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As the popularity of drones and the piloting of them as a hobby, and for commercial purposes, continues to grow, pilots and operators are increasingly looking for ways to increase the power, efficiency, speed, height, and general performance of their drones. One of the most common ways in which pilots and operators hope to enhance their unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is by upgrading their drone propellers. It’s a sound strategy as a prop upgrade can improve a drone’s performance, particularly if a pilot is still using the plastic propellers that so often come with new drones. Following are four of the most important considerations drone operators should keep in mind when buying new propellers.

Length of the Propellers

There’s assumption that can accompany the performance of drone propellers: bigger is necessarily better. Not so. Longer propellers move more air and therefore create more lift, but that’s not always what’s best for a drone’s performance depending on your priorities. Shorter propellers, for instance, not only increase the speed of the drone, but they also make drones easier to control at higher speeds. This makes a drone outfitted with shorter props more maneuverable. So, if your priority is speed, like racing for instance, go with shorter, sleeker props. If your priority is lifting heavier loads, like large cameras for cinematography, choose propellers of greater length.

Diameter of the Propeller

As is the case with so many other features of drone propellers, even small changes in the diameter of a propeller’s blades can have a huge impact on efficiency. Similar to the length of a propeller, the greater the diameter of a propeller’s blades results in greater stability and greater lift. Also as is the case with propellers of greater length, that greater diameter is preferable for drones carrying heavier loads. While props with slimmer diameter speed up and slow down more quickly than those with greater diameter, making them more responsive and therefore better for racing.

Propeller Pitch

Propeller pitch can be described as the distance a drone travels per rotation of a propeller. It’s definitely one of the situations in which bigger/more is not necessarily better. The lower the pitch of a propeller, the more torque produced by the prop. More torque means less turbulence, better lift, and the drone motor doesn’t have to work as hard to lift the drone. The higher the pitch, the more air moved, but that air is moved less efficiently, resulting in less torque, less lift, more turbulence, and less efficiency. For most UAV operators, that means choosing propellers offering lower pitch whenever possible makes just makes sense, especially if a smoother ride is a priority. That being said, there are exceptions. For drone pilots working at higher altitudes, for example, higher pitch can improve performance.

Blade Material

There are benefits and drawbacks to every propeller material.

Plastic Propellers

Basic plastic propellers are light and often inexpensive. They are also more likely to break on impact if a drone crashes. That can actually a good thing, however, as a broken prop is far less expensive than a damaged motor bearing on your drone.

Carbon Fiber Propellers

Carbon fiber propellers are incredibly strong and cause less vibration and sound. They are also lightweight, responsive, and well-balanced. They tend to be a little more expensive than plastic props and are less likely to break during a crash.

Wooden Propellers

Finally, there are wooden propellers. (Beechwood propellers by XOAR are a good example.) In some ways, these props are like a combination of carbon fiber and plastic. Wooden props can be incredibly finely machined, are light and efficient, do not suffer the vibrational stress other propellers are prone to, and are more likely to break on impact, protecting the motor bearing.

About XOAR

XOAR has been a recognized innovator in and thought leader of the drone and RC vehicle industry for over 40 years. That recognition is based on the efficiency, quality, and precision of their products and manufacturing process. Their RC propellers, drone motors, and other UAV equipment and accessories all leverage cutting-edge technology, the highest quality material, most skillful engineering, and top manufacturing standards. XOAR’s expertise further includes propellers for industrial UAVs, LSA, civilian aviation, ultralight aircraft, commercial applications, RC airplanes, mid-to-large UAVs (like hexacopters, octocopters, and gear and parts for them), and much more.

Original Source: https://goo.gl/cCMLCL