Dumbbell: a high efficiency coaxial unmanned helicopter
Chen Z, Fu X D, Liu C, et al
Sci China Inf Sci, 2026, 69(1): 114201
The coaxial unmanned helicopter offers advantages of high payload capacity, compact structure, and enhanced aerodynamic efficiency, making it suitable for space-constrained applications. In contrast to multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), whose thrust efficiency is restricted by rotor diameter, the coaxial configuration achieves higher energy utilization through the use of two large rotors instead of multiple smaller ones. Furthermore, by employing counter-rotating rotor to offset the main rotor torque and provide yaw control, the coaxial design avoids the additional power loss of a conventional helicopter’s tail rotor, thereby improving overall hovering efficiency.