Russian Engineers Build a Homegrown Electric Motor for Drones
The Tomsk team’s prototype is designed to power firefighting UAVs and withstand harsh weather with minimal maintenance.
Researchers at Tomsk State University (TSU) have developed a prototype of a three-phase brushless DC motor built entirely from Russian-made components. Designed for mid-size multirotor drones, the new motor promises high reliability, reduced servicing needs, and steady performance even in severe weather conditions.
The project began when engineers at TSU’s Physics and Technology Faculty Project Park requested a domestic motor for a firefighting drone. According to Ivan Sukhovolsky, the project’s technical director, the motivation came directly from colleagues working on that UAV. “Right now, we have to rely on imported components,” he said. “Our goal was to build a powerful, brushless motor with up to 5 kilograms of thrust using only locally produced parts.”
From Prototype to Testing
Sukhovolsky added that the motor’s sealed housing gives it a crucial advantage: it can run in difficult weather conditions and requires less frequent servicing.
The development marks a key milestone in Russia’s effort to achieve technological self-reliance in drone manufacturing — and a step toward building UAVs tough enough to handle the country’s diverse environments.
