Students of the Faculty of Physics and Technology of Tomsk State University created a prototype of a domestic three-phase collector-free DC electric motor for mid-range multirotor drones. Such an engine will reduce the service intervals for unmanned aircraft systems. The device received a certificate of confirmation of technical characteristics at the Archipelago 2025 in Skolkovo. The project was presented by Ivan Sukhovolsky, Alexey Mitsik, Maria Fomina, Artyom Alekseev and Konstantin Ustenko. The project was supervized by Natalya Kostyushina, an employee of the Department of Applied Aeromechanics, TSU Faculty of Physics and Technology.
The electric motor was manufactured on the basis of the Student Design Bureau “Prototyping of Technical Systems” of the TSU Faculty of Physics and Technology. The main feature of the motor is a protected closed case. This design allows the engine to be used in difficult weather and production conditions and saves money and time by reducing maintenance intervals. The engine is fully made of domestic components.
— We found that the colleagues from the Project Park laboratory developing a drone to extinguish fires need affordable and high-quality motors that they have to purchase. We identified this problem and decided to create such engines upon our initiative, – said the technical director of the team Ivan Sukhovolsky. – Our main task was to develop reliable collector-free engines for UAVs with a maximum thrust of up to 5 kg fully made from domestic components. Such an engine will reduce the service intervals for servicing unmanned aircraft systems.
According to Kirill Kostyushin, manager of the Project Park of the Faculty of Physics and Technology, students designed 10 versions of the electric motor case from various materials: plastic, all-metal, composite, as well as with different cooling systems. The students plan to conduct field tests of the engine on an aircraft-type UAV.
— In the Project Park we assembled our first prototype, the body is made by 3D printing on a photopolymer printer. Then we made an all-metal electric motor that can be used in a drone, and now we are at the testing stage, – added Ivan Sukhovolsky. – We receive very good support from the teachers of the Project Park. We also collaborate with the Tomsk Scientific and Production Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems, which helped us with some parts.
The project of the TSU Faculty of Physics and Technology was noted at the Archipelago 2025 in Skolkovo. Students presented their invention at the Drone Garage solutions exhibition and received a certificate of compliance with the technical characteristics of the electric motor: rotation speed – up to 11,000 rpm, voltage – up to 25 V, winding temperature – not higher than 50 ℃ under standard operating mode.
Students plan to conduct field tests of the engine on aircraft-type UAVs and present their development at various competitions and exhibitions.
The success became possible due to the modern technical equipment of the TSU Faculty of Physics and Technology Project Park and the personal initiative, which proves the high engineering potential of TSU students.