<p>Surprisingly, that flexible coupling is actually a good thing. If you look at helicopters, this is called a lead-lag hinge, and it allows the propeller to match flight loads when flying around. What happens is the blade advances in the hinge as it retreats in the airflow, and retreats in the hinge as it advances in the airflow. </p>

<p>(Watch a fully-actuated hinge on a helicopter: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu48f7s5Ru8" rel="noreferrer">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu48f7s5Ru8</a>)</p>

<p>This is because as the rotorcraft flies forward, the rotational velocity of the blades combines with the translational velocity of the aircraft to make for a different airspeed across the blades depending on where they are in their rotational arc.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/CuWfT.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/CuWfT.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<h3>Aerodynamics</h3>

<p>Aerodynamically, this allows the blade to perform better in forward flight. In particular, as the blade goes faster to catch up it increases its airspeed and decreases the likelihood of a tip stall.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/vSiuv.gif" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/vSiuv.gif" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<h3>Structure</h3>

<p>Structurally, the hinge removes all stresses about that axis[*]. In turn, reduced stress allows for a narrower blade root and a longer lived blade. In fact, it's very challenging to build a helicopter with a fixed root because the blades tend to fatigue themselves to death very quickly.</p>

<p>[*] By definition, a hinge is a mechanical device which provides for a rigid connection in all axes but the hinged one. A perfect hinge provides no resistance along the hinged axis.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-07T16:36:23.983Z
I'm not sure you explain how an articulating root like this reduces mechanical stresses when the tips begin to stall. Could you elaborate? And in which direction? The video you linked just looks like the swash plate in action, not anything special like for example the articulation used on the Freefly Alta X to fold the props for packing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_eUV3jnvqA
ifconfig
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-07T18:10:18.233Z
I'm not sure I linked stall to stress, those two are separate. The definition of a hinge is an axis which doesn't resist torque, i.e. things twist freely about that axis. If you watch the blade in the video, you'll see small movements forwards and backwards as a result of the lead-lag hinge in the blade. You'll also see it flapping up and down, as a result of the flapping hinge. A consequence of a lead-lag hinge is folding blades, as you mention with the Alta X. This is done with helis for the same reason: http://www.paravion.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/407-427_blade_fold_kit.jpg.
Kenn Sebesta
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-07T15:58:31.727Z
2020-05-07T19:01:37.813Z
2020-05-07T19:01:37.813Z
Kenn Sebesta
<p>In theory, you can't accelerate and decelerate the props as quickly. If the motor accelerates, the props lower angular velocity keeps it from accelerating too quickly. Same for deceleration: if the motor decelerates, the prop's momentum makes it want to stay fast. It is only when the prop's position exceeds the motor's position, that the centrifugal force will slow it down.</p>

<p>But you have to consider that the angular velocity is quite a lot - therefore the centrifugal force is very high and the prop will only slightly move in its mount, thus not really affecting the flight all that much. Especially, when you consider that most drones with foldable props (e.g. DJI Mavic series) are "smart drones": They probably considered that during development and made it so that the motor speed is only raised and lowered slowly, so the effect isn't too noticeable. Plus, these drones are quite heavy so a tiny little change in prop speed will probably not have a big impact on the position in the air.</p>

<p>As you can see below, the propellers have different angles relative to the motor position. Obviously, propellers can only be designed for one direction of movement. Since the direction changes however, depending on whether it is accelerating or decelerating or at a constant speed, the uplift will be slightly reduced during speed changes of the props. <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/L43di.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/L43di.png" alt="motor acceleration and deceleration image"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-11T19:30:55.857Z
I wanted to add some experience to my answer: I'm running some 6*3*3 Gemfan floppy props on my rig now and can't really feel a difference. The only thing that is a bit different is the startup of the motors. If the props are folded while I start them, the PID sometimes lifts the quad a couple of cm above the ground, just through idle throttle. But nothing spectacular. But accelerating and decelerating feel just like with other generic props (both to me and some friends).
Bastian Springer
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-07T12:51:18.883Z
2020-05-08T15:47:42.650Z
2020-05-08T15:47:42.650Z
Bastian Springer
<p>There are a number of multirotors on the market which have propellers which fold at the hub, primarily to make storage and transport easier. Centrifugal force keeps the blade extended when the motor is spinning.</p>

<p>However, there is still a flexible coupling between the blade and the hub; what effect does this have on the aircraft during flight?</p>

<multirotor><propellers>
How do laterally folding propellers affect multirotor flight?
Kralc
# How do laterally folding propellers affect multirotor flight?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-05-07)

There are a number of multirotors on the market which have propellers which fold at the hub, primarily to make storage and transport easier. Centrifugal force keeps the blade extended when the motor is spinning.

However, there is still a flexible coupling between the blade and the hub; what effect does this have on the aircraft during flight?

**Tags:** multirotor, propellers

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2020-05-07. Score: 10 | Accepted answer

In theory, you can't accelerate and decelerate the props as quickly. If the motor accelerates, the props lower angular velocity keeps it from accelerating too quickly. Same for deceleration: if the motor decelerates, the prop's momentum makes it want to stay fast. It is only when the prop's position exceeds the motor's position, that the centrifugal force will slow it down.

But you have to consider that the angular velocity is quite a lot - therefore the centrifugal force is very high and the prop will only slightly move in its mount, thus not really affecting the flight all that much. Especially, when you consider that most drones with foldable props (e.g. DJI Mavic series) are "smart drones": They probably considered that during development and made it so that the motor speed is only raised and lowered slowly, so the effect isn't too noticeable. Plus, these drones are quite heavy so a tiny little change in prop speed will probably not have a big impact on the position in the air.

As you can see below, the propellers have different angles relative to the motor position. Obviously, propellers can only be designed for one direction of movement. Since the direction changes however, depending on whether it is accelerating or decelerating or at a constant speed, the uplift will be slightly reduced during speed changes of the props. [![motor acceleration and deceleration image](https://i.sstatic.net/L43di.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/L43di.png)

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: I wanted to add some experience to my answer: I'm running some 6*3*3 Gemfan floppy props on my rig now and can't really feel a difference. The only thing that is a bit different is the startup of the motors. If the props are folded while I start them, the PID sometimes lifts the quad a couple of cm above the ground, just through idle throttle. But nothing spectacular. But accelerating and decelerating feel just like with other generic props (both to me and some friends).  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2020-05-07. Score: 8

Surprisingly, that flexible coupling is actually a good thing. If you look at helicopters, this is called a lead-lag hinge, and it allows the propeller to match flight loads when flying around. What happens is the blade advances in the hinge as it retreats in the airflow, and retreats in the hinge as it advances in the airflow.

(Watch a fully-actuated hinge on a helicopter: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu48f7s5Ru8>)

This is because as the rotorcraft flies forward, the rotational velocity of the blades combines with the translational velocity of the aircraft to make for a different airspeed across the blades depending on where they are in their rotational arc.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/CuWfT.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/CuWfT.jpg)

### Aerodynamics

Aerodynamically, this allows the blade to perform better in forward flight. In particular, as the blade goes faster to catch up it increases its airspeed and decreases the likelihood of a tip stall.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/vSiuv.gif)](https://i.sstatic.net/vSiuv.gif)

### Structure

Structurally, the hinge removes all stresses about that axis[\*]. In turn, reduced stress allows for a narrower blade root and a longer lived blade. In fact, it's very challenging to build a helicopter with a fixed root because the blades tend to fatigue themselves to death very quickly.

[\*] By definition, a hinge is a mechanical device which provides for a rigid connection in all axes but the hinged one. A perfect hinge provides no resistance along the hinged axis.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: I'm not sure you explain how an articulating root like this reduces mechanical stresses when the tips begin to stall. Could you elaborate? And in which direction? The video you linked just looks like the swash plate in action, not anything special like for example the articulation used on the Freefly Alta X to fold the props for packing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_eUV3jnvqA  
> **username_1**: I'm not sure I linked stall to stress, those two are separate. The definition of a hinge is an axis which doesn't resist torque, i.e. things twist freely about that axis. If you watch the blade in the video, you'll see small movements forwards and backwards as a result of the lead-lag hinge in the blade. You'll also see it flapping up and down, as a result of the flapping hinge. A consequence of a lead-lag hinge is folding blades, as you mention with the Alta X. This is done with helis for the same reason: http://www.paravion.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/407-427_blade_fold_kit.jpg.  

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