That is true -- propeller-driven cars are not so efficient, but for something this small and light I don't think it would make much of a difference. The thrust to move it on wheels must be a tiny fraction of the thrust needed to lift it.
On the plus side, you could do away with those goofy wheels. Too many parts (18? 18!) and I see tiny little gears prone to binding with the slightest bit of dirt. And just a single wheel is driven.
Also, the wheels being directly in the airflow of the propellers can't be a good thing.
Of course, to use the propellers on the ground, you'd need a mechanism to rotate the 'propeller pods' up. I think using the thrust of the props themselves to do this, with a micro servo to lock them in place, would accomplish this without adding much weight.
And if the propeller motors can be run backwards (I don't know offhand) then you can get rid of the steering mechanism as well.
Comments
That is true -- propeller-driven cars are not so efficient, but for something this small and light I don't think it would make much of a difference. The thrust to move it on wheels must be a tiny fraction of the thrust needed to lift it.
On the plus side, you could do away with those goofy wheels. Too many parts (18? 18!) and I see tiny little gears prone to binding with the slightest bit of dirt. And just a single wheel is driven.
Also, the wheels being directly in the airflow of the propellers can't be a good thing.
Of course, to use the propellers on the ground, you'd need a mechanism to rotate the 'propeller pods' up. I think using the thrust of the props themselves to do this, with a micro servo to lock them in place, would accomplish this without adding much weight.
And if the propeller motors can be run backwards (I don't know offhand) then you can get rid of the steering mechanism as well.