What Motors are Used in Drones?

There is a large variety of brushless and brushed motor types to choose from. Of course, the motor specification mainly depends on what drone you’re building and your personal preference, but here we will discuss how to choose the motor that best suits your drone.

The motor should be chosen based on both its nominal power (measured in watts or kilowatts) and its weight (in g). Also important is its maximum RPM (revolutions per minute), measured by KV (for example, 1200kv means 1.2 revolutions per minute).

Let’s take a look at six of the most common types:

9XX Motors

These high-performance motors have been designed for multirotor that require high power and speed.

Brushed Motors

These are the most common type of motor, found in cheap toy drones. They’re easy to use and maintain, but they don’t last as long as brushless motors.

Brushless Motors

Brushless motors are more efficient and last longer than brushed motors, making them a better choice for drones that require more power.

Outrunner Motors

Outrunners are designed specifically for drones and have a higher power-to-weight ratio than other types of motors. They also produce less noise and heat.

Inrunner Motors

Inrunners are the opposite of outrunners; they’re designed for applications that require high torque (like cars or boats). They’re not as common in drones, but they can be useful for larger models.

Gear Motors

Gear motors are similar to outrunner motors, but they have a smaller diameter and use a gearbox to increase torque. This makes them ideal for drones that require more power than can be provided by an outrunner motor of the same size.

Choosing the right motor is important for getting the most out of your drone. By understanding the basics of brushless and brushed motors, you can make an informed decision about which type is best for your needs.

What are drone motors?

Drone motors are the engines that provide the power needed to propel a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle). They can be divided into two major categories: brushed and brushless.

What is the difference between brushed and brushless motors?

Brushed electric motors contain a series of permanent magnets on one side, with copper wire wrapped around them in a particular pattern. The opposite end has copper wire wrapped around it as well, but there are no permanent magnets. An electrical current from the controller is then sent through the wires which creates a magnetic field that causes electrons to go rushing toward this opposite end, creating motion as they do so. 

In contrast, brushless drones use a rotor with permanent magnets and a stator with three stationary copper coils. Electricity from the controller creates a magnetic field, causing the electrons to flow through these coils in such a way that it produces rotational motion.

What are brushless motors used for?

Brushless motors can be used in drones of all types. They’re typically found in high-performance racing drones because they provide maximum thrust for minimum weight and size requirements, but they can also be found in toy-grade quadcopters as well. On that note – brushless motors aren’t generally used in toys simply because they don’t add many benefits over cheaper brushed motors while adding significantly more cost and complexity.

How do you control brushless drone motors?

Brushless motors are controlled by varying the voltage that is sent to them. The greater the voltage, the higher the speed of rotation – but this also results in faster wear and tear on both the rotor blades and stator coils. If you’re using a brushless motor controller, it will be able to monitor how much current is being drawn from each cord (which tells it how much power you’re putting into each rotor). By adjusting these variables, you can control exactly how fast your motors spin and for how long they do so before needing replacement or maintenance.