Collision Dynamics of Motorized Deformable Propellers for Drones

This paper investigates and analyzes the behavior of a deformable propeller during and after collisions. The experimental setup includes a deformable propeller, a BLDC motor, and a collision initiated while the propeller is rotating steadily. Here, we examine the changes in propeller's angular velocity over time from the start of the collision until it fully recovers its initial velocity. This variation will be compared between the experimentally measured wing velocity using an encoder and the calculated propeller's angular velocity in the simulation. The constructed model describes the relationship between propeller's angular velocity and the input voltage supplied to the motor based on the Lagrange method. The study confirmed the shape transformation process and full restoration of the propeller's original shape following collisions through high-speed video analysis. The results demonstrate consistent monitoring of collision initiation and the subsequent recovery process. This research enhances comprehension of the collision dynamics, thereby contributing to a deeper understanding of the fundamental physics governing deformable propellers, ultimately enhancing safety for drones.