Don't freeze a day: Russian development will allow UAVs to fly in extreme cold

The new anti-icing system will allow the UAV to fly in extreme cold, Izvestia has learned. The main element was a polymer electrically conductive thread. It is used to make a fabric that can heat up, which protects the aircraft from ice. Industry experts believe that the technology will allow drones to be used even in frost and snowfall, while the patented development can be used in other industries, for example, when sewing frost-resistant clothing.

How the wing de-icing system works

Russian developers, with the participation of the NTI platform and the NTI Project Support Fund, have created and patented a new technology for anti-icing of aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles. It is based on an electrically conductive polymer thread, which is used to make a special fabric that can heat up. It will be used in UAVs, which will allow them to be used with frequent temperature fluctuations and high humidity, when ice often forms, interfering with flight.

Existing anti-icing systems work in three main ways: hot air, which is taken from the engine and directed to the wing skin; pneumatic inflatable protectors, which mechanically break down the ice; or using liquid chemicals applied to the surface to prevent the formation of ice. In the case of the thread, it heats up so that snow and ice do not stick to the drone structure.

—The thread is used not only in drones and in de—icing systems for them, it also allows you to create antistatic materials for the interiors of modern Russian passenger liners, increasing safety and comfort," said Pavel Pogrebnyakov, CEO of the Ampertex development company.

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In the case of domestic developments, the polymer conductive filament is transformed from a product into a platform technology. Its use in the creation of UAVs solves several tasks at once: heating, de-icing, removal of static electricity and shielding of radio waves, said Nikita Danilov, CEO and founder of Fly Drone, expert at NTI Aeronet.

— Improved energy efficiency and environmental friendliness of drones. From an economic point of view, all this together becomes a competitive advantage. And for both civilian and military use. It is worth noting that the fact of successful tests can be considered a verified result, which transfers the technology from the laboratory stage to the pilot stage," he said.

The thread provides four functions at once: effective heating up to 110 degrees, antistatic, electrical detection and shielding of radio waves in a wide range of resistances, Pavel Pogrebnyakov added. It is made from Russian raw materials and does not depend on imports.

He is convinced that the technology expands the geography of device applications far to the North and gives Russian manufacturers an advantage in the global market, since the main raw materials are polymers, carbon black and single—walled carbon nanotubes.

— We create materials for radio-absorbing coatings ("stealth") on a fundamentally new basis, significantly reducing the radar visibility of objects. At the same time, our autonomous heating systems provide critical comfort and efficiency for personnel and sensitive equipment in extreme conditions, such as in the Arctic," the expert explained.

Filament-based materials are also integrated into any products that need to be heated, de-energized, or shielded from radio waves. In other words, the technology can be used in various industries for both civilian and military purposes.

Where else would a useful thread come in handy?

The advantage of polymer filament over its metal counterparts may be due to its ease of manufacture and low weight. It is promising precisely in the field of lightweight aircraft models designed for short-term use, says Evgeny Alexandrov, Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Director of the NTI Center for Digital Materials Science: New Materials and Substances at Bauman Moscow State Technical University.

— For polymer electrically conductive filaments, it is difficult to solve the problem of not having the best stability and durability. With multiple cycles of electric current transmission and heating, the polymer gradually degrades, depolymerization, oxygen oxidation, and crosslinking occur, leading to reduced strength and embrittlement. The higher the temperature, the faster these processes occur. Degradation may also occur under the influence of sunlight and moisture," he said.

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Developments such as the patented thread can really make it easier for UAV manufacturers to configure their systems to operate in harsh climatic conditions. But it is incorrect to say that they are unique to Russia, says the director of RuDrones.Unmanned technologies" Dmitry Datsykov.

—Canada, the United States and European countries are also actively working on the implementation of such systems, for example, on May 30, 2023, UBIQ Aerospace announced the successful completion of the demonstration of its patented autonomous anti—icing solution DICE in the interests of the Norwegian Ministry of Defense," the expert explained.

He notes that UAVs are already being used in difficult conditions in the Far North and on the Northern Sea Route. At the same time, the improvement of de-icing developments will in any case be useful to increase the efficiency of drones.