Drone Propeller & Motor Performance Estimator

Overview

This single-file application allows drone builders and RC enthusiasts to estimate the electrical load (Amps) and physical performance (Thrust) of a given motor-propeller configuration. It calculates the expected current draw and static thrust based on input parameters such as propeller diameter, pitch, motor KV, and voltage.

Technical Specification

Core Constraints & Architecture

• Single File: All HTML, CSS (via CDN), and JavaScript (ES6+) must exist in one .html file.
• Storage: No localStorage, sessionStorage, or cookies. State is kept in a JavaScript object that resets on refresh.
• Compatibility: Strictly sandboxed iframe compatible. No pop-ups or alerts; all UI interactions (input errors, results) occur within the DOM.
• Design Aesthetic: Clean, professional, light-mode design. Use a palette of whites, light grays, and a vibrant primary accent color (e.g., #2563eb - Cobalt Blue).

Input Parameters

• Propeller Diameter (inches): Numeric input (1.0 to 12.0).
• Propeller Pitch (inches): Numeric input (1.0 to 6.0).
• Number of Blades: Dropdown (2, 3, 4).
• Motor KV: Numeric input (1000 - 6000 KV).
• Nominal Voltage (V): Input or drop-down selection (e.g., 3.7V, 7.4V, 11.1V, 14.8V, 22.2V).
• Throttle Percentage: Slider (0 - 100%).

Calculation Logic (Vanilla JS)

• Implement a standardized formula: Amps ≈ (Diameter^4 * Pitch * RPM^3 * k).
• Use a constant k derived from standard drone propeller physics to estimate load.
• Provide estimated Static Thrust in grams, calculated using momentum theory.

UI Layout

1. Header: Minimalist title with a clean sans-serif font (e.g., 'Inter' from Google Fonts).
2. Input Section (Left/Top): A grid-based form with high-quality input fields, styled with focus states, subtle shadows, and clear labels.
3. Dashboard (Right/Bottom):
   • Primary Metric Card: Displays the estimated "Amp Draw" in large, bold numbers.
   • Visualization: A simple, CSS-based progress bar showing the load relative to a standard 40A ESC limit (safety indicator: green for safe, yellow for caution, red for danger).
   • Secondary Metric Cards: Thrust-to-weight ratio, total efficiency (g/W).

Aesthetics & UX

• Animations: Subtle CSS transitions (ease-in-out) on input fields and hover states.
• Typography: Use sans-serif system fonts (Inter or Roboto) for readability.
• Responsive: Mobile-first layout. The form stacks vertically on mobile; displays side-by-side on desktop.
• Icons: Use Lucide or FontAwesome via CDN for visual clarity (e.g., motor icon, battery icon).

SEO Directives

• Use semantic HTML (<main>, <section>, <article>) for SEO indexing.
• Ensure the title and meta tags are clearly defined in the header.
• The tool must clearly explain its methodology (e.g., "Disclaimer: Calculations are estimates based on standard aerodynamic models") in a section below the main calculator to satisfy search engine content requirements.