Joshua Bird Publishes Single-Propeller Drone Prototype on GitHub
The prototype steers pitch and roll with a hinged propeller hub and relies on an infrared beacon for a fixed position reference.
Joshua Bird has published a single-propeller drone prototype that can fly and be controlled, with the project files available on a GitHub project page, according to Hackaday.
The Prototype uses a hinged propeller hub that changes blade angle to control pitch and roll, letting a single spinning propeller handle the aircraft's stability rather than the multiple rotors found on conventional drones.
Building it required a high-RPM motor and direct measurement of motor speed and position instead of standard ESCs, which rely on back EMF. Bird also wrote custom controller code with rapid motor speed adjustments to keep the drone stable.
Position holding is handled separately: an infrared beacon in the room and a sensor on the drone give it a fixed reference point to avoid losing position and crashing.
Planned upgrades
Bird plans to add a scanner so the drone can use environmental features as fixed reference points, a step toward tracking its position without the beacon.
Quick answers
Where can I find the single-propeller drone project files?
The project files are available on a GitHub project page.
How does the single-propeller drone control pitch and roll?
It uses a hinged propeller hub that changes blade angle.
How does the drone avoid losing position?
An infrared beacon in the room and a sensor on the drone give it a fixed reference point.