{
 "version": "2026-10-20",
 "license": "Dimension sheets: CC BY 4.0. Standard and published-size files: CC BY 4.0. Xem Studio's own designs (files_license = Xem Studio Design License): free to use and sell things from, not to redistribute as files — https://xemstudio.com/license/. Other publishers' files: their own license, linked beside them.",
 "slug": "tricopter-y3",
 "name": "Tricopter (Y3)",
 "kind": "standard",
 "category": "Drone design",
 "group": "Drone frame layouts",
 "year": null,
 "question": "How does a tricopter yaw?",
 "tags": [
  "vehicle design",
  "drone frame layouts",
  "rc design",
  "aerodynamics",
  "guide"
 ],
 "aliases": [
  "tricopter",
  "y3 tricopter",
  "tri copter",
  "tilting tail motor",
  "tricopter yaw servo",
  "3 motor drone",
  "tricopter vs quad",
  "tricopter frame"
 ],
 "overall_mm": {
  "length": null,
  "width": null,
  "height": null
 },
 "official_cad": false,
 "xem_status": "not-scanned",
 "les": false,
 "free_files": 0,
 "url": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/tricopter-y3/",
 "sheet_txt": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/tricopter-y3/sheet.txt",
 "sheet": {
  "basis": "Design rules and figures from the cited sources; example geometry by Xem Studio",
  "overall_mm": {
   "length": null,
   "width": null,
   "height": null
  },
  "notes": [
   "A tricopter has three motors about 120 deg apart; the rear motor tilts on a servo for yaw, which gives good yaw authority without cutting thrust (Oscar Liang).",
   "It is less stable, its tail mechanics are crash-prone, and ArduPilot calls the type outdated."
  ],
  "table": {
   "columns": [
    "parameter",
    "value or range",
    "source"
   ],
   "rows": [
    [
     "Arm spacing",
     "~120 deg",
     "Oscar Liang"
    ]
   ]
  }
 },
 "sheet_text": "Tricopter (Y3) — dimension sheet\nSource: Xem Studio, https://xemstudio.com/objects/tricopter-y3/  (sheet CC BY 4.0)\nBasis: Design rules and figures from the cited sources; example geometry by Xem Studio\nCatalog version: 2026-10-20\n\nSizes: see table below\n- A tricopter has three motors about 120 deg apart; the rear motor tilts on a servo for yaw, which gives good yaw authority without cutting thrust (Oscar Liang).\n- It is less stable, its tail mechanics are crash-prone, and ArduPilot calls the type outdated.\n\nparameter  value or range  source\nArm spacing  ~120 deg  Oscar Liang\n\nFiles elsewhere (not hosted by Xem Studio; license as stated by the publisher):\n- Oscar Liang: Types of multicopter — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://oscarliang.com/types-of-multicopter\n- ArduPilot: Archived: Advanced MultiCopter Design — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://ardupilot.org/copter/docs/advanced-multicopter-design.html\n\nNo true-size file yet: the published figures do not fix the whole shape; a measured scan is planned.\nAPI: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=tricopter-y3\n",
 "sources": [
  {
   "publisher": "Oscar Liang",
   "title": "Types of multicopter",
   "url": "https://oscarliang.com/types-of-multicopter",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "ArduPilot",
   "title": "Archived: Advanced MultiCopter Design",
   "url": "https://ardupilot.org/copter/docs/advanced-multicopter-design.html",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  }
 ],
 "xem": {
  "status": "not-scanned",
  "sheet_free": true,
  "mesh_price_usd": null,
  "step_price_usd": null,
  "tolerance_mm": null
 },
 "related": [
  "true-x-frame",
  "stretched-x-frame",
  "squashed-x-frame",
  "hybrid-x-frame",
  "deadcat-frame",
  "h-frame"
 ],
 "fits": [],
 "dimensions": "exact (nominal, no printing tolerance)",
 "dimension_rule": "All geometry on Xem Studio is exact (nominal, true size) with no printing tolerance. Where a part meets another part, the object lists its mating features (feature, exact size, what it mates with, fit class: press, slide, run, socket, clamp or designed). Apply your process's allowance to those features only; 'designed' gaps are part of the design and stay as drawn.",
 "mating": [],
 "faq": [
  {
   "q": "Still worth it?",
   "a": "ArduPilot regards tricopters as outdated."
  }
 ],
 "files_license": null,
 "offers": [],
 "markdown": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/tricopter-y3/index.md"
}