Proxflyer

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Microflyer, Nanoflyer and Picoflyer

Proxflyer refers to a family of micro R/C helicopter prototypes based on a dual coaxial counter-rotating rotor concept developed and patented by Norwegian Petter Muren. The concept differs from the swashplate (helicopter) designs in conventional helicopter flight (cyclic/collective pitch) controls and enables a helicopter to be passively stable in hover. Exclusion of the conventional cyclic controls allows for simpler, less expensive and lighter helicopters to be developed. A helicopter based on this design achieves stability without the use of gyroscopes or any form of active stabilization and thus is made up of much fewer parts than other model helicopters. The two counter-rotating rotors keep the helicopter at the exact position relative to the surrounding air. Altitude control is via the varying of speed for both main rotors while Yaw control is achieved by increasing the speed of one rotor and reducing the speed of the other rotor by the same amount. A horizontally oriented tail rotor controls the helicopter’s forward or backward movement by shifting its center of lift with respect to the center of gravity (CG).

1 Key Benefits
2 Proxflyer Prototypes
3 Popularity of Design
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Key Benefits

Absolutely stable without the use of any gyros or autopilots
No servos, actuators, rods, links, gears or other moving part
The whole helicopter is operated and controlled by 3 electric motors; 2 motors for the main rotors and one extra motor for control
Forward movement is achieved by the tail propeller tilting the helicopter forward
The rotor blades are encircled by a ring that supports and protects them
Very efficient, all the power is used to generate lift
Silent: the mechanical drives and the rotors generate no noise
No vibrations
Safe

[edit] Proxflyer Prototypes

Description	Size	Weight	Flight Duration	Radio Control	First Flight
Mosquito Twin-Tail	Rotor Dia. 360 mm	130 grams	20 mins	4 Channel	22 Jul 2004
Mosquito	Rotor Dia. 360 mm	110 grams	30 mins	3 Channel	1 Feb 2003
Bladerunner	Rotor Dia. 290 mm	50 grams	7 mins	3 Channel	1 May 2004
Microflyer	Rotor Dia. 128 mm	7.8 grams	10 mins	3 Channel ; uses 2	10 Nov 2003
Nanoflyer	Rotor Dia. 85 mm	2.7 grams	10 mins	2 Channel IR	4 Sep 2004
Picoflyer	Rotor Dia. 60 mm	3.3 grams	1 min	3 Channel	7 Aug 2005

[edit] Popularity of Design

The Proxflyer rotor system is licensed to Interactive Toy Concepts. ^[1] The company’s R/C helicopters, which include Bladerunner and Micro Mosquito ^[2], are all based on the proxflyer rotor design. In fact, the Bladerunner was considered to be the first really successful indoor R/C helicopter. At present, the total number of toy helicopters produced using the Proxflyer rotor system is estimated to be about a million. The Proxflyer helicopters are also widely used in science projects around the world.^[3]