PDA

View Full Version : In-Flight reconfiguring Airframe Rotor Disc Control


davh12
7th Oct 2010, 16:58
I've received some positive feed-back about this rotor system from pilots and engineers. One or two "uncertain critics". Let me know your thoughts about it. Completed the first power up last week-end. Been in the field so I am behind. Rotor blade chord width is a bit too short as well the span. Few more things to tweak. Hope to have it flying or crashing soon.:confused:
I have several more rotor systems, but those are only rough draft white papers.

www.envisionhelicopters.com (http://www.envisionhelicopters.com)

http://www.envisionhelicopters.com/J73_op_680x510.jpg


http://www.envisionhelicopters.com/J83_op_680x510.jpg

davh12
12th Oct 2010, 13:44
Preparing for 2nd power up. Waiting for CF blades. Also "skeltonizing".....(guess that is a word :bored:).....the CF airframe a little more. Always the small things. :ugh:More to follow.

Regards,
Dave

Graviman
14th Oct 2010, 11:45
Dave,

Are there any cross-coupled forces when using weight shift control of a rotor? I'd imagine you would subconsciously learn to put the input in 90' ahead of required disk pitch / roll requirement, until flapback reaction reached equality.

Arguably all helicopters are weightshift control, since they revector the lift thrust to achieve the desired flight (albeit less so with high hing offset rotors).

davh12
15th Oct 2010, 09:56
Graviman,

This first prototype does not have feathering, only flapping with a delta 3 axis hinge with regard to coupling between pitch change and flapping there may be coupling of forces. It does not use a swash plate, the hub has a rubber grommet in the center to damper the flapping action. During the power up, I manipulated the tilting of the upper airframe and it has a small amount of back flapping as the rotor wanted to keeps it's original level plane. A servo adjustment will tilt the frame and rotor disc a little forward to start out so there should be less than a 90 degree reaction of the disc attitude when control inputs are made. The drive stick does not control the blade pitch cyclically............this version is fixed pitch and the larger gas version that I'm gathering materials for will be full collective, but still even with the full collective there will not be cyclic pitch control. Control rods will be attached to the pitch horns center the flapping axis. The functioning of rotor disc control for this system will be similar to that of the Baldwin tech craft and the V22 osprey, but the mast, frame & disc incidence will only be enough to vector the thrust and not a complete 90 degree reconfiguration of the rotor system for fixed wing flight. My understanding of rotor dymanics is elementary when compared to most. The mechanics are easy.....the kinematics involved or forces affecting the mechanics, I'm "warm and fuzzy" with, but some of the formulas make me feel as if I am playing chinese checkers with my toes. I am not like most when they come across something that puzzles them. Instead of shying away..I get a silly grin because I enjoy brain candy. It's like the little kid standing outside the glass window of the drug store. Only one lemon drop left and he still needs a few nickels. Let's just say that rotorcraft aerodymanics are my lemons drops and I'm saving all my nickels. The GEN H4 is similar as well, yet it is fixed pitch. The reason the 1st RC prototype is fixed pitch and only forward/aft tilt is due to my taking small steps. I addressed this approach during the patent process as well the DARPA white paper. That being said, I also must deal with lateral drift from the tail rotor during any attempt to hover because there is no lateral control. In all honesty, I plan to set back in a lawn chair, fire up a cigar when it's time for a untethered flight and see what happens. More to follow.

Regards,

Dave

Graviman
15th Oct 2010, 11:54
Dave,

If i understand correctly the dynamics will be very similar to the direct control autogyros. I hadn't spotted the R-pin teetering bearing with 30' delta three before. Yes this should work a treat although you may find that you need to tweak the delta three to minimise pitch-roll cross coupling. Some will be good for wee-wa and rotor coning (see the many discussions about R22 rotor head). This type of arrangement is often used for smaller machines where cyclic control loads will be minimal.

The equations can be daunting, but stick with 'em - we'll help along the way. :)

Mart

davh12
15th Oct 2010, 20:39
Graviman,

Thanx. I'm always humble enough to ask for help since I'm an "uncertified basement engineer". Second "power up" this week-end, that is if the new blades make it here:ugh:.
I chose a CF blade w/ a wider chord and it has about an inch more span than the other airfoils. Soon I will post short video clips on my site and I am certain that I will be directing you guys to view them and asking all of you questions about certain actions or moments that may develop. I can spot rotor blades when they need tracking, but you folks can look at the attitude of the airframe and spinning rotor system if you see a video clip and tell what may be causing it. I'm curious about the "what ifs" in the mechanical design of helicopters. If the results of published data state that a rotorcraft should not fly unless "X, "Y" & " Z are in order and I make a small scale prototype fly using "X", "Z" and eliminating or substituting "Y" by some other means......it is up to certified engineers to figure out why. I just wanted to see what would happen. I want to step outside the normal approach to see if it works. I also understand that there is a big difference when it comes to scaling up to full size. More to follow. Have a good week-end.

Dave

davh12
18th Oct 2010, 11:47
Machined a new rotor hub using industrial nylon. Got the new rotor blades, trimmed down rebalanced, and rebalanced again after attaching to hub. They have a metal leading edge spar. Good blade. I need to machine a new rotor mast. The 1/8" stainless steel mast apparently bent right at the cross pin gear lock area from the torque during the last power up. My fault. Using titanium rod now. Minor set back. More to follow.
Dave

http://www.envisionhelicopters.com/J84-0_op_680x510.jpg



http://www.envisionhelicopters.com/J85_op_680x510.jpg

Graviman
18th Oct 2010, 11:58
Dave,

You could do far worse than to purchase a copy of "Theory of wing sections" by Abbott & Doenhoff. Don't be put off by the maths (which looks daunting to all of us) since there is a good section on lift / drag for various aerofoils currently in service.

Theory of Wing Sections: Including a Summary of Airfoil Data (http://store.doverpublications.com/0486605868.html)

The ideal for any aerofoil (to minimise lift to drag) is to operate as near to stall as possible. In practice the need to allow for manouvreing, payload and a practical flight envelope means blades seldom achieve this. Thicker choord blades are more suited to reduced rrpm, but should work just fine. Ultimately as long as it produces lift it is just a question of how to maximise performance / battery life...

davh12
25th Oct 2010, 14:48
Finished the titanium rotor mast. I may need to replace the redcution gear due to an increase in mast diameter, which in turn I may need a motor with a bit more torque. The weight is the same as the smaller stainless, so no increase in overall weight. Waiting on additional bearings.....again, so I started work on the aluminum mockup so it reflects the updated tilt mech.

http://www.envisionhelicopters.com/J86_op_680x510.jpg

http://www.envisionhelicopters.com/J93_op_680x510.jpg

davh12
25th Oct 2010, 14:51
new titanium rotor mast.

http://www.envisionhelicopters.com/J94_op_680x510.jpg

davh12
25th Oct 2010, 16:04
Replaced the the off-set axises gimbal joint with a spherical bearing. Also shortened the vertical down tube to lower the upper airframe for attachment to the lower sliding spherical assembly.


http://www.envisionhelicopters.com/J92_op_680x510.jpg

davh12
1st Nov 2010, 11:54
New mast bearings are in. Working on a different reduction gear. Diameter is .5mm smaller than the first one, it's a bit thinner and lighter, but the pitch guage is the same. Just need center spindle.
Dave


http://www.envisionhelicopters.com/J95_op_680x510.jpg

davh12
20th Nov 2010, 18:02
Been a while since I worked on my CF prototype. Had foot operation/shock wave treatment to treat bone spur.....too much Infantry stuff and years of humping a ruck sack. I'm having issues with the gear hub.......fabing one...miss having my lathe. So, took a break from it and went back to the mock up again. Shortened the vertal fin and horizontal stab and drilled the tail boom to make it lighter. Working 3 projects at one time so I am way behind. A friend of mine who served in Iraq with me is working with me on an "Anti Torque Recovery System" (ATRS) for tail rotor failure. The particulars are going to be kept in the dark for a while. It's an idea that I came up with a couple of years ago and he was always a "trusty worthy" person I could show my ideas to. He made a suggestion about one part, so I made him a co-inventer. He's at Purdue getting schooled in aerodynamics, but his knowledge and input for this design was prior to his attending Purdue. He's also racking some flight time in fixed wing. More to follow.

http://www.envisionhelicopters.com/J99_op_680x510.jpg

davh12
29th Nov 2010, 14:41
Gathering parts to build a "table top" demo assembly for tail rotor failur recovery set up. It will have a main fixed pitch rotor hub and tail boom w/ an electric TR that I can shut off to cause the torque to "Peg" the tail boom in one direction representing catostrophic failure. If I can engage the recovery assembly and cause the tail boom to stay between two "pegs" 180 degrees apart it will at least be better than "spinning to doom" and crashing. Even "fish tailing" or long drawn out airframe spin in a tight orbit may allow enough control to get it to the ground with out the "sudden" stop and die syndrome. We'll see. I'm behind on all my projects due to the holidays and the Army taking up my time. Boxing the CF prototype and taking it home over Xmas leave and try to finish it and get it to fly. Aluminum airframe will reflect the patent drawings..........single vertical down tube is being replaced with dual down tube/struts. More to follow.

davh12
5th Dec 2010, 20:24
Going back to the off set axis gimbal fulcrum which will have about 3 degrees of lateral movement, giving the rotor disc about 5 to 7 degrees of lateral tilt as the hub/disc are a bit higher on the mast above the gimbal fulcrum; finished the dual down tube/struts and rid myself of the single tube; started the tilting mechanism, but only got the lateral tilt plate w/o bearing blocks and the sperical w/o it being attached to the pylon which I have yet to machine out of industrial nylon. The logitudinal lever that attaches to the tilt mechanism spherical pylon is not machined yet. The linear bearing that will allow the lever to have a telescopic motion as the upper airframe tilts forward/aft is not ordered. Wow is it expensive! for one 1/4" ID linear bearing. All changes reflect the design in the patent.


http://www.envisionhelicopters.com/J105_op_680x510.jpg

http://www.envisionhelicopters.com/J106_op_680x510.jpg

http://www.envisionhelicopters.com/J107_op_680x510.jpg

davh12
12th Dec 2010, 20:50
Aft bearing block frame attached w/o bronze bearing or nylon pillow block; dual down tube/ strut complete.

http://www.envisionhelicopters.com/J112_op_680x510.jpg

http://www.envisionhelicopters.com/J111_op_680x510.jpg

davh12
9th Jan 2011, 20:49
X-mas vacation has me behind. Got the new reduction gear............smaller ratio. I'm sanding the titanium mast down today. I had hoped to have the gear mounted on the mast today, but I'm taking it slow on the sanding. Now that the diameter of the mast is being machined down, I no longer need a new lower mast bearing. But, now the diameter is smaller, I need a new upper mast bearing close to the main reduction gear.............such is custom fabrication. Second power up MLK week-end...maybe a tehtered flight.

davh12
17th Jan 2011, 20:21
New updates at my web site. Gear mounted on titanium mast......now I need a new electric motor w/ larger spur gear.

davh12
23rd Jan 2011, 19:47
Latest carbon fiber test platform clip for servo actuation of morphing airframes.

Dave

YouTube - HIR-3(Ipod Video).mov (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFE4P8cE1qk)

davh12
29th Jan 2011, 15:34
Aluminum airframe mock up prior to switching back to the gimbal joint. Shown here is a spherical in place of the gimbal which may work, but will require the use of the alternate tilt mechanism.

Dave

YouTube - HIR alum Ipod Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2cwvvqHckY)

davh12
1st Feb 2011, 20:12
new motor for CF platform. still tweaking

http://www.envisionhelicopters.com/100_0818_op_680x510.jpg

helisphere
2nd Feb 2011, 19:46
Going back to the off set axis gimbal fulcrum which will have about 3 degrees of lateral movement, giving the rotor disc about 5 to 7 degrees of lateral tilt as the hub/disc are a bit higher on the mast above the gimbal fulcrum

Maybe I am misunderstanding you, but if the gimbal tilts 3 degrees, it's 3 degrees no matter how close or far from the pivot point. Obviously the distance of movement is larger the farther from the pivot but the angle change will be the same.

davh12
2nd Feb 2011, 20:28
Yep..you are absolutley right.............wrong choice of words. The distance, as you noted, was what I was making reference to. Thanx for pointing that out. Almost stepped on my crank with that one. Equal degrees, moments etc...........greater distance the farther from the fulcrum. Shoulda caught it

Regards,

Dave

davh12
2nd Feb 2011, 21:36
Distance between the diameter ref.line to the end of the radius ref line

helisphere
2nd Feb 2011, 22:08
Ok I thought you might have just misworded that. So how many degrees does it tilt? Or what did you really mean to say?

davh12
3rd Feb 2011, 19:53
Between 3 and 5 degrees depending on servo adjustments............but I have not measured it just yet. Made servo adjustments to prevent over manipulation or too much tilt. The tethered flight was postponed due to the mast bending from too much torque. I used stainless steel 1/8" round stock and the mast bent right where the cross pin goes through the mast to secure the main rotor gear. Used a thicker CP Grade 5 titanium stock for more strentgh and try not to add additional weight.

Dave

helisphere
3rd Feb 2011, 21:08
Ok I was just curious. You can always change it if you need more. I just wonder how much will be needed for a real machine considering CG range, slope landing capability and amount of rotor flapback during max forward speed plus a margin beyond whatever the max is. Presumably a one man helicopter doesn't need a large CG range and will have a relatively low cruising and max forward speed.

davh12
3rd Feb 2011, 21:27
Yep..........I wanted to start the tilt out a little at a time. Servo arm change outs will give it more range of motion. Another pilot mentioned the same about the speed for a single place with regard to this design. I've only had to deal with the slope terrain stuff when I went to Air Assualt school some years back. Just a few years ago, we had a Chinook pilot hot dogging his bird when I was stationed in Alaska. He was reminded of his slope/rotor blade association "does and don'ts" very vividly. He came in a bit fast and swung the aft portion of the bird around...with a slope in the direction that his aft was going. Yep...you quessed it....rear disc hit the slope. Bird came down and rolled over a few times. Everyone was ok...little roughed up. Kinetic energy and gravity...lol. This platform is the first "baby steps". I'm still tweaking the the small CF frame and a few more mechanical things to do yet. And I still want to scale it up to a gas power. But small steps and it's fun to problem solve.

Dave

helisphere
4th Feb 2011, 06:41
When Sikorsky first developed the XH-59 the engineers thought that because of the high control moment generated by the extremely stiff rotors they should reduce the amount of cyclic control available to the pilot. However, in certain flow conditions you still need the full cyclic range just to generate the minimum control moment for maintaining aircraft control. Unfortunately they learned this one the hard way by crashing the first prototype when the pilot ran out of cyclic control. Just food for thought...

davh12
26th Feb 2011, 17:18
Helisphere,

Sorry it's been so long. I read your last post just prior to the 4 day week-end and then went to the field. Back and clean again......4 days in the woodline.
I agree with you and I also believe that alot of testing is needed. This is not an endeavor to get rich, a quick start for a new line of helicopters or to solicit. It's just experimentation, that if proven valid, could be a new platform. Some folks in the respective "industry" are reviewing it. Most recent contact this past week, but I also told them that I did not believe that my platform was the answer for a UAV with regard to "simplified" controls because the concept of mechanical morphing and my theory of CG "flex" are not proven and again it's just a theory. There is emough stress learning the controls of rotorcraft for static airframes. I use the term "industry" loosley for a reason. Some I will not mention.
The HIR platform was intended for sport aviation and civil use such as law enforcement for smaller departments that cannot afford a mutli-million dollar Twin Star, for example, but it's still not ready. I enjoy very much the mechanical problem solving and questioning the norm. As I have said before, I question often where does practical application end and novelty begin. I keep trying until physics and mathematics prove me wrong.

Regards,

Dave

davh12
27th Feb 2011, 17:31
More trimming of the upper airframe needed.


YouTube - HIR-5 (Ipod Video).mov (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-u43j-IYB0)

davh12
27th Feb 2011, 17:35
Third center of gravity hang test.

YouTube - HIR-CG3 (Ipod Video).mov (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZi9SfjPDqk)

davh12
27th Mar 2011, 19:19
Fabricated a new rotor hub to fit the blades; no issues with balance. Shortened the titanium rotor mast and mounted the hub to the mast with one of the first rubber grommets (upper) that will allow the hub to teeter flex. The blade bending should negate most of the dissymmetry of lift. Tail rotor mounted and wiring for the motor is "rough in" and not yet soldered. New mast bearing will be 11/64". Now I must re solder a new receiver antenna as some one came into my apartment while I was in the field, went through my stuff, pulled the antenna out of the receiver and went through some of my miliatry records. Seems like I can never win. The Apartment maintenance people were in the apartments changing filters. Should have the bearings mounted next week-end or the week-end after, I think I can solder the antenna this week-end. More to follow.

Davehttp://www.envisionhelicopters.com/100_0866_op_680x510.jpg

davh12
18th Apr 2011, 16:20
All,

internet has been down due to remodeling. using the library. 4th CG hang test good. First tethered flight this week-end. Fingers crossed.
Dave


YouTube - Morph 3 Ipod Video


YouTube - HIR-CG4 (Ipod Video).mov

mhale71
19th Apr 2011, 08:57
This sort of thing would probably be more suited on rcgroups.com than here, as there are a few physics and aerodynamics traits that would prevent this design from being used on full scale machines.

davh12
19th Apr 2011, 21:45
Perhaps....., but one patent in the works and DARPA and a few others reviewed it.....said it had merit.....whatever.
Look at Baldwin technologies:
Baldwin Technology Company, LLC (http://www.baldwintechnology.com/)
Then again....................... perhaps not. Mechanical morphing rotor control is possible. If not, we'll see. I've never owned an "RC" hobby copter except the one that I cannibalized for parts. Already preparing for the single place full scale. It's only the first of 6 different concepts.

When mathematics and physics prove me wrong.....then I'll stop and find something else that "feeds the mind" in mechanical problem solving. I will not stop if someone makes a suggestion to do so. Most people come up with a good idea and often they listen to others and their dreams fall to the side. Mechanical problem solving is like OCD to me. I lose sleep over it, but it occupies my mind from the memories from Iraq..................and I love it. Thanks for the input though. No one holds the reins on innovation unless you allow them to do so.

Best Regards,

Dave

birrddog
19th Apr 2011, 22:09
davh12, neat concept. Keep it up and keep us posted.

davh12
19th Apr 2011, 22:34
Birddog,

Thanks. Hope you and your family have a Happy Easter. Godspeed.

Dave

davh12
23rd Apr 2011, 18:34
Lower mast bearing mounted, mast attached, main drive motor mounted. Picture below, airframe is inverted allowing the glue to dry for the lower bearing housing. Still on track for tethered flight tomorrow.
Dave

davh12
26th Apr 2011, 16:42
Lower mast bearing housing came loose. Torsional flex developed during tether flight; forward/aft has good transition. Lateral had a tendency to roll over...........shaft collar lock was too close to hub not allowing enough room to teeter. Some of the weight is too high up on the airframe as well. Lowering the motor and widening the lateral foot print of the lower airframe. Changing a few things, re-balance/track and try it again.

Dave

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiPdljvOzT4

davh12
15th May 2011, 19:20
Partial summary of the issues that need to be addressed and my approach. CF ordered from Sierra Composites. Waiting.

Regards,

Dave
http://www.envisionhelicopters.com/HIR_Partial_Summary.pdf

davh12
5th Jun 2011, 21:20
Most of the parts are cut out of carbon fiber for the changes to the airframe. Trying to catch up.

Dave


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGhSK_xf_H4

strey
6th Jun 2011, 04:41
Interesting project. Keep us updated in the future :ok:

glockrecoil
7th Jun 2011, 01:25
nice vid...

davh12
13th Jun 2011, 00:46
Glock......thanx.

Lower airframe has a wider foot print now for stability when the prototype gets light on it's frame.

http://www.envisionhelicopters.com/100_0922_op_680x510.jpg

davh12
19th Jun 2011, 16:40
finished the battery/receiver mount assembly, attached lower motor mount, started the upper bearing/motor mount. Video clip is the 2nd servo acutation, 1st servo after airframe changes. Correspondence w/ Williams Aerospace is steady, but only fixed wing UAS. They have great concepts.

Dave

2TzqLDD9R50

davh12
26th Jun 2011, 15:46
Delta 3 flapping axis, underslung hub and lower mast bearing/upper motor mount.

Regards,

Dave

1Hz-Bhx4KUk

KV6g97x0-N4

davh12
14th Jul 2011, 12:54
Sorry it's been so long. I was in the field for a week and going to the field for 10 days next week. Such is my life in the Infantry. All that I have been able to do lately is gather parts for when I get a free moment to work. I may be changing web site providers so the "envision helicopters" site may be down for a bit until I get re-established with a new provider.
Take care.

Dave

davh12
29th Jul 2011, 18:09
My web site is down until I find another provider. I have found one and it should be up in a couple of weeks. Had surgery; in the process of recovering. Too many years in the Infantry. You can track the heo progress on you tube. Search "davh72able", morphing airframe helicopter" or "HIR"
Regards,
Dave

davh12
4th Aug 2011, 19:24
Temp web site until I get the other one up and going.
Apparently the word "blog" is a no no here. I hate blogs as well, but go to google and search for "envisionrotorsystems" with regard to blog.

motor fastened to lower mast bearing mount...see alt site.

Regards,

Dave

davh12
24th Aug 2011, 20:51
Back from con leave. They took the cast off yesterday, but still walk like a pirate. Within 3 weeks I hope to have updates and hopfully a 2nd flight test.

Dave

davh12
26th Aug 2011, 20:29
New mast bearing in. More work to do this week-end.

Regards,

Dave

davh12
28th Aug 2011, 00:12
Upper mast bearing mounted; a few small changes need to be made; not using a power train from the motor to the reduction gear because the couplings are too long.

Dave

9bq47omxzXQ

davh12
29th Aug 2011, 23:38
4th servo actuation with the changes. Small adjustments here and there. Lower mast bearing mount changed from doubling as the upper motor mount to now being the lower motor mount/lower mast bearing. Couplings are too long for a drive train to spur. Going back to pinion direct to reduction gear, but motor will be about 4 mm lower tha original configuration.
Dave

fSuQX9IHCDo

davh12
6th Oct 2011, 21:31
I was running down the batt. in order to do a re-charge prior to the 2nd intended tether. The mixer burnt out. Parts ordered. "Murphy".

Dave

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll-RGeUF0BM

davh12
21st Nov 2011, 10:06
I've been working with a frenzy trying to finish my wife's chair and end table along with my project. Got everything loosely put together yesterday and something on the bottom of the motor burnt out, but the motor still works. Some type of circular chip board on the base. Anyway, with the rotor hub loosely tweaked and no servo attachment, with 1/4 bat charge, the helo was lit on it's frame and stable. That surprised me because without the servo attached, the airframes can move forward and aft freely. Hope to have it going. Still need to tweak the hub assembly to tightend down the swah plate input control rods which serve no purpose no with out the swash,
Dave

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsWxolFoZ2Y

davh12
14th Aug 2012, 16:43
Sorry it has been so long. 2nd prototype of my patent is up and flying.
This effort is not an attempt to replace any UAS. It is simply an update on my approach/effort to civil UAS and manned platforms. I am still not funded by the Army regarding my patent (Pat # 8,226,026 B2) nor is my endeavor to get the platform off of paper and into the air. But, I'm still going to keep "plugging" away on my own. The designs that I've given to the Army/DOD are separate. Further I have nothing to do with any military rotorcraft/aerospace programs outside of the designs that were given.
I finally made head way in getting the 2nd coaxial HIR prototype into the air with fairly good control for the first hop flight. No swash plate.
Some of you may be thinking it resembles the Japanese GEN H4 or the Airscooter coaxial systems, but those respective airframes, though innovative, are simply tilt mast and both airframes are fixed pitch. Now, my small scale coaxial is also fixed pitch, but it's not simply "tilt mast". It is two airframes that are interconnected with the upper airframe containing the rotor system, tilting independently from the lower airframe, thereby allowing for the application of full collective pitch and yet the weight remains equally distributed between both airframes. If the upper airframe tilts forward, the rotor thrust is vectored as well as the lower portion of the upper airframe that interconnects with the lower airframe via a longitudinal lever/airframe strut, moves aft, but at equal moments, "flexing" the CG rather than a lateral or linear shift in weight within the airframe. A sort of "pendulum" flex, if you will. My theory.

If you review the video clips of the GEN H4 flying, the operator appears to have a "cautious" hold on the control stick that tilts the power plants and masts, but it appears too "loose" as if it may be more easily to over correct, but I cannot be certain. It appears not to be intuitive. With "planform" morphing/HIR airframes, the control stick manipulates both airframes, but not in a "stick to the rotor discs" manner. Connecting the weight of both airframes together, to include the pilot weight in a manned platform, adjusts the the attitude of the upper airframe/masts for direction control. Should any atmospheric gusts hit the rotor discs, it will be translated into both airframes, pilot weight, and then to the control stick. That translation from the rotor discs is "buffered". Further, there may be better control feedback to the operator. With the GEN H4, an atmospheric gust would seem to translate straight to the control stick as the rotor masts/power plants ride on a single gimbal. My platform will use a gimbal as well, but there are always two attachment points between the two airframes with the control stick controlling movement between the two. The GEN H4 has one attachment point between the rotor discs and lower airframe. Two if you count the pilot's hand on the control stick. Now, I need to get the 1st single mast prototype flying. The airscooter again is fixed pitch. Further, it utilizes both a dif. gear system and a polychain pulley system.
Later this week, I will move outdoors and attempt maneuvering around obstacles. Last year, my original plan was to include some sort of "SMART" software that will assist in keeping the airframe in the most optimal configuration for translational flight. If you can remember learning to ride a bicycle and Mom or Dad kept their hand on the seat as you peddled away until you internalized the balance required and then they would let go of the seat. SMART software that can sense pilot control inputs and then make a decision of whether or not to adjust stick control input or take over. But, as of right now, my airframe is only a physical human interface regarding the weight of the pilot moving, interacting and assisting the airframe configuration in control of the platform/thrust vectoring during flight. Time will tell.

fV_Uuo8J_DA

davh12
19th Aug 2012, 21:43
Still not satisfied. Repairs made....my fault....cheap hardware.
Airframe hit the ground from 15 feet....airframe was more rugged than I had expected. The combination adhesive with carbon fiber gusset plates was a good choice on my part. The battery/yaw control platform broke free. It still flew, but lost forward/aft control which I expected. Regarding planform morphing airframes, if there are not 2 points of connection with the weight equally distributed between both airframes, allowing both airframes to move within "one another" the lower airframe will act like a clock pendulum. I suppose my theory proved right. Scaling up to gas powered.

1st outdooripod - YouTube

davh12
19th Aug 2012, 21:45
Crash damage

H L damgeipod - YouTube