Dry S-76 UAV

Main article: Unmanned aerial vehicle (drone, UAV)

2024: Development of Hybrid Propulsion Components

NRU MPEI has developed the components of a hybrid power plant for a heavy unmanned aircraft UAC-OKB Sukhoi. UAV S-76 has 8 screws for vertical take-off and landing, driven by electric motors through power semiconductor converters, which were created by MPEI scientists. The university announced this on August 21, 2024.

source = MPEI NRT

Power converter contains microcontroller control system and inverter based on IGBT for conversion of constant voltage of accumulator into alternating voltage for electric motor supply. The power on each screw reaches 100 kW. The converter is controlled from the flight controller via the aviation digital protocol ARINC-825 with redundancy of the communication channel.

In 2022, as part of the implementation of the Priority 2030 program, MPEI became a confident leader in power to electronics for aviation. industries We have developed power converters and a control system for propeller motors UAV S-76 UAC-OKB Sukhoi, and in 2023-2024 we took part in flight tests and strengthened cooperation with leading aviation companies. industries We are confident that this development will be a significant step towards creating safe and energy-efficient solutions in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles, air taxi and electric aircraft, - said the rector of NRU MPEI. Nikolay Rogalev

For horizontal flight, a gasoline cruise engine is provided, which is located in the tail of the UAV fuselage. It turns on after takeoff and accelerates the plane to speed when the wing begins to create sufficient lifting force. Thereafter, the power converter control system stops and rotates the propeller blades to reduce air resistance. Landing of the aircraft is carried out vertically due to electric traction.

Such a UAV can take off from sites measuring 17x17 meters, has a take-off weight of 1,500 kg, a cruising speed of 180 km/h, a flight altitude of up to 4000 m, can carry cargo with a volume of up to 2 m2 and a weight of up to 300 kg. The flight radius without refueling at the destination is 500 km, and the flight range with a cargo of 200 kg exceeds 1000 km.

Power semiconductor converters, which are used in this UAV, were developed at NRU "MPEI" at the Department of Automated Electric Drive under the leadership of the head of the department Alexei Anuchin as part of the strategic project "Climate Transformation of the Energy Industry" of the Priority 2030 program and produced by the small innovative enterprise "Vector." �