
Bearings used in unmanned aerial vehicles must meet the requirements of lightness, high rotation speed, low friction and corrosion resistance.
Bearings used in unmanned aerial vehicles must meet the requirements of lightness, high rotation speed, low friction and corrosion resistance.
1. Deep groove ball bearings
Application: High speed rotating components such as motor shafts, propellers and servos.
Features: Simple design, perception of radial and axial loads; low friction, high speed (e.g. ceramic bearings can achieve higher speeds); Common materials: stainless steel (for corrosion protection) or hybrid ceramics (silicon nitride balls + steel rings).
2. Angular contact ball bearings
Application: Units that require simultaneous perception of radial and axial loads, for example, electric motors of multi-rotor UAVs.
Features: Contact angle (e.g. 15° or 25°) optimized for axial load absorption; a paired installation allows increasing rigidity (for example, in UAV servos).
3. Needle roller bearings
Application: Swinging units with limited space (eg servo rods).
Features: Small radial size, high load-bearing capacity; Suitable for high frequency rocking or limited rotational movements.
4. Self-lubricating bearings
Application: Maintenance-free hinge joints (for example, hinges on folding drone arms).
Features: Material contains solid lubricants (such as PTFE or graphite); resistant to dust, do not require maintenance, but have a relatively low load-bearing capacity.
5. Ceramic bearings (all ceramic or hybrid)
Application: Electric motors of high-end UAVs or extreme conditions (high temperatures / corrosive environment).
Features: Fully ceramic (ZrO₂ or Si₃N₄) - corrosion-resistant, lightweight, but high in cost. Hybrid ceramic (ceramic balls + steel rings) - a balanced solution in terms of performance and cost.
6. Flange bearings
Application: Assemblies requiring axial fixation (for example, chamber suspension).
Features: Equipped with a flange for ease of installation and to prevent axial displacement.
1. Dimensions and weight: Miniature bearings (for example, with an internal diameter of 3 mm) are used in small UAVs.
2. Rotation speed: Electric motor bearings must withstand tens of thousands of revolutions per minute (for example, DJI motors usually use bearings with an accuracy class of at least ABEC-5).
3. Environmental resistance: Waterproof/dustproof seals (such as rubber O-rings) or salt spray resistance (stainless steel).
4. Cost: Commercial UAVs most commonly use stainless steel deep groove ball bearings; Military or industrial UAVs may use ceramic bearings.