Heavy Lift Quadcopter HLQ Engine Sensor and Torquing Test

Over the last few weeks we have discovered some problems and experienced some part failures as we've been trying to bring HLQ to a point where it can start to be tuned for flight. The most significant was the shearing of a bolt which is used to retain the rotor heads on the rotor shaft in the event that the clamped portion of the head comes loose. The bolt is used primarily to keep the rotor head from flying of if clamping pressure is lost and should never transfer any torque in normal operation. With our set-up, however, large amounts of torque are experienced in the start up process. Excess weight prevented us from using clutches, so we are now experiencing one of the consequences of that.

This video shows a test of our 3 part solution to the problem. First we crated a torque collar which provides additional clamping surface on the shaft. We also replaced the retaining bolt which is hardened and relatively brittle with a rolled spring retaining pin which is far more resilient. Lastly, we applied bearing retaining compound between the clamping surfaces and the rotor shafts which should provide additional torque loading capabilities.

Another problem we had which has been preventing us from staring engines the last several weeks is trying to identify and remedy the cause of ignition timing sensor failure. The sensors on both engines went out, but we do not know the cause. In the mean time, we wanted to collect additional data points while continuing to test, so we purchased cheaper hall sensors in lieu of the more expensive ones available from the ignition manufacturer. The first part of this video shows the successful test of those sensors.

In addition to solving problems, we are becoming much more familiar with good start up procedures and now seem to have a fairly good handle on it. This is also the firs time we have started engines with ALL 16 BLADES ATTACHED!! This is definitely a significant milestone, and we were also able to prove that our starters are capable of starting each engine individually with a full starting load.

It seems only right that after we hit 100k total viewers on the channel last week, we also have such a good testing weekend. We have more videos to come of the second engine being tested for ignition sensors, and another showing both engines running with all blades. So stay tuned.