Helicopter rotor control

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

The rotor when at speed is pretty aggressive and has huge energy. What’s amazing is the small rods that pull the blades to pitch. Or the spinning shafts that drive the whole assembly and the tail rotor. All very complex and moving at incredible speeds! There’s a lot to go wrong!

[@bzig4929]

Thanks for commenting! I agree, helicopters are amazing machines. I'm always fascinated to see how flexible the blades are, but to realize how stiff they become under CF loads.

[@brodricj3023]

Point to note, with offset dual servo actuators as shown in this animation there has to be a mixing unit between the pilot controls and the servos. If you think this rotor system mechanism is complicated, it 'aint half as complicated as the mixing unit. And to think, these things were designed by engineers using slide rules.

[@bzig4929]

Mechanical mixing units are works of art! And complicated... and really difficult to animate 🙂

[@itzDrizzyyyman]

im currently working on something for Unreal Engine i dont understand how a helicopter pitches left and right haha@@bzig4929

[@OnyekeStella]

This channel make me understand everything about helicopter

[@llwellyn1]

Excellent graphic presentation!

[@bzig4929]

Thank you!

[@wbwilhite]

It boggles the mind that people invent this stuff out of nothing. Human imagination can be truly awesome.

[@flat-earther]

hi wbwilhite, have you become a flat earther yet?

[@bzig4929]

Absolutely! Even more so when you think that most of the complex systems around us came before computers, 3d modeling and simulations.

[@wbwilhite]

@@flat-earther Since 1975, I have been around the world multiple times by air and sea. To me, the world appears round. If I ever get to outer space, I will likely see it again, that the Earth is a sphere. How about you?

[@muneneeric3903]

I will try one in Africa kenya

[@flat-earther]

@@wbwilhite okay. I became a flat earther in 2020 BTW wbwilhite, what do you think about all gubments drawing a line around you and saying you are not allowed to leave?(Antarctic Treaty) If you don't know what I mean, read my about tab.

[@samspade8612]

Outstanding video. The only thing that would make it better is if you established the helicopter forward position to show left & right turns & forward & back. Maybe even a small video insert showing the control movements while the swashplate is moving.

[@bzig4929]

I'm on it!

[@yzScott]

Remember, the controls are phased 90 degrees from what you'd think. To control the pitch of the helicopter, the cyclic is "active" while the blades are perpendicular to forward flight. Also, I've never seen a head with "flap" pivots. The blades would droop to the ground when not turning.

[@sc0tte1-416]

I always thought the tail rotor did that but then again I know nothing lol

[@WW5RM]

​@@sc0tte1-416it does but what I think he is meaning is pitch left and right. As you are pitched say forward at full collective, as the blades are at the rear they are at the maximum pitch, as they come forward they become flatter all depending on how much lift is needed. So I think he means left and right cyclic / stick or pitch. Not turn.

[@arshu333]

Bruh. Such an amazing work.

[@darioinfini]

Can you imagine the engineering brain that came up with this mechanical interface to account for all the motions described here. Damn.

[@LawrenceZhou-r2m]

and it needs to be reliable, crazy engineering

[@Boss_Tanaka]

Lots of try-and-errors lead to this state of the art engineering

[@user-vp1sc7tt4m]

I think modern helicopter design started with the work of Igor Sikorsky although exploration had been going on for many years before his first designs in the 1930's. (based on memory only)

[@stachowi]

it wasn't a single person (or company), it all started with the autogyro and then the flaws were worked out by many different people.

[@stachowi]

sikorsky was late in the game when it came to rotor systems, he perfected the helicopter design (main rotor with single tail rotor)@@user-vp1sc7tt4m

[@Entertainment-mg6jx]

Legendary machinery and concepts

[@tetttettamilli6761]

👍. Can u an animation on engine lubrication systems, specifically, those used in inverted piston-engine helicopters?

[@mudhutproductions]

Those connecting rods must be insanely strong to take the assorted stresses placed on them.

[@АндрейПросто-т5х]

Спасибо, теперь я окончательно понял как работает автомат перекоса для направления движения вертолёта! Ещё хочется понять как происходит передача крутящего момента от двигателей к винту

[@bzig4929]

Thanks for watching and thanks for the comment!

[@sccolbert]

It's pretty easy to see how the flapping hinge is inline with the control rod ball-joint during neutral feathering. But, how is the flapping motion constrained during positive AOA so that the control rods and swash plate dont exceed their limits of motion?

[@bzig4929]

Because the flapping hinge is offset from the center of rotation, the CF loads increase as the blade flaps. I tried to explain this here... kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4GbZaWCnKdkbassi=jH7F90gkFuQhbmI3 Check out the chapter on coning angle and flapping equilibrium. thanks for the comment!

[@husseinmuhammad3123]

Very clear animation ,thanks

[@bzig4929]

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@rajeshankala7148]

A century old technology.

[@jeffrenman4146]

dear content creator a beautiful beautiful super super good animation… But one thing are those control rods attached to the rotor grips dragging the swash plate ?

[@bzig4929]

Good catch! This should have a component called a "drive scissors" that connects the rotating swashplate to the mast. The drive scissors is what drags the swashplate along to match the rotation of the rotors. I had a difficult time figuring out the relationship for movement of the scissors, so I did not animate it. I have another video with the scissors included. Thanks!

[@JoseLopez-xu8ue]

Up down flapping used how it's relivent it's energy spent up

[@assassin3008]

Please make a video of how the cyclic and collective link to the swashplate

[@bzig4929]

I did that a couple of weeks ago. Check out my helicopter playlist. Thanks!

[@assassin3008]

@@bzig4929 i saw the video of how the cyclic moves and how the swashplate responds but i mean like the rods between the cyclic and the swashplate

[@bzig4929]

Oh... I understand. That would be cool. These large helicopters have so much mixing in the controls, it would be very challenging to animate that. Maybe I can start with a smaller helicopter, with no mixing. I'll start working on it! But I've got a few other things I want to do before I get to that.

[@assassin3008]

@@bzig4929 i have a diagram of the cyclic and collective, theres pedals but they're simple so not much use

[@smokescreen2146]

How fragile are the components of this system in practice?

[@zombieregime]

Well....there is video of a MH-60 cutting off its own refueling snorkel in an aerial refueling mishap. It survived, though probably with a good shimmy to it. Of course that is a LARGE military aircraft, so its built to withstand things most crafts will never see, like being shot at. The blades of a helicopter need some give to them, you dont want them to be too rigid or they'll shatter as they encounter forces around the cyclic....uh cycle. So the bend along the length is very much a design choice. the lead/lag dampeners are also a mitigation to allow the rotor to engage in some not that good for itself geometry and return to normal without too much issue. Some helis have counter weights at the blade mounting point that will counter flap to help disperse the energy of the flap and keep everything spinning right. As far as the rest of the mast and control structure.....well the mast itself supports at least the maximum takeoff weight of the craft, plus maneuvering forces as the fuselage is basically a pendulum under the rotor disk. The hub has to keep the blades from flying away via centrifugal force, and translate their lift to the vertical mast (remember the blades are the wings, they are airfoils that are moving through the air via rotation instead of linear motion. Also, helicopters do not create lift, they beat the air into submission😉). The part on top that keep the rotor hub from flying off the mast is colloquially known as 'the Jesus nut' because if you bust that nut, you're going to meet Jesus. Its the same as a plane losing its wings, the rest of the craft tries to hang in the air in exactly the same way that bricks dont. Usually with the same results.... The control linkages......are RIDICULOUSLY strong AND light. Every ounce counts when a rotor craft can fly laterally for hours, but only hover for 30 minutes. At least when its moving forward lift efficiencies take over and save fuel. But a dead hover just CHEWS through fuel like you wouldnt believe. Especially for the big birds. I cant quote you tensile strength numbers because honestly I dont know. But with forces like all of that involved, its safe to assume that while some compliance is built into some of the pieces, they are still incredibly strong. So, not very fragile at all. In fact, its the rotating balance of the rotor disk that is the most important. If thats out of whack, you better get to the ground before physics decides thats enough flying for you today.

[@flat-earther]

@@zombieregime hi zombieregime, have you become a flat earther yet?

[@brodricj3023]

They are surprisingly robust considering the other design aim is to make them as light weight with as little metal as possible. There is 3000 psi of hydraulic pressure pushing those bits up and down. If it all stays straight it can take the flight loads with margin to spare.

[@kwcnasa]

Hello, helicopter pilots. Does a tail rotor auto re-center to it's center position when you release the foot pedal? Or should I ask were they spring loaded so that it will return to center position upon releasing the foot pedal? Does the cyclic spring loaded as well? Does it return to center like those computer joysticks? Thank you in advance.

[@bzig4929]

Some larger helos, those with advanced flight controls, have a pedal trim feature. In these aircraft the pedals auto trim to a position selected by the pilot or the flight control computers. The pilot can retrim via a button on the cyclic control, or with microswitches on the pedals. In most smaller helicopters, the pedals do not trim to center... They stay (via friction) where the pilot last positioned them. On these aircraft the friction is usually adjustable.

[@bzig4929]

The cyclic, even on small helos, generally has a trim feature that returns to the pilot select trim position. On more advanced aircraft, the pilot, or the computers, can adjust the trim position. For example, if a helo has a attitude retention feature, the computers can continually readjust the trim to hold pitch and roll attitude. Generally (different designs treat this differently) attitude retention is done via trim, wheras rate stabilization is done downstream of the pilot controls and does not move the trim position.

[@brodricj3023]

@@bzig4929 Pedal trim switch is usually on the collective, not the cyclic control.

[@brodricj3023]

1. When you take pressure off the foot pedal the pedal (and tail rotor pitch) should stay where you left it (by design). If it moves then maintenance needs to make adjustments. 2. In helicopters with cables that make the tail rotor pitch changes there is a special spring mechanism as a safety precaution if one cable breaks the other cable still has some control authority. 3. Yes, the cyclic has a spring mechanism (and magnetic brake) which is part of the force trim system. When engaged the cyclic control stays where you leave it.

[@SnowWhiteDuc]

A year's worth of physics to be dissected in this video.

[@mooncrack37]

how about coaxial rotor? it is hard to imagine having 2 independent swashplate(if it true) with each can rotating in different speed

[@bzig4929]

I think the way the coax works is the "stationary" swashplate of the upper rotor is not actually stationary, but it rotates with the lower rotating swashplate. That would be a fun project to 3d model.

[@richardbeach8364]

Worked for me, thank you.

[@alanwhitfield1907]

Yet another video about helicopter rotor systems that has fundamental omissions and mistakes. This video omits to show the fixed scissor that connects the lower swashplate to the gearbox housing that prevents rotation of the lower plate and also provides a pivot point when lateral cyclic movement is applied. Forward input of the cyclic control does not operate all three servos as shown in this video. Fore/ aft input movements cause the swashplate to pivot about the two stationary lateral servos, whilst lateral input cause the two lateral servos to operate in opposition, causing the swashplate to pivot about the front servo and the fixed scissor. In addition the control inputs are offset from the fore/aft and lateral axes to compensate for phase lag of the rotor systems.

[@bzig4929]

thanks for the comment. The kinematics of the scissors is unusually difficult; I did the rotating scissors and called that good enough I suppose (I got lazy). I understand your observation on swashplate tilt, but the flaw in what you're looking at has to do with the advance angle of where the lower pitch links connect to the rotating swashplate. This angle is typically about 30 degrees ahead of the connection to the pitch control horn and this makes it appear the swashplate is out of synch with blade feathering. A pure lateral command, at the rotor, will not be a pure longitudinal tilt of the swashplate; instead, it's skewed by this advance angle. Thanks for watching and commenting. I'm doing a new series on helicopters where I'm releasing incremental videos... just so I can take user feedback, like yours, and make the product better. I hope you check it out! Thanks for watching.

[@sc0tte1-416]

They need to reverse engineer UFO tech already. This seems too complicated with too much crap that could go wrong

[@siphesihlelanga5783]

Ingenious ❤

[@edwardhunter3647]

Thanks,I will be building a prototype soon.

[@lucid212]

What controled flapping?

[@bzig4929]

Flapping isn't controlled. It's an aerodynamic and inertial response to the control moments generated through blade feathering.

[@lucid212]

@@bzig4929 Ah yes, thank you sir! Superb video! ❤️👏

[@Vadimkatashid]

The inventor of this device is Russian mechanic Boris Yuryev!

[@bzig4929]

He was also the first to propose the tail rotor for anti-torque. Thanks for commenting!

[@MattCantSpeakIt]

Research has been proceeding to develop a line of automation products that establishes new standards for quality, technological leadership, and operating excellence. With customer success as our primary focus, work has been proceeding on the crudely conceived idea of an instrument that would not only provide inverse reactive current, for use in unilateral phase detractors, but would also be capable of automatically synchronizing cardinal grammeters. Such an instrument comprised of Dodge gears and bearings, Reliance Electric motors, Allen-Bradley controls, and all monitored by Rockwell Software is Rockwell Automation’s "Retro Encabulator".

[@bzig4929]

You're comparing real technology to the retro encabulator? I'm fascinated by this. I think what you're saying is that everyday things can be so complex that they cause anxiety, but if we cover up the guts of the technology, so it's out of sight, then we're ok with it.

[@MattCantSpeakIt]

@@bzig4929 huh??? I'm not comparing anything. This was just a joke mate ... I think this animation is brilliant...

[@bzig4929]

Oh, sorry... my reply was also an attempt at humor. Love the turbo encabulator 😉

[@АланМагометовичИсаев]

Замечательно!

[@swashplate]

Looks just like my MH-53E, only it has 7 blades.

[@brodricj3023]

Yep. The animation is very similar to the way Sikorsky builds these things.

[@寺門定透]

1回転の間にローターのピッチがあれだけ変化すれば故障します。 しかも部品が小さい、無理な負荷が掛かる。

[@bzig4929]

This is a very good observation. Control inputs are at one-per revolution, but it's not practical to move the controls this fast when the rotor is operating at a flight RPM. As you point out... something would break.

[@bzig4929]

Also with noting... helicopters of the future may have higher harmonic control... where rotor control can be at frequencies higher than one-per-rev. The vision is HHC inputs will give airplane like ride quality using small high frequency inputs.

[@寺門定透]

@@bzig4929 何故ローターを高周波振動させなくてはならないのですか？ 軍事兵器としては壊れないことが第一です、それを貧弱な部品で故障率を上げようとするのですか？ 軍事兵器としてはローターを一回転中にピッチを振動させるのではなく、ローターのピッチを固定して回転シャフトのほうを動かしたほうが頑丈に作れます。

[@寺門定透]

ドラえもんのタケコプターのように回転軸のシャフトの向きを変えることで浮力の方向を変えたい。

[@crimony3054]

A lot of moving parts.

[@menititehnik]

Come, see and learn Sir..👍

[@JoseLopez-xu8ue]

Three significant use fifteen

[@miketobin2324]

A little explanation wouldn't hurt.... and perhaps some soothing wind noise in the background would also be nice.

[@bzig4929]

I like it! I've been thinking about expanding this video with exactly what you suggest.

[@bestamerica]

' this helicopter must have alot of harden ballbearrings

[@brodricj3023]

Elastomeric bearings have been used for many years in helicopter rotor systems.

[@helicopterovirtual-msfs6254]

Sensacional.

[@ÁlvaroMiño-r7v]

Buena Sebastián Piñera después conversamos autorizado para copiar retransmitir utilizar y la como llama

[@lahiruudara3356]

Amazing animation! Is there a way for me to use this for an explainer about Mars Helicopter, Ingenuity on my channel @octoberskyshow?

[@lahiruudara3356]

www.youtube.com/@octoberskyshow

[@bzig4929]

that's cool if you want to use the content inside one of your vids. I have done strikes against videos where it's just a 100% copy, but other than that I don't.

[@lahiruudara3356]

@@bzig4929 Thank you very much for your kindness. I will send you the video before I publish it.

[@muneneeric3903]

I will be the first African to invent this rotary blade

[@bzig4929]

Keep watching videos! We have faith in you!

[@anilsachdeva-vu3vp]

Aur kaun si video bhejna chahti hai bhej de main dekhta hun wait list mein baitha hun ghabrahat pata hai mere ko Tera time nahin pass ho raha

[@aleksandrmatveev9337]

Doesnt look like a solid construction.

[@god-manmeherbaba8576]

😍😍💗💗🥰🥰

[@ajwiko55okiwja51]

3ทิศไกลไกล้4

[@UdinSamsudin-zg9jo]

Yang semua nya

[@LuxLux-k3o]

Tugas

[@SantoshRajput-vn2lr]

Hi

[@SantoshRajput-vn2lr]

Hii

[@miriahmpaloma8088]

But your derailed before you prayed rotor control

[@meherbabaisgod9967]

😍😍💕💕🥰🥰