{"ID":2895120,"CreatedAt":"2026-06-01T04:54:23.091178241Z","UpdatedAt":"2026-06-01T04:54:23.091178241Z","DeletedAt":null,"paper_url":"https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.09463","arxiv_id":"2507.09463","title":"Influence of Static and Dynamic Downwash Interactions on Multi-Quadrotor Systems","abstract":"Flying multiple quadrotors in close proximity presents a significant challenge due to complex aerodynamic interactions, particularly downwash effects that are known to destabilize vehicles and degrade performance. Traditionally, multi-quadrotor systems rely on conservative strategies, such as collision avoidance zones around the robot volume, to circumvent this effect. This restricts their capabilities by requiring a large volume for the operation of a multi-quadrotor system, limiting their applicability in dense environments. This work provides a comprehensive, data-driven analysis of the downwash effect, with a focus on characterizing, analyzing, and understanding forces, moments, and velocities in both single and multi-quadrotor configurations. We use measurements of forces and torques to characterize vehicle interactions, and particle image velocimetry (PIV) to quantify the spatial features of the downwash wake for a single quadrotor and an interacting pair of quadrotors. This data can be used to inform physics-based strategies for coordination, leverage downwash for optimized formations, expand the envelope of operation, and improve the robustness of multi-quadrotor control.","short_abstract":"Flying multiple quadrotors in close proximity presents a significant challenge due to complex aerodynamic interactions, particularly downwash effects that are known to destabilize vehicles and degrade performance. Traditionally, multi-quadrotor systems rely on conservative strategies, such as collision avoidance zones...","url_abs":"https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.09463","url_pdf":"https://arxiv.org/pdf/2507.09463v1","authors":"[\"Anoop Kiran\",\"Nora Ayanian\",\"Kenneth Breuer\"]","published":"2025-07-13T03:00:15Z","proceeding":"cs.RO","tasks":"[\"cs.RO\",\"physics.flu-dyn\"]","methods":"[]","has_code":false}