By HighGroundDrones on Jun 17, 2025A 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
Tilt Mechanism (New for Production Prototype)
3D Printed Components
All printed components now SLS (Nylon 12) or MJF, no FDM
Front and rear covers redesigned for:
Electronics & Flight Stack
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.
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 |
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.
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.
do you have cad model that show the printed parts of the drone?