Rapid extraction of propeller geometry using photogrammetry

As small Uninhabited Aerial Vehicles (sUAS) increase in popularity, computational analysis is increasingly being used to model and improve their performance. However, although propeller performance one of the primary elements modelling an aircraft, most manufacturers propellers for this size vehicle do not publish geometric information propeller. The lack available data makes simulation aerodynamics challenging. While techniques exist accurately extract 3D geometry a propeller, these methods are often very expensive, time-consuming, or labor intensive. Additionally, typical scanning produce mesh that useful such as Blade Element Theory (BET), which rely on knowledge 2D cross sections along span. This paper describes novel workflow point clouds using readily photo equipment software subsequently airfoil blade parameters at specified stations described process can be done with little theoretical photogrammetry minimal human input. generated compared against results established extraction good agreement shown.