Trajectory and design optimization of multirotor drones with system simulation

View Video Presentation: https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2021-0211.vid The design optimization of multirotor drones is a key enabler for improving existing and future vehicle architectures performance. For many multirotor applications, the design is performed in order to respect the maximum speed requirements and maximizing the endurance in hover of the drone. For specific applications, the requirements enable to propose different alternatives for the trajectory which can thus be considered as an additional degree of freedom in the design process. In this paper, different approaches are proposed for achieving the vehicle design optimization, the trajectory optimization and both simultaneously. The approaches taken explore the possible use of multidisciplinary analysis and design optimization with OpenMDAO and dynamic optimization with Modelon Impact and Optimica. The specific multirotor drone application considered is a lifting and handling vehicle which could replace cranes in dense urban areas. The most significant finding is that vehicle operations that involve transient trajectories considerably affect the overall drone design especially the choice of the propeller pitch.