Acoustic Analysis of Uneven Blade Spacing and Toroidal Geometry for Reducing Propeller Annoyance

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are becoming more commonly used in populated areas, raising concerns about noise pollution generated from their propellers. This study investigates the acoustic performance of unconventional propeller designs, specifically toroidal and uneven-blade spaced propellers, for their potential in reducing psychoacoustic annoyance. Our experimental results show that these designs noticeably reduced acoustic characteristics associated with noise annoyance.