colinhilton: Catamaran Quadcopter

Although the simplest iteration of a self-launching boat might feature four lift-motors and one each to propel the hulls, with motors and speed-controllers expensive a reduction in number would be beneficial. At the same time, once in the cruise lift-motors and their equipment represent dead weight. The featured arrangement allows for all four motors and propellers to be transitioned from hovering (or surface-effect operation) to planing on water. To enable this the upper edge of each pontoon is reduced to a stub to support the motor, whilst support of each hydro-ski at the prow is accomplished by a pair of booms terminating in a T-bar. A benefit of vectoring all four motors by these means is that the ride-height can be adjusted to suit the environmental conditions. At the same time the control-laws governing flight in the hover should obtain for steering the craft on water, simplifying the transition from flight into cruising on water.

Posted by: colinhilton - website: https://www.teledrone.com