Design and Control of Power Transmission System for Dual-Engine Variable-Pitch Multirotor UAV

This study introduces the inaugural fully integrated dual-engine, variable-pitch power transmission system for multirotor UAVs, with real-time fault detection and correction within 85 ms to enhance power reliability and performance. A novel coupling technique allocates engine torque using a modular belt-gear system, allowing adaptive thrust regulation and power redundancy. The dynamic system model facilitates a synchronised dual-engine control approach and a variable-pitch algorithm, guaranteeing stability in both normal and fault conditions. Experiments integrating ground tests and flight validation ascertain the proposed system’s power response precision and fault tolerance. The findings indicate strong control performance and reliability, with a thrust error under 4.3% and an attitude variation under ±2.8°, even in the presence of faults. The proposed architecture offers a robust alternative to conventional single-engine designs, enabling secure and cost-effective operation in challenging missions while also accommodating future advancements in intelligent, fault-tolerant UAV systems.