion research.
format Article
id doaj-art-7e172c614fe04988b069caf60871befa
institution Kabale University
issn 2267-1242
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher EDP Sciences
record_format Article
series E3S Web of Conferences
spelling doaj-art-7e172c614fe04988b069caf60871befa2025-02-05T10:49:33ZengEDP SciencesE3S Web of Conferences2267-12422025-01-016080201310.1051/e3sconf/202560802013e3sconf_eenviro2024_02013Development of an experimental setup for propeller performance measurementsPugna Andreea0Hrab Călin1Hînsa Liviu-Nicolae2Hopârtean Andrei3Giurgea Corina-Maria4Marcu Lucian5AtFlow Research Center, Technical University of Cluj NapocaAtFlow Research Center, Technical University of Cluj NapocaAtFlow Research Center, Technical University of Cluj NapocaAtFlow Research Center, Technical University of Cluj NapocaAtFlow Research Center, Technical University of Cluj NapocaAtFlow Research Center, Technical University of Cluj NapocaWith the increasing demand for efficient and adaptable unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), optimizing propeller performance has become essential to enhancing energy efficiency and thrust. This study introduces a compact, cost-effective experimental setup designed specifically for testing drone propellers on a small scale, making it accessible for both research and educational applications. The setup integrates off-the-shelf components, including a brushless motor controlled by an electronic speed controller (ESC), a load cell for precise thrust measurement, and a custom-built current sensor for power consumption analysis. The experimental set-up enables real-time data acquisition and evaluation of propeller performance across various operating speeds. By testing two commercial propellers—a two-blade and a three-blade design—the setup demonstrates its ability to analyze thrust and efficiency trends effectively. This innovative framework bridges the gap between theoretical studies and practical UAV applications, providing a versatile and scalable platform for advancing UAV propulsion research.https://www.e3s-conferences.org/articles/e3sconf/pdf/2025/08/e3sconf_eenviro2024_02013.pdf
spellingShingle Pugna Andreea
Hrab Călin
Hînsa Liviu-Nicolae
Hopârtean Andrei
Giurgea Corina-Maria
Marcu Lucian
Development of an experimental setup for propeller performance measurements
E3S Web of Conferences
title Development of an experimental setup for propeller performance measurements
title_full Development of an experimental setup for propeller performance measurements
title_fullStr Development of an experimental setup for propeller performance measurements
title_full_unstemmed Development of an experimental setup for propeller performance measurements
title_short Development of an experimental setup for propeller performance measurements
title_sort development of an experimental setup for propeller performance measurements
url https://www.e3s-conferences.org/articles/e3sconf/pdf/2025/08/e3sconf_eenviro2024_02013.pdf
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AT hinsaliviunicolae developmentofanexperimentalsetupforpropellerperformancemeasurements
AT hoparteanandrei developmentofanexperimentalsetupforpropellerperformancemeasurements
AT giurgeacorinamaria developmentofanexperimentalsetupforpropellerperformancemeasurements
AT marculucian developmentofanexperimentalsetupforpropellerperformancemeasurements