Bérubé, Pascal, Rancourt, Pr David et Blouin, Charles.
2025.
« Development of a low cost characterization method for drone-scale aircraft electric motors ».
In Proceedings of the CSME-CFDSC-CSR 2025 International Congress (Montreal, QC, Canada, May 25-28, 2025)
Coll. « Progress in Canadian Mechanical Engineering », vol. 8.
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Résumé
In this study, we address the need for a comprehensive and low-cost method to characterize BLDC (brushless direct current) motors used in UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), which often lack detailed performance metrics. Although geometric data are readily available (size, weight, bolt pattern), performance specifications are often limited to no-load rpm, power, maximum current, thus limiting the design of aircraft powertrain to suboptimal solutions. The study presents a method that uses a standard flight stand and commercially available parts to map the efficiency of off-the-shelf BLDC motors alongside their ESCs. By monitoring the RPM and torque parameters, the approach determines the efficiency of the motor under different operating conditions. Although BLDC motor efficiency is often claimed to be between 80\% and 95\%, these figures do not account for the effects of voltage variations and are specific to a particular combination of components. The experimental setup employs a belt-driven dynamometer design. This approach adapts well to high RPM aviation applications, providing an alternative to conventional face-to-face motor configurations which are costly and prone to vibration issues due to alignment challenges. The characterized motor and its ESC are connected through a belt to a generator, which is controlled by a dedicated drive that allows to switch between RPM and current control. The dynamometer design includes mechanical power monitoring on the motor, while electrical power is measured before the ESC to characterize both as a whole. The PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) control strategy begins with measuring PWM values and applies interpolation within the control logic framework, negating the need for a PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) controller. This method is particularly advantageous, as the system's relationship is nonlinear, and using a PID would need specific tuning for each motor. Power is supplied by a LiPo battery, though a more costly alternative with stable voltage output is possible. A closed-loop system is implemented to recycle the generated power back to the motor, alleviating the demand on the power supply. Our findings corroborate previous literature on challenges in motor characterization, but offer tangible solutions for efficient UAV powertrain management. Preliminary results show a variation of more or less 25\% in motor efficiency over its full operating range. These data provide valuable information otherwise unavailable when purchasing these components. This new testbed, coupled with the methodologies developed, represents a versatile and scalable option for UAV manufacturers and researchers seeking to optimize motor performance.
| Type de document: | Compte rendu de conférence |
|---|---|
| Éditeurs: | Éditeurs ORCID Hof, Lucas A. NON SPÉCIFIÉ Di Labbio, Giuseppe NON SPÉCIFIÉ Tahan, Antoine NON SPÉCIFIÉ Sanjosé, Marlène NON SPÉCIFIÉ Lalonde, Sébastien NON SPÉCIFIÉ Demarquette, Nicole R. NON SPÉCIFIÉ |
| Date de dépôt: | 18 déc. 2025 15:08 |
| Dernière modification: | 18 déc. 2025 15:08 |
| URI: | https://espace2.etsmtl.ca/id/eprint/32363 |
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