A patent has been registered in Russia for a unique unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of operating at stratospheric altitudes and performing vertical takeoff and landing.
The author of the invention is engineer Kharis Nuriahmetovich Mukhametshin from the Republic of Tatarstan. The device combines familiar elements of modern drones with a fundamentally new lifting and thrust system. It includes a lightweight body, electric-powered propellers, solar panels, batteries, a reliable landing gear, and a modern navigation system. There is also a special container for payload — from scientific equipment to communication repeaters.
The main innovation is the lifting and thrust device
The heart of the device is an original lifting and thrust device, made in the form of a planetary mechanism. Its base is a frame with a fixed wheel that engages with several satellite wheels. These are rigidly fixed on the axes of cylinders located around the circumference. The cylinders pass through a movable channel formed by two parallel semi-cylindrical surfaces. The inner walls of the channel are covered with a special sealing material, which ensures tightness and durability.
The rotation of the mechanism is now carried out not by hydraulics, but by a compact electric motor — this makes the design simpler, lighter and more reliable. The propeller-motor unit is attached to the frame via a cardan suspension with servo drives.
Why this is important for the stratosphere
In the rarefied air at an altitude of 20–30 km, conventional propellers lose efficiency. Mukhametshin's planetary mechanism should solve this problem, creating stable lift and thrust even in low pressure conditions. Solar panels and high-capacity batteries allow the device to stay in the air for days or even weeks — an ideal solution for tasks that previously used expensive aerostats or satellites.