Simulation of crash tests for electrically propelled flying exploratory autonomous robot

The need for continuous technical development brings fresh innovatory solutions and at the same time indicates new trends. For years, common applied solutions have not been adequate enough to the newly established and evolving needs. Furthermore, the global development brings new challenges and needs for the aviation propulsions. An example of such a problem can be particularly noticeable in recent years, with the growing popularity of remotely controlled, small flying objects, commonly called drones, which designated new opportunities in the field of aviation, as well as become a source of new needs. An unusual challenge is the application of a drone in extremely difficult weather conditions or surrounding conditions causing its multiple and relatively strong bounce off the obstacles that may occur while using the drone to inspect ventilation ducts, in confined areas with a large number of installations, in dense forest conditions or in space with strong turbulent atmospheric conditions. In such cases it is not possible to avoid multiple collisions with various obstacles. It is necessary to design drone and its drive so that such collisions will not damage the flying object and moreover that maintenance of the full control of the drone will be possible. As the answer to those needs a drone was designed with a passive protection system. To protect against the collision consequences, the static parts of the drone\-the power supply, controllers, motors and extension devices as well as the rotating parts\-propellers are covered outwardly with a protection shield. In this paper the behaviour of the protection system of flying autonomous robot's propulsion during collision with perfectly rigid obstacle was checked. The performed numerical crash analysis simulates probable collision situations in operating conditions specific for the researched drone.