What Motor Power is Needed for a 2-3kg Helicopter?

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SUMMARY

To successfully lift a 2-3 kg helicopter, a minimum thrust of 20-30 N is required. The lift must equal the weight of the helicopter to achieve hover, negating the need for acceleration greater than 9.8 m/s². Testing various motors with a propeller and measuring thrust using a spring scale is an effective method to determine the necessary motor power. This approach allows for practical experimentation to identify suitable motors for the desired lift capacity.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic physics principles, specifically Newton's laws of motion.
  • Familiarity with helicopter design and aerodynamics.
  • Knowledge of thrust measurement techniques, such as using a spring scale.
  • Experience with electric motors and propeller dynamics.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research electric motor specifications for RC helicopters, focusing on thrust-to-weight ratios.
  • Learn about propeller selection and its impact on lift and efficiency.
  • Explore thrust measurement techniques, including the use of spring scales and digital thrust meters.
  • Investigate helicopter flight dynamics to understand hover and stability requirements.
USEFUL FOR

Aerospace hobbyists, RC helicopter builders, and engineers interested in understanding motor power requirements for small-scale aerial vehicles.

goral09
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Hi everyone,

I'm thinking about building x-ufo helicopter, and I'd like to know how strong motors I need. I've been looking for some info in the internet but didn't came across anything interesting. Can you help me and show me a book or a site where i can find some tips and infos

I want to lift 2-3kg helicopter.

I know that if I want my helicopter to lift it has to have greater acceleration than g = 9.8 m/s^2, if I want it to stand still motors have to produce enough power to balance the gravity. But these are the most basic laws, what next?
 
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Hi there goral09, if you want to lift a 2-3 kg helicopter you need a minimum of 20 - 30 N of lift. Your helicopter doesn't need an acceleration capability of 9.8 m/s^2 technically as that's factored into the Weight, which is W = mg. So in order to hover your Lift needs to equal Weight (W). I can't really help you out on the motors though. You could maybe test a few motors with a prop, and have it pull on a spring scale to see how much thrust is produced, and then deduce how many you would need.
 

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