Build Blog: Vorian — A Modular Tilt-Rotor Platform

By HighGroundDrones on Jun 17, 2025

14  977  4

A while back, I posted an early prototype on reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/fpv/comments/1g2cwrl/tilt_rotor_quad_build/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) of a custom tilt-rotor quad. Since then, the airframe has gone through several major iterations and is now in its production prototype stage. This version addresses mechanical reliability, ease of assembly, and better performance under load.

Previous version flight video: https://www.reddit.com/r/fpv/comments/1g47q5d/tilt_rotor_quad_flight_test/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Project Overview
For years, I’ve been experimenting with thrust vectoring in multirotors. Off-the-shelf quads typically don’t support the kind of payload capacity or modular design needed for testing new control schemes, radios, or sensors — so I started building my own. Vorian is designed as a general-purpose modular test platform for tilt-rotor development.

Frame & Configuration

  • H-frame layout with dual independently tilting front arms
  • Pitch control via tilting motors, yaw and roll via differential thrust
  • Full 3K carbon fiber structure, 2mm side plates, with 45mm internal spacing for electronics
  • Titanium countersunk hardware with aluminum standoffs forming a semi-roll cage to protect internals
  • Electronics mounted on a 2mm internal tray with 4 x 30.5x30.5mm patterns for FC, ESCs, or sensor boards

Tilt Mechanism (New for Production Prototype)

  • Entire mechanism redesigned to:
    • Reduce vibration under load
    • Improve bearing alignment
    • Simplify assembly and servicing
  • Custom aluminum motor mounts, now anodized for durability
  • Tilt collar and servo gear are Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) printed for tighter tolerances
  • Motors rotate on dual flanged bearings with reinforced 3D-printed collars
  • REEFS 207 sub-micro servos used for actuation
  • Servos mounted using M2 standoffs, cross-braced for rigidity

3D Printed Components
All printed components now SLS (Nylon 12) or MJF, no FDM
Front and rear covers redesigned for:

  • Lighter weight
  • Modular top electronics cover with antenna and payload options
  • DJI O3 camera and antenna mounts integrated into front
  • Custom GPS tower mount with wire protection, screw-in base
  • Covers can be color-customized (e.g., red GPS tower)
  • Covers re designed to reduced parts for mounting top cover

Electronics & Flight Stack

  • Matek H743-Wing flight controller
  • Matek M10Q-5883 GNSS module w/ integrated compass
  • AxisFlying Argus PRO ESCs (55A/65A) ×4
  • AxisFlying AF2207 1750KV motors
  • ArduPilot firmware with quad-tilt configuration
  • Crossfire Nano RX for control link
  • 6x3x3 HQProps for initial flight tuning

Upcoming Tests and Development
Hover and tuning flights to finalize notch filters and PIDs
Maiden flight test
Smoke system test (for visibility testing and demo purposes)
Platform-specific ArduPilot config changes (e.g., tilt mixing, reverse thrust, migration to arducopter, bug fixes)

Let me know if anyone is running similar tilt systems — I’d love to compare notes or hear what you've learned tuning these kinds of platforms. Test updates and logs will be posted here.

Photos

Part List

Flight Controller

Matek H743 Slim V3 30x30 Flight Controller (3 builds)
Racedayquads.com
$116.49

ESCs

Lumenier ELITE PRO 2-6S BLHeli_32 4-in-1 ESC - 60A (2 builds)
Getfpv.com
$110.49

Motors

4 x Axisflying Brushless Motor Racing AF2207 / For FPV Drone / Racing / Freestyle / Bando / 5 inch
Axisflying.com
$84.00

Propellers

HQProp DP 6X3.5X3 PC (Set of 4 - Light Gray) (4 builds)
Getfpv.com
$5.49

FPV Camera

DJI O3 Air Unit Camera Module
Getfpv.com
$109.00

FPV Transmitter

DJI O3 Air Unit Transmission Module
Getfpv.com
$169.99

Antenna

TBS Tracer Immortal T Antenna
Getfpv.com
$6.49

Receiver

TBS Tracer Nano RX (8 builds)
Getfpv.com
$38.99

Batteries

Lumenier 1800mAh 4s 95c Lipo Battery (XT60)
Getfpv.com
$58.49

Misc Parts

3DR SiK Telemetry Radio Air/Ground Bundle kit
Store.3dr.com
$72.00

Misc Parts

Matek M10Q-5883 GNSS & Compass (2 builds)
Racedayquads.com
$47.99

Misc Parts

12x18x4 Rubber Sealed Bearing 6701-2RS 10 Units
Fasteddybearings.com
$10.99
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Discussion

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kurorin   12 hours ago  

do you have cad model that show the printed parts of the drone?

ferocious_r   Oct 02, 2025  

If there's tilt rotors, then why not add (at least small) wings, as well?

Junnicutt   Jun 29, 2025  

what's the benefit of tilting the rotors? I can only really imagine it making sense for adjusting overall pitch but still using differential thrust for attitude control on pitch. incredibly impressive design.

Matt W   Jul 15, 2025 

I think just the front arms tilt, so- using rear motors as "wings" and the fronts for propulsion while also providing lift? Would enable the craft to remain level, that's my guess

Junnicutt   Jul 18, 2025 
1

for the small amount of benefits you'd get from a quad with only the front 2 motors tilting you have allot of tricky software changes. if all 4 tilt the control system doesn't need many tweaks since the tilting isn't being used for attitude control (aka it's not making changes in the hz timeframe like a tricopter) but with 2 tilting motors the control rules would change dramatically. so i think that's unlikely but if he did find a way to make the software work well it could be a pretty cool idea.

Matt W   Jul 15, 2025  
1

Truly impressive. I've been thinking about building a tilt-rotor for a while but am afraid of the coding/ config :-(