Sky Power GmbH Fuel and Gas Engines for Unmanned Aircraft

Sky Power GmbH manufactures next-generation heavy-fuel (HF) and gas engines for the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry.

The company’s engines are designed for unmanned fixed wings, helicopters, VTOLs and hybrid unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).

Custom-made UAV propulsion systems for maximum power

Sky Power engines can be supplied with a carburettor or an electronic injection, and can be customised based on the used aircraft and fuel types, or the necessary performance parameters.

Engine kit for performance-optimised engines

The company also introduces a novel UAS-engine construction kit in order to enable still more efficient and performance-optimised engines in future. Using this construction kit, propulsion units can be ideally tuned to the customer’s desired performance parameters and application area.

The engine kit consists of widely different components. At the centre is the basic engine, which can be equipped with both a carburettor and the new injection from Sky Power. To this is added as desired exhaust, silencer, and the new ECU and ignition. The engine can furthermore be provided with an e-drive or generator, which uses a converter to generate electrical energy for batteries and super capacitors.

The engine can therefore be used as a pure power generator for electrical motors, but also as a combined system in which electrical and combustion energy can be used in combination. Pure usage from combustion energy is likewise possible.

The engine can therefore be used as a pure power generator for electrical motors, but also as a combined system in which electrical and combustion energy can be used in combination. Pure usage from combustion energy is likewise possible.

Lightweight Wenkel engines for increased field payloads

The Sky Power SP-180 SRE hybrid is a compact hybrid cycle engine, which is lightweight and offers a high power-to-weight ratio, enabling higher payloads during field operations. With the hybrid-boost power capabilities, an additional 15KW simplifies its lift-off or acceleration processes. The engine can be powered using gas or HF, so the company also supplies a standard manifold or a high-pressure injection (HPI).

Single and multiple cylinder engine ignitions

3W-International supplies one-cylinder and two-cylinder engines. All two-stroke engines measure 55cm and are delivered as a twin-spark (TS) version, which increases safety and reliability.

Both ignitions operate separately and general operational behaviour is quieter as the engine runs at a lower idle. When one ignition stops, the second ensures that the engine continues to run with slightly reduced rotational speed.

With the high-performance ignition system HKZ 215, a considerably higher ignition performance is achieved. Thereby the overall performance of the engine is increased and the exhaust emission values are improved. The HKZ is installed in a light and robust, nickel-plated aluminium housing. All add-on components such as connection sockets and spark plug connectors are designed for demanding applications. The ignition system is shielded and only has low interference radiation.

New ECU injection and ignition system enable reduced fuel consumptions

Sky Power‘s ECU030 is a fuel injection system for 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines. The universally applicable electronic fuel injection system can be used not only for petrol blends but also for HF applications. An automatic controller adapts the fuel blend to the actual air pressure and the external temperature. Four ignition channels with two separate adjustable injection nozzles ignite the fuel blend. In the process, the pump pressure is electronically regulated. An automatic choke function is also built in.

All engine data can be monitored by means of a PC. The user interface is so intuitive that all settings and the maintenance of the engine can be easily carried out.

The ECU 030 consists essentially of the following functional modules:

• Digital inputs
• Analogue inputs
• Switching outputs (low side) and switching outputs (high side)

The CAN-BUS serves for communication. The following functions are controlled via the CAN-BUS:

• Control functions such as control of the servo motors, fuel injection
• Evaluation of the sensor signals (analogue, digital)
• General diagnostic functions
• Manual diagnostic functions
• System updates

Engine break-in tests

Sky Power handles break-in tests for your engines. The engines are broken in on the in-house engine test stands according to your specifications. So you obtain a ‘ready-to-fly’ engine that can be used immediately in your UAS. That way you can save preparation time and begin your deployment immediately. You can generate instant sales with an engine broken in by Sky Power, especially in industrial and commercial applications.

Customer and endurance test (engine tests)

Sky Power conducts engine tests according to your specifications. Individual usage parameters can be simulated in the process. Each engine test is documented. Of course we make these results available to you. Thanks to highly exact measuring instruments, fuel consumption, engine parameters, and exhaust-gas temperatures can be measured.

The engine tests can also encompass endurance tests during which your engines are subjected to between 50 and 200 hours of uninterrupted loading on the in-house engine test stands. Climate tests are also possible. After each test, the engines are disassembled and examined.

Sky Power can conduct the following tests for you in this context:

• General performance measurement of combustion engines
• Thrust and power measurement
• Exhaust analysis
• Engine indexing
• Endurance testing
• Blower, water, and oil-pump analysis
• Cylinder-head measurement
• Load-change calculation
• EMC measurements
• Climate and temperature tests

Muffler systems for aircraft engine development

Sky Power’s mufflers use turbine wheels that are permanently installed in a cylinder. The individual fins mounted on the wheels are organised / configured in defined angles and arranged in opposite directions, depending on the angle, which smoothes out the exhaust gas’ sound wave.

Time-between-overhauling (TBO) for extreme engine propulsion

TBOs depend on the used RPM-level, the flight environment, the constant maintenance and the engine type. Due to that, the TBO is depending on the customer and his mission.

Sky Power knows that customers achieved with the Sky Power engines TBOs above 500hours/engine.

About Sky Power GmbH

Sky Power GmbH is the leading manufacturer of 2-stroke combustion and Wankel engines for unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and hybrid applications. In addition to its own development and manufacturing, Sky Power produces all engines in Germany.

Complete propulsion units, customer adaptations, new developments and the capacity extension of the combustion engines are another corporate objective.