A new 140 cc opposed engine for drones developed in St. Petersburg

The compact unit features a solution that increases the service life of the cylinder-piston group by 40%

A compact four-stroke opposed engine with a displacement of 140 cm³ and an increased service life of the cylinder-piston group has been developed in St. Petersburg. The new design allows for the replacement of worn liners without a complete replacement of the cylinder block, which simplifies repairs and extends the service life of the power unit. The developer was OOO "Scientific and Production Association "AMB"".

Image source: chatgpt

The development is primarily aimed at aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles and other small-sized equipment where the engine operates under high mechanical and thermal loads.

The main feature of the new design is replaceable cylinder liners made of high-strength cast iron VCh80 with a tensile strength of at least 400 MPa.

The power unit is designed according to the classic opposed scheme with two cylinders, equipped with air cooling and a carburetor fuel system. The engine's displacement is 140 cm³, and the compression ratio reaches 11:1.

Engine engineering diagram Image source: FIPS

According to the developers, tests showed an increase in the service life of the cylinder-piston group by approximately 40% compared to the closest existing design. This result was made possible by combining wear-resistant cast iron liners, their external finning, and the ability to replace worn elements without disassembling the entire cylinder block.

The authors of the development expect that such a design will increase the operational reliability of compact internal combustion engines used in unmanned aviation and other equipment where small weight, durability, and ease of maintenance are especially important.