NEA flight copy of the unmanned aircraft of the SARMA aircraft type was presented on May 21 at Novosibirsk State Technical University (NETI). The drone is designed to perform agricultural work in aviation, cargo delivery, and long-term monitoring.
Engineers at NSTU-NETI, including employees of the student design bureau of the Faculty of Aircraft, are working on the SARMA project within the framework of the program of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation "Priority 2030" of the national project "Science and Universities".
Anatoly Bataev, Rector of NSTU-NETI, said during the presentation that the university is actively engaged in the topic of unmanned aircraft systems within the framework of the Priority 2030 program, and the SARMA project involves the competencies of several departments and faculties on this topic at once. Therefore, the power module of a hybrid power plant for a drone was developed by the Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering, and the autopilot system was handled by the Department of Electronic Devices and the Department of Electric Drive and Automation of Industrial installations. The motor generator of a hybrid power plant of a medium-sized UAV is at the Mechatronics Center of the University, and engineers of the Faculty of Radio Engineering and Electronics are working on antennas for receiving signals from GPS/GLONASS navigation systems. The design of the aircraft is handled by the Department of Aircraft and Helicopter Engineering.
The characteristics and features of SARMA were presented by Ilya Zverkov, project manager and, Professor of the Department of Aircraft and Helicopter Engineering at NSTU-NETI, Doctor of Technical Sciences. The flight range of the drone with a hybrid power plant, named after the swift Baikal wind, is up to 1200 km, and the cruising speed is 100 km/h. The SARMA weighs 155 kg, has a wingspan of 12.2 m, length of 5.2 m, and height of 2.7 m. The UAV is capable of lifting from 100 to 120 kg into the sky. An unpaved platform with dimensions of at least 100x25 m is required for takeoff and landing.
A feature of the developed drone is its high energy efficiency. The efficiency indicator of 60 watts*hour / kg for transportation per 100 km is achieved because of the absence of a pilot, an energy-efficient aerodynamic circuit, and a hybrid power plant. A gasoline internal combustion engine together with an electric motor helps to easily take off and gain altitude, during the main part of the flight only the internal combustion engine works. A powerful generator provides autonomous energy for operating all systems.
The design of the wing and fuselage provides the possibility of installing various spraying or sowing systems. The wavy profile of the wing skin is another unique technical characteristic of SARMA. This is a development of the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics SB RAS, which allows the increase of flight safety at low speeds. The essence of the constructive and technological novelty is that, by analogy with birds, the aircraft has a rigid power frame made of aluminum alloys, which is surrounded by a less durable but, more malleable plastic skin.
During the presentation, Vadim Vasiliev, Minister of Science and Innovation Policy of the Novosibirsk Region, noted that NSTU=NETI will become one of the integrating platforms for the UAS industry in the region, combining fundamental research and R and D work. "It is especially pleasant that the university independently creates UAV models with fundamentally new characteristics for the industry. We hope that soon, we will see this car in the air and it will show itself 100%," he stressed.
On May 21, during the presentation, the operation of the electric power plant, the remote piloting and autonomous navigation system, and the FPV system equipped with the aircraft were demonstrated. The design and characteristics of the SARMA allow it to be operated under the control of a pilot; therefore, to reduce risks, it was decided to take the first copy into the sky in a manned version and receive a certificate of airworthiness according to strict rules for manned aircraft.
After confirming the stated characteristics and possible correction of the design, the next stage is planned — transfer of aircraft control functions to the autopilot system.