Blade Design in Ducted Fans is More Important Than You Think

 

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) or drones are all the rage, with businesses from Amazon to Domino’s conducting research into using the aircraft to complete deliveries. Utilizing UAVs for these types of serious applications, though, requires precision technology. On today’s Software and Technology Podcast, Daniel Schübeler, founder of Schübeler Technologies, discussed how electric ducted fans (EDFs) and their blade design provide the propulsion necessary to give enterprise UAVs liftoff.

Unlike an exposed propeller, EDFs feature blades mounted inside a fan. Schübeler explained that the design of the blades is critical in making them efficient enough to carry large payloads for a long time.

“It’s important to get the aerodynamics right,” he said, elaborating that proper aerodynamic design yields high thrust with low power input, generating longer flight times.

While some customers turn to EDFs because they look cool, the efficiency benefits are what motivate their applications and design; Schübeler said that his personal motivation in engineering the technology relates to increased safety and reliability compared to open propellers.

“Our goal is definitely to go to zero failures,” he said. Achieving this requires enhanced engineering methods, proper calculations, simulations, predictions, and substantial testing efforts.

Those seeking to deploy drones using EDFs must understand that the off-the-shelf commercial variety has limitations. That’s why customers turn to him for a product with the optimal pitch, blade count, diameter, weight, and balance that best matches their UAV’s airframe.

“We can give people a much higher efficiency,” Schübeler said.

Even the smallest error in an aerodynamic system can cause a loss of 30% to 40% efficiency. By designing EDFs that optimize energy use, Schübeler said his company is accelerating green aviation. His goal is to make battery electric flying platforms good enough to fulfill serious enterprise missions.

For the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the Software & Electronics Industry, be sure to subscribe to our industry publication.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!
Twitter – @TechMKSL
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

mentorship
Empowering Innovation: Kim Porter’s Role in the WAVIT Mentorship Program
July 19, 2025

In an industry where innovation often hinges on experience, mentorship is the bridge that connects the wisdom of the past with the promise of the future. Engineering, especially in the mechanical domain, is traditionally seen as a discipline of precision, but its culture is just as vital as its calculations. That’s why programs like WAVIT’s…

Read More
mentorship
Passion, Power, and the Mentorship Paradigm Shift in Tech
July 19, 2025

In today’s rapidly evolving tech world, mentorship has emerged as more than a professional development tool—it’s a powerful human connection that fosters resilience, purpose, and authenticity. Particularly for women in engineering and STEM, mentorship isn’t just about career guidance; it’s a lifeline to navigating environments where their voices may still fight to be heard. While…

Read More
AV
Lessons in Leadership: Mitek’s Cyndie Nelson on the Power of Mentoring Women in AV Technology
July 19, 2025

Mentorship has long been considered a cornerstone of professional development, but in the fast-evolving world of AV technology and sales, its value has never been more evident. The unspoken nuances of tradecraft—those bits of wisdom not found in textbooks—are often only accessible through the lived experience of mentors. Particularly for women in traditionally male-dominated industries,…

Read More
security
Securing the Future: AtlasIED Unveils Advanced Security Audio Solutions at ISC West 2025
July 19, 2025

At ISC West 2025, AtlasIED is set to make waves once again—this time with a seamless blend of legacy expertise and forward-thinking innovation. As security demands evolve to encompass smarter, more communicative environments, the company’s unveiling of a VoIP commercial-grade doorbell is more than a product launch—it’s a nod to the increasingly interconnected nature of…

Read More