From Superinnovators, 02/01/2023
Researchers from MIT Lincoln Laboratory have developed a torus-shaped propeller with reduced noise compared with standard straight propellers used on most drones.
With noise pollution concerns a major barrier to widespread drone use in populated urban areas, this innovation could help with greater adoption.
Here’s how the laboratory describe their innovation:
Key features
- Decreases signals in the frequency range to which humans are most sensitive
- Reduces noise without requiring supplementary components that add weight and increase power draw
- Lessens the likelihood that the spinning propeller will cut, catch, or clip objects or surfaces in the drone’s path
- Achieves thrust comparable to that of a multirotor drone propeller
- Allows reliable fabrication with additive manufacturing techniques that make it possible to customize
- the propeller for various multirotor models and types
The toroidal propeller allows a small multirotor unpiloted aircraft, or drone, to operate more quietly than current drones that use propeller forms unchanged since the beginning of aviation.
By enabling a drone that is less of an acoustic annoyance, this propeller may accelerate the acceptance of such aircraft for a wide range of uses—for example, aerial deliveries, cinematography, industrial or infrastructure inspections, and agricultural monitoring.‘
Challenge
Small, multirotor remotely controlled aircraft, or drones, have been proposed for various services—package delivery, aerial photo/videography, search and rescue, and agricultural surveillance.
The low cost to manufacture and operate drones, and decreased carbon emissions make them attractive to commercial services.
Because drones can fly into tight spaces, such as urban neighborhoods, canyons, and disaster zones, they offer an alternative to sending humans into potentially dangerous areas.
One factor that has limited the deployment of drones for these varied uses is the noise that they generate.
Psychoacoustic experiments conducted in 2017 by NASA Langley Research Center1 showed that humans reported a higher level of sensitivity to noise produced by small multirotor drones than to noise from other traffic.
Thus, quieter propellers could accelerate public acceptance and commercial adoption of drones.‘
Solution
Our quiet toroidal propeller consists of two blades looping together so that the tip of one blade curves back into the other.
This closed-form structure minimizes the drag effects of swirling air tunnels (i.e., vortices) created at the tips of blades and strengthens the overall stiffness of the propeller.
These features reduce the propeller’s acoustic signature.
Tests of prototype toroidal propellers on commercial quadcopters demonstrated thrust levels comparable to those of conventional propellers at similar power
levels.
Reduced sound levels allowed toroidal-propeller equipped drones to operate without taxing human
hearing at a distance half that of typical operation.’
Links
https://twitter.com/MITLL/status/1611438712683958306
738431 166806Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how so much attempt you put to create this type of great informative site. 404799
97816 790636You must take part in a contest for among the greatest blogs on the web. I will recommend this internet site! 30749
307076 323924Hello there. I necessary to inquire some thingis this a wordpress site as we are thinking about transferring across to WP. Moreover did you make this theme all by yourself? Cheers. 12063
618433 845335Delighted for you to discovered this web site write-up, My group is shopping much more often than not regarding this. This can be at this moment definitely what I are already seeking and I own book-marked this specific internet site online far too, Ill often be maintain returning soon enough to appear at on your exclusive weblog post. 116275
905839 446581An fascinating discussion could be worth comment. I believe you need to write on this subject, it might certainly be a taboo topic but generally men and women are not enough to dicuss on such topics. To a higher. Cheers 302812
91431 662831Gems form the internet […]very couple of websites that happen to be detailed below, from our point of view are undoubtedly properly worth checking out[…] 121584
609659 420799Hello! I would wish to supply a large thumbs up for your excellent info you could have here about this post. Ill be coming back to your blog site for further soon. 364161
57760 72622hello!,I actually like your writing really a whole lot! percentage we maintain up a correspondence extra about your write-up on AOL? I want an expert on this area to unravel my dilemma. May be that is you! Taking a appear forward to peer you. 958546
565661 404016Exceptional post. I was checking constantly this blog and Im impressed! Really useful information specially the last part I care for such information much. I was seeking this certain details for a long time. Thank you and very best of luck. 808468
209441 399141You Finally want the respect off your family and pals? 391738
965454 904877But wanna admit that this really is extremely helpful , Thanks for taking your time to write this. 879835
272684 642239Hey there! Good post! Please inform us when we will see a follow up! 289131
447517 380251Intending start up a enterprise about the internet involves revealing marketing plus items not only to ladies locally, but somehow to several buyers who are web-based as a rule. e-learning 256734
304616 460904i was just browsing along and came upon your weblog. just wantd to say wonderful internet site and this post really helped me. 567768
524610 960151You Finally want the respect off your family and pals? 417777
369499 386027Thanks for the post. I like your writing style – Im trying to start a weblog myself, I think I might read thru all your posts for some suggestions! Thanks once much more. 684594
976817 353984hi there, your web site is discount. Me thank you for do the job 257769
536429 972611Were glad to become visitor on this pure web site, regards in this rare information! 979988
351937 176545Thanks for the information provided! I was locating for this information for a long time, but I wasnt able to find a reliable source. 44704
589647 376534quite good post, i definitely enjoy this amazing internet site, persist in it 51360
438523 860578You need to participate in a contest for among the top blogs on the internet. I will suggest this internet web site! 984256