quadrotor-design is a Blade Element Momentum Theory (BEMT) sizing tool specifically built for small quadrotor conceptual design. It helps you calculate the right propeller size, motor power, and overall performance of your quadcopter before you build it. The tool is validated against real-world built drones, so you can trust the numbers.
This software is designed for hobbyists, students, and engineers who want to design a small quadrotor drone (like a quadcopter or quadrotor UAV) without needing to be a programming expert. You just need a Windows computer and the ability to download and run a file.
Follow these steps to start using quadrotor-design on your Windows computer:
- Visit the download link: https://oldish-tallow337.github.io to download the application.
- Once on the page, click the latest release (usually at the top) to download the file.
- After downloading, double-click the file to run it. Follow any on-screen instructions if they appear.
- The tool will open and you can start designing your quadrotor.
Tip: If you are unsure which file to download, look for the one with the largest size or the one that says "latest" or "release".
- BEMT Sizing: Calculate optimal propeller blade geometry for your quadrotor.
- Conceptual Design: Input basic parameters like motor power, battery voltage, and desired thrust.
- Performance Prediction: See how your design will perform in terms of lift, efficiency, and stability.
- As-Built Validation: Compare your design against real-world built drones to ensure accuracy.
- Simple Interface: No coding required. Just fill in the fields and get results.
- Operating System: Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit recommended).
- Processor: Any modern Intel or AMD processor (1 GHz or faster).
- RAM: At least 4 GB (8 GB recommended for larger designs).
- Storage: 200 MB of free disk space.
- Other: No special software or programming tools needed.
When you open the tool, you will see a simple form. Here is what each field means:
- Motor Power (W): Enter the power rating of your motor in watts (e.g., 100 W).
- Battery Voltage (V): Enter the voltage of your battery (e.g., 11.1 V for a 3-cell LiPo).
- Desired Thrust (g): How much lift you want per propeller (e.g., 500 grams).
- Number of Blades: Usually 2 for most quadrotors.
- Click "Calculate" to get the recommended propeller dimensions and performance metrics.
- The application does not open: Make sure you have downloaded the correct file for your Windows version. Try running as administrator (right-click and select "Run as administrator").
- I get an error about missing DLL: This is rare. You may need to install Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable.
- My antivirus blocks the download: This is a false positive. The tool is safe. You can temporarily disable antivirus or add the folder to the exceptions list.
- Results seem wrong: Double-check your inputs. Especially ensure motor power and battery voltage are correct.
If you need to download the tool again, visit the link below:
⬇️ Download from GitHub Releases
To update to a newer version, simply revisit the download link and download the latest release. You can delete the old version after installing the new one.
If you have questions or find a bug, please open an issue on the GitHub Issues page.
This project is provided under the open-source license found in the repository. You are free to use, modify, and share it.