Selecting the Right Motor Size for Your Drone

Posted by sheryl from the Sports and Fitness category at 23 Nov 2023 03:38:03 am.

Understanding the suitable motor size for your drone is crucial, particularly in the realm of brushless and brushed motors used in various applications. Brushless motors tend to be more robust and durable, making them an excellent choice for larger quadcopters, while brushed motors find utility in smaller, more affordable micro and nano drones, providing confidence even in crash situations. Both types operate on electromagnetic principles, albeit with differing internal mechanisms.

Brushless Motors: Powerhouses for Drones
In the domain of FPV drones, brushless motors reign supreme. These motors lack brushes, consisting of distinct rotor and stator components. The stator encompasses a network of radial electromagnets generating momentary magnetic fields when current flows through the windings. Positioned near these electromagnets are sets of permanent magnets within the rotor. The rotor-stator interaction, through attractive and repulsive forces between the magnets, generates rotation.

Unlike brushed motors powered directly by DC, brushless motors are connected to control electronics without requiring brushes or a commutator. This setup enhances the motor's longevity and efficiency. In applications demanding high power and efficiency, such as tiny and micro multicopters, brushless motors are widely preferred.

Understanding Brushless Motor Components
Brushless motors consist of two primary parts:

Rotor: The rotating part housing magnets arranged radially.
Stator: The non-rotating section containing electromagnets.
Deciphering Motor Sizes
Brushless motors are denoted by a group of four numerals (e.g., 2207, 2306 brushless motor), indicating the rotor’s height and diameter in millimeters (mm). The thrust a motor generates correlates with its size:

Taller stator: provides higher maximum speed but may lack low-speed control.
Wider stator: improves handling at lower speeds but may limit top speed.
Comparing Taller and Wider Stators
The mass distribution in a wider motor, located farther from the rotational axis, results in higher inertia, making it less responsive than taller and narrower motors, despite having similar stator volume and torque output. However, wider motors offer better cooling due to increased surface area, a crucial factor affecting motor performance tied to temperature fluctuations.

Choosing the Right Motor Size for Your Drone
To determine the optimal motor size for your drone, consider:

Frame Size: Frames dictate prop size, which, in turn, demands varied motor RPM for efficient thrust generation.
Prop Size: Each prop size requires a specific FPV motor RPM for effective thrust generation.
Motor Size: Verify torque capacity to match the chosen propeller.
Motor Size Recommendations for Different Drones

Micro Drones: Varying sizes like 65mm, 75mm, and 85mm necessitate different motor sizes and KV ranges based on their applications and efficiency requirements.
Toothpicks: Ranging from 2” 1s to 2.5”, these drones demand motor sizes and KV ranges corresponding to their power and weight.
Note: The information provides recommendations for drone sizes and motor types suited for specific applications, considering factors like size, weight, and power requirements.

Let me know if there's any specific part or section you'd like me to emphasize or clarify further!

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