Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

My daughter is doing the simple drone project from Popsicle sticks. We have followed all directions and verified multiple times everything was correct and the drone will not lift. Please help with some trouble shoot options other than checking wires because they’re all correct. We can also feel air under the propellers so I don’t think that’s the issue either and we’re running out of time.

Hi,

Just to clarify, you are working on this project? https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... uch-weight

A few questions that will help us troubleshoot:

1) Are you using fresh batteries? This project drains batteries pretty quickly, so if you have been trying for a while, you might want to get new ones.
2) Did you buy the exact motors and propellers listed in the materials section?
3) Do you feel air blowing down under EACH motor individually? For example it's possible that just one motor is wired backwards - so you might still feel air flowing down if you stick your hand under the whole drone, but if one is spinning the wrong way, it won't lift.
4) Are the wooden dowels perfectly parallel? Does the drone slide easily up and down the dowels without getting stuck if you move it by hand?

Let us know the answers to those questions and hopefully we can help you figure it out.

-Ben