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Aero 2

Explore coupled pitch and yaw through a configurable twin-rotor system.

Manuals & learning linksExplore Control Systems
Two motors · pitch & yaw

What the system does

Two motor-driven propellers act on a body that rotates in pitch and yaw. With both axes free, two motor commands influence two angular outputs: a coupled multi-input, multi-output (MIMO) experiment. Adjustable thrust directions and axis locks support different configurations.

Inputs & outputs

Two motor commands and two body-angle outputs (pitch and yaw). Locking an axis changes the degrees of freedom and the applicable model.

Aero 2 product photograph supplied by Quanser
Product photograph and technical source: Quanser Aero 2 ↗

Inside the experiment

ComponentRole in the system
ActuationTwo DC motors and propellers; adjustable rotor orientation.
SensingFour optical encoders provide body-angle and motor feedback; a six-axis IMU supports additional sensing.
InterfaceIntegrated amplification, current sensing, and QFLEX 2 data acquisition.
SoftwareMATLAB/Simulink with QUARC and supported Python examples.
Annotated Aero 2 figure showing its guarded rotors, adjustable thrust geometry, and base interfaces
Aero 2 components. Figure reproduced from AVRC’s laboratory equipment report. View full-size figure · Manufacturer documentation

Build understanding through evidence

Suggested AVRC learning activities. Use the linked manufacturer procedure and the instructor’s approved setup for the actual experiment.

A practical learning sequence

  1. Document rotor orientation and locked or free axes; select the matching supplied model.
  2. Run instrumentation and modeling exercises with the instructor’s input limits.
  3. Compare independent-axis control with a coupled model using tracking error and motor effort.

Teaching, outreach & research

  • Teaching: system identification, coupling, and multivariable control.
  • Outreach: explain how rotor thrust changes orientation.
  • Research question: how does controller performance change with coupling or model mismatch?

Go directly to the source

Official manuals and resources may have their own licensing or sign-in requirements. Use material for the exact platform generation and software release.

MATLAB, Python & QLabs setupTechnical video libraryResearch reading & examples

Prepare before operating.

Complete lab orientation and platform-specific training. Coordinate the experiment with the AVRC team in B20, Mackey Building.

Safety & access

All equipment · Faculty course integration