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>Side question: what if they replaced the batteries and electric motors with gas tanks and an ICE?

Congratulations, you have invented the helicopter.



I know. Specifically, I reinvented gasoline-powered model RC helicopters, that were all the rage before battery-powered quadcopters became a thing, and scaled them up. I.e. I don't recall anyone trying a "palletrone"-like thing with an ICE-based platform, despite the tech for it being mature for like 50 years or so.


> I.e. I don't recall anyone trying a "palletrone"-like thing with an ICE-based platform, despite the tech for it being mature for like 50 years or so.

You need far greater reaction speeds for a viable quadcopter to remain stable than an ICE, much less a turbojet engine, is capable of.

There has been some project featured on here, I think it was a single-prop chopper, kept hovering and centered just by minutely controlling exactly when torque was created by the motor. Absolutely f..ing nuts.


> I think it was a single-prop chopper, kept hovering and centered just by minutely controlling exactly when torque was created by the motor. Absolutely f..ing nuts.

I recall a video of someone sticking a RC chopper rotor to a fixed-wing model aircraft and turning it into a thrust vectoring propeller with software, giving the plane ability to pull some unique acrobatics.

> You need far greater reaction speeds for a viable quadcopter to remain stable than an ICE, much less a turbojet engine, is capable of.

You can split the problem in two: use ICE to generate thrust, vector it with passive elements on fast-reacting electric servos. Or, you can retain all the electric hardware, but replace the battery with an ICE generator and a gas tank - the main problem here is reducing weight, and gasoline has much better energy density than batteries.


You'll enjoy the stick with a double blade prop on each end, using sub-revolution speed control to do it's thrust vectoring. The second prop is only needed to counter torque, btw.


No, he has invented the Hover Barrow - as seen in 1960.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OmJ-8JMw_l4


Hum... Helicopters have several disadvantages for finely controlled flights near the ground.

You will probably want to feed a generator and some small battery pack.


I believe given the context, where it's flying indoors in a populated area, this is more like the "manhack" drones from Half Life. :P




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