Design and Development of Retractable VTOL Rotor Arms for Hybrid Drones.
Jiten Chordiya, Aarya Karlekar, Ashish Anthony, Varun Joshi, Chandrashekhar S. Dharankar · International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research · 2025
This study focuses on the design, development, and optimization of retractable Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) rotor arms for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The goal is to create a VTOL mechanism that enhances aerodynamic efficiency, reduces drag during forward flight, and improves portability and storage by retracting the rotor arms when not in use. Retractable rotor arms offer promising applications, especially for hybrid drones used in long-range and high-speed missions, where minimizing drag and maximizing flight time is crucial. The project combines structural design principles, material selection, and dynamic analysis to develop a lightweight, durable, and reliable retractable rotor arm system. We incorporate mechanical and electronic control systems to allow seamless deployment and retraction of rotor arms. Structural and fatigue analyses ensure the mechanism's durability under various flight conditions. The optimization process uses a multi-objective approach, focusing on reducing drag, enhancing stability, and minimizing weight. Design parameters, including arm length, retraction angles, and material properties, are iteratively refined using machine learning-based optimization algorithms. Testing and validation of prototypes are conducted to assess real-world performance, with results indicating a significant reduction in drag and improved flight efficiency. This research demonstrates the feasibility of retractable VTOL rotor arms in advanced UAV designs, laying the groundwork for further enhancements in hybrid VTOL drone technology.