How does a drone yaw?

[Robert Leigh]

I'm really puzzled about this. If you send a drone forwards, the controller gives the rear motors more power and this tilts the drone, allowing the force to be directed slightly backwards. Same principle for going backwards or sideways.

But how does it turn on its axis? you'd think the individual motors would have to tilt with respect to the aircraft itself, but they seem to be fixed.

 

[LivinLarge]

Half of the motors turn clockwise. The other half turn counter-clockwise. Each motor applies a force to the frame opposite of its rotational direction. These forces cancel each other out when running at the same speed. If you speed up one set, the drone will rotate.

 

[tcope]

By applying more thrust to the propellers rotating in the same direction. This basically spins the drone in the direction that those propellers are spinning.

Quadcopter - Wikipedia

 

[toucanf16]

Nice simple answer, thanks.

 

[Qoncussion]

Good question... Why didn't I think of that?

 

[LivinLarge]

By applying more thrust to the propellers rotating in the same direction. This basically spins the drone in the direction that those propellers are spinning.

Quadcopter - Wikipedia

Wouldn't it spin the drone in the opposite direction?

 

[Huddy]

It’s not just a case of speeding up the clockwise rotors in order to turn left. It’s also important to slow the counter-clockwise rotors by the same amount in order that the drone doesn’t rise.

 

[LivinLarge]

It’s not just a case of speeding up the clockwise rotors in order to turn left. It’s also important to slow the counter-clockwise rotors by the same amount in order that the drone doesn’t rise.

That is correct.

 

[tcope]

Wouldn't it spin the drone in the opposite direction?

Sorry, yes.

 

[AnzacJack]

Torque

 

[Av8rshane]

Newton's third law. For every action there is a equal and opposite reaction. When you slow down the 2 CCW motors and increase the CW motors the quad will turn CCW while maintaining altitude. It's pure magic!

 

[Av8rshane]

When a helicopter tail rotor fails the helicopter will spin in the opposite direction as the rotor.

 

[Emaij]

Very cool!

 

[Spamanimak]

All the props are permanently tilted , individual motorspeed Determines direction

I'm really puzzled about this. If you send a drone forwards, the controller gives the rear motors more power and this tilts the drone, allowing the force to be directed slightly backwards. Same principle for going backwards or sideways.

But how does it turn on its axis? you'd think the individual motors would have to tilt with respect to the aircraft itself, but they seem to be fixed.