@inproceedings{01c249e90655466ca19fc24be385e709,
title = "Energetics of rotary-wing exploration of Titan",
abstract = "Rotary-wing vehicles have the potential to enable exploration of Titan at scales ranging from hundreds of kilometers to millimeters. This paper examines the flight power demands of multi-rotor vehicles (e.g. quadcopters or co-axial helicopters), considering both hover and forward flight. Specifically, this paper examines power demands of a small (1 kg) co-axial helicopter as well as a larger (350 kg) multi-rotor vehicle. In both cases the power requirements are well within the capabilities of current batteries and electric motors: the 350 kg vehicle requires 1.87 kW aerodynamic power for hover and 1.32 kW aerodynamic power for cruise at an airspeed of 9.5 m/s; the 1 kg vehicle requires 3.63 W aerodynamic power for hover and 3.17 W aerodynamic power to cruise at 4 m/s. Energy requirements of the 1 kg vehicle are driven mainly by thermal management and power required by avionics: this has a significant influence on range, endurance, and optimal flight speeds. The flight performance characteristics of both vehicles are capable of fulfilling meaningful scientific goals.",
author = "Langelaan, {Jack W.} and Sven Schmitz and Jose Palacios and Lorenz, {Ralph D.}",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2017 IEEE.; 2017 IEEE Aerospace Conference, AERO 2017 ; Conference date: 04-03-2017 Through 11-03-2017",
year = "2017",
month = jun,
day = "7",
doi = "10.1109/AERO.2017.7943650",
language = "English (US)",
series = "IEEE Aerospace Conference Proceedings",
publisher = "IEEE Computer Society",
booktitle = "2017 IEEE Aerospace Conference",
address = "United States",
}