An Efficient Brushless DC Motor Design for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Abstract

In this study, 650W, 3500rpm 225Kv with 5kg traction force brushless DC motor is developed by using multidisciplinary analysis tools which include electrical, electromagnetics and electronics. In aerial vehicles, the efficiency is highly significant since it affects whole system parameters such as flight time, battery capacity, system mass and its acoustic noise level etc. Electric motor designer's aim is to increase machine efficiency at particular operating condition which is usually at rated condition. However, in aerial vehicles the motor's load type is fan and it has a parabolic speed-torque characteristic. Hence, the motor efficiency should be maximized in this particular load line in a wide speed range. Hence, the study mostly focuses on maximizing the electrical energy to traction force conversion efficiency at fan load characteristic but other performance-enhancing studies have not been neglected. The performance metrics will be more detailed in the study. The results are verified with both simulation and experimental study.