MAI - Moscow Aviation Institute

MAI Development of an Electric Engine Based on Superconductors

Scientists of Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI) and the Central Aerodynamics Institute named after N.E.Zhukovsky (TsAGI) created a development concept of a new electric engine for aviation based on superconductivity. Russia might be the first country ever to create an engine on the base of superconductors.

Cold for Progress

For a few decades, science has been trying to meet the challenge of aircraft engines efficiency. The output factor of traditional aircraft engines does not exceed 40%. They say that even the latest steam locomotives were more effective.

The future of aviation is the creation of new types of propulsion engines either electric or hydrogen-fueled. The efficiency of electric engines is already close to 99%. Therefore, a number of major global concerns, such as Siemens and Airbus, are working on the creation of electric engines of a new kind.

Perhaps, the consortium of researchers from MAI and TsAGI offers one of the best technical solutions today. In France, in 2017, a group of young scientists from the MAI Department 310 "Electric Power, Electromechanical and Biotechnological Systems" presented a concept of a superconducting engine for a promising aircraft.

Owners of not Copper Anchor

As a matter of fact, developments of recent years in the field of electric engines have faced physical limits. According to its power loading, the developments of leading companies – German Siemens and English LaunchPoint Technologies – do not exceed 6 kW per kilogram of weight. For now, existing technologies allow only one or two-seater aircraft to get off the ground. For example, this amount of people is taken on board world’s first all-electric European aircraft Airbus E-Fan.

Russian scientists suggested another concept of a promising electric engine. MAI was working on several challenges: the correct use of modern composite materials and the use of superconductivity. “The main disadvantage of traditional electric engines is a big proportion of electrotechnical material used in the structure, for instance, copper and steel. Copper is one of the heaviest metals by weight. In general, we can say that possibilities of traditional materials are at its limit, so a further increase in power will inevitably lead to an increase in the mass of electric engines,” said Dmitry Dezhin, Associate Professor of the MAI Department 310.

MAI researchers decided to replace traditional conductive materials with new superconductive ones. In the hands of Dmitry is a shiny tape with the thickness of two sheets of paper. It is hard to imagine thta the composite material is made of ten different layers, while the current in this “sandwich” flows through a superconducting layer that is 25 times thinner than hair. When cooled with liquid nitrogen (-196 ºC) the superconducting electric engine is 4-5 times lighter and more compact than its traditional counterparts. In the future, the transition to new technologies will dramatically increase the power of propulsion engines while maintaining a relatively low mass. Over the next few years, scientists plan to increase the power loading by 4-5 times compared to existing models, i.e. up to 20-50 kW/kg.

“We started the work nearly 3 years ago, closely communicated with representatives of TsAGI and Airbus, conducted a comparative analysis of a number of superconducting electric engines. The most significant winners were machines of megawatt power levels, which is requires for large airliners,” said Nikolay Ivanov, Associate Professor of the MAI Department 310.

Quarter Age of Cryogen

The Russian Centre of Cryogenic Electric Machines and Devices on the MAI Department 310 was founded in 1996. Since then, several new types of superconducting electric machines and devices have been created. Among them – a series of synchronous jet and hysteresis motors, Russia’s first 100-kilowatt jet electric motor on massive second-generation superconductive tapes, Russia’s first electric engine with composite rotor. The theory and methods of computing the levitation magnetic suspension were developed, was built the first in Europe levitating magnetic HTSC suspension with a load capacity of 600 kg; in the 2000s, were created several existing models of kinetic energy storage devices based on the HTSC levitation effect of a rotating rotor.

Department 310 is engaged in the research and development of electric machines and devices based on second-generation high-temperature superconducting tapes (2G HTSC). From 2011 to 2015, the world’s first 200-kilowatt superconducting electric engine for transport plants, a 1000-kilowatt superconducting generator for wind turbines, and a kinetic energy storage device with a stored energy of 5 MJ were designed and successfully tested. Many years of prosperous experience in developing and creating high-temperature superconductivity devices has made the MAI group of scientists one of the world leaders in this promising field of science.

What Now?

Now, MAI participates in the EU funded initiative FUTPRINT50 kicked-off in January 2020 and runs until December 2022. Its aim is to accelerate technologies required for the entry-into-service of a commercial hybrid-electric aircraft in a class of up to 50 seats by 2035/40.

Also, MAI is part of the European IMOTHEP (Investigation and Maturation of Technologies for Hybrid Electric Propulsion) project, which was launched on January 20-22, 2020. It is an ambitious research initiative, which is funded by the European Commission under Horizon 2020. The project arose due to the cooperation of Moscow Aviation Institute (National Research University) with aviation research and industry partners.

MAI Сreates a New Way to Control Prosthesis

The new bioelectric robotic control system for the hand prosthesis will be three times cheaper than analogues, and will be able to recognize more than nine different gestures and grip.

Oleg Sazonov, a student at the Department of Advanced Materials and Technologies for Aerospace Purpose, MAI School No. 9 "General Engineering Training", develops its own model of the prosthesis for lost or irreversibly damaged body parts.

According to the young scientist, existing mechanical hand prostheses are extremely limited in the functionality of fine motor skills. Many patients have difficulties in the use of prostheses - they have to learn how to fasten a zipper, tie shoelaces, use cutlery, it is impossible to master playing a musical instrument.

Now Oleg is engaged in the development of a more advanced prosthesis control mechanism than existing ones, capable of sending commands to a mechanical arm, which will significantly expand the functionality of the upper limb prosthesis. Among the tasks that the developer has set for himself is the creation of a prosthesis that allows not to “take off” your hand during sleep, to recharge it or to take a bath, which makes using the wrist more comfortable.

One of the important components of the work of bioelectric prostheses is the processing of physiological signals that control human movements. Currently, the most common signal used in the manufacture of prostheses is the electromyographic EMG signal, which has several limitations.

A MAI student uses a muscle actively developing bioimpedance signal in his development. The basis of the development is the measurement of changes in the impedance (resistance) of muscle tissue by passing an electric current through it and determining the type of capture, depending on the amplitude of the signal. For this, a multitasking and ergonomic device has been developed, which is used as a control system of the prosthesis, based on the method of joint registration of the bioimpedance signal and the EMG signal.

The hardware-software complex that analyzes the muscle signal consists of a non-invasive reader, a device for outputting the signal to the drives of a mechanical arm and a processor that "converts" the signal into motion.

At the moment, Sazonov has calculated the optimal location of electronic assemblies, developed software and a circuit for a control device that analyzes the signal.

A Man with Many Dreams from Sri Lanka

Pamod Wickramanayaka is a MAI Bachelor’s degree student from Sri Lanka. He studies Control Systems and Computer Science in Engineering. He told us why he decided to become and engineer and study at Moscow Aviation Institute.

Hi, Pamod! Why did you decide to become an engineer?

I wanted to study rocket, missile and aircraft control systems from a long time ago due to a goal I had since my childhood. I’ve always wanted an adventurous life and I am really good in programming so I decided to pick this path which has a lot of opportunities for me. I have new innovative ideas and concepts in mind regarding this field which I would like to present in the future. These are the reasons why I decided to be an Engineer in the field of Aircraft Control Systems.

Why did you decide to come to Russia and enter MAI? Where did you find out about the university?

It was a dream since my childhood to come to Russia and study there, because I saw Russia on TV many times in Sri Lanka. I always wanted to go to Russia to feel the snow as shown on TV, because we do not have winter in Sri Lanka. I always wanted to see bears in Kamchatka with my own eyes, wanted to travel through the Trans-Siberian Railway all the way from Moscow to Vladivostok, wanted to visit the Venice of the North - Saint Petersburg, embrace that beauty of the city and furthermore I’ ve always wanted to see the Northern lights in Murmansk. I have already achieved half of my dreams, and I look forward to complete rest of them in the near future. I decided to join MAI because of another dream I have - to become the person who I always wanted to become: an Engineer in the field of Aircraft Control Systems. I heard about MAI from my previous university MADI where i studied Russian for 8 months.

How do you find to study here? What pros and cons do you see?

I see a lot of opportunities at MAI. MAI has its own design bureau. MAI engineers even make their own aircraft. For example, a MAI Sh-Tandem ground attack aircraft which was built in 1938 before the World War II, which was a tandem wing design to keep the aircraft stable and to generate more lift during horizontal flight; a MAI-407 four-seater plane designed by the same bureau. MAI has a lot of connections with various companies such as MiG, Tupolev, Sukhoi, Vympel and many more. MAI even has its own aerodrome as university facility in Moscow region. I see a lot of pros than cons in MAI. That was one of the reasons I chose to study here.

Do you have a favourite teacher at MAI?

Every teacher was the best in their job all of them were my favourites.

What are your favourite subjects?

History is my favourite subject because I love Russian history. Systems of Analytical ex*****on is another one because I learned programming in Matlab by this particular subject.

Are you engaged in any extracurricular activities at MAI?

Yes, I play soccer. We plan to make an international team like MAI international rugby team to take part in the competitions. Sometimes I participate in the university events. For example, I represented Sri Lanka at the MAI Cultural Festival. It was really fun.

Which places do you like to visit in Moscow?

In Moscow my favourite places are the Kremlin, the Gorky Park and VDNH.

Tell us please about the most memorable moments of your student life.

The most memorable moment of my student life was the excursion to International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS in 2019. It was amazing. The first time i saw the Pugachaev's cobra maneuver with my own eyes which were performed by two Russian pilots on "Sukhoi" Su-57 5th generation stealth fighter aircraft. It was an amazing show! I am so glad I done it there, learned new things about aircraft, and I was the representative for the company "Global Defence Mart" in Moscow.

What skills do you gain at MAI?

Many, but most importantly I managed to improve my programming skills.

Which hobbies do you have?

I like to play and develop video games as a hobby. I would normally go out for a walk in the parks of Moscow on my free time.

What are your plans for the future after graduation from MAI?

After graduation I wish to work here in Russia as my country does not have any companies where they build aircraft. So my only hope is here in Russia. And Russia is like my second home now.

What advice can you give MAI prospective students?

MAI is a place where dreams come true, 160000 specialists and 23 astronauts will agree with me, so do not lose hope. Sometimes it may be tough, so never give up because when the going gets tough the tough gets going. Learn to drive your dreams with MAI, and one day you will fly with MAI.

MAI Held an Aircraft Engineering Webinar for Prospective Students

On June 9, MAI held an Aircraft Engineering webinar dedicated to university Bachelor's and Master's degree English-medium programs in the above-mentioned area.

The representatives of MAI International Department, School №1 "Aircraft Engineering" took part in the event. They told about entry requirements, curriculum, laboratories of the Aircraft Engineering school and what opportunities the study here gives to its students.

A special guest of the broadcast was Zoe Mbikayi Tshimanga, a student of the School who shared his impressions of studying at MAI and living in Moscow. A school lab video tour were shown to prospective students, as well as an address of Prof. Alexander Efremov, the Head of the program Prof. Akexander Efremov.

MAI students are the winners of the conference «Youth and system modernization of the country»

On 19-20 May 2020, the V International Scientific Conference of Students and Young Scientists «Youth and Systematic Modernization of the Country» was held. The organizer of the event is Southwestern State University. The conference was attended by young scientific and pedagogical workers, doctorates, postgraduate students, master’s degrees, schoolchildren and employees of enterprises.

For the scientific approach and style of presentation of the material of the students of the Moscow Aviation Institute, representing the Department 514 «Sociology, Psychology and Social Management» of the Institute 5 «Engineering Economics and Humanities» MAI are marked with diplomas:

-Eleanor Zaynutdinova, 1st degree diploma for the report «Heymahication as a tool of motivation and adaptation of staff»;

-Anastasia Bulavin, 2nd degree diploma for the report «Volunteering in student environment»;

-Tatiana Filatova, 2nd degree diploma for the report «The Characteristics of Motivation of Innovative Activity of Personnel at the Enterprise».

We congratulate the students on their well-deserved victory and wish them success in their academic activities.

MAI Individual Educational Paths Form Unique Specialists

The main trend in higher education today is becoming individualization of training. As a result, there is a need for the formation of an individual educational path (IEP) with the active participation of the student.

Why Individual Educational Path?

In the digital age, employers especially value the ability of employees to adapt to a constantly changing environment, navigate information flows, learn new technologies, and have universal thinking. They expect flexibility from university graduates, the ability to quickly integrate into team projects, and learn independently. Not "universal" but "unique" specialists are increasingly valued. Knowing the needs of the market, MAI focuses on the individualization of student learning. As part of the IEP construction, MAI offers purposeful students the opportunity to develop not only basic engineering skills, but also organizational and managerial competencies, Soft Skills, and mastering foreign languages. This is due to the fact that a modern successful engineer is not only a good specialist, but also an initiative team player and effective manager.

Thanks to the individual educational path, a MAI student, knowing his strengths, sees for himself in which direction he should develop, where he will be able to reach the highest professional heights, become a unique specialist in a specific field or at the intersection of areas. With his curator, he defines a list of additional courses, practices, including in the centers of competence of Moscow Aviation Institute, subjects for in-depth independent study, internships and academic mobility programs at leading universities in Europe and Asia, participates in hackathons, etc. Very soon MAI plans to launch a system for the formation of the IEP on the basis of a digital footprint of students, which will make the process of individualization of education even more effective.

How It Works

The fifth-year student of the MAI Department 101 "Design and Certification of Aviation Equipment" Dmitry Sukhanov decided from the first year of study that he will develop also in the organizational and managerial direction. He was able to start implementing his plans thanks to the IEP system. Dmitry Dolgov, Director of the School No. 1 Aircraft Engineering, became his curator. He introduced the student to the IEP concept and helped identify and systematize the educational route. As part of the IEP, Dmitry studied at additional courses and programs of Moscow Aviation Institute. So, in the team of JSC “United Shipbuilding Corporation” he participated in the classes of MAI School of Management. This helps him in the formation of managerial and entrepreneurial thinking, the skill of introducing corporate innovative projects, effective teamwork.

Participation in various MAI events helped the student put the acquired knowledge into practice. For example, Dmitry organized a New Year's ball, and in the summer of 2019, the experimental project “Trajectory No. 1”, the purpose of which was to help students realize their ideas relating to improvement of alma mater. Thanks to Dmitry, more than 60 students were involved in the project, an effective dialogue was built between the administration and students. Now Dmitry Sukhanov is part of the IEP working team at his department: he helps students to create their individual educational paths, participates in the placement of students to competence centers, and helps freshmen in the adaptation period. Regarding his individual educational path, Dmitry plans to participate in large-scale educational intensive courses aimed at training personnel for the digital economy.

The MAI Volunteer Centre organized a sports marathon for students

From 25 to 29 May, a sports marathon organized by the MAI Volunteer Centre was held at the Moscow Aviation Institute. The aim of the event is to maintain the physical preparation of the Maevas in quarantine and improve their health.

The idea of creating a sports marathon belongs to the student of the 3rd course of the Institute 11 «Materials Science and Technology of Materials» Ksenia Yakurnova, who also became its presenter. For the participants of the marathon, the girl prepared trainings suitable for athletes of any level of training.

For five days, the boys performed exercises to warm, fortify and stretch various body parts. Participants of the marathon had to film and post their training on their Instagram account, noting the hashtag and the MAI Volunteer Center account. At the end of five days, seven of the most active boys were selected, who were able to participate in the drawing of valuable prizes with Mayan symbolism.

MAI is a Student Rugby Development Center

On May 29, 2020, Igor Artemyev, President of the Supreme Council of the Rugby Union of Russia, and Stanislav Druzhinin, General Director of the Board of the Rugby Union of Russia (RUR), visited Moscow Aviation Institute.

The development of the university's rugby traditions has become the subject of discussion between the leaders of the RUR with the Rector of Moscow Aviation Institute Mikhail Pogosyan, Vice-Rector for Youth Policy Sergey Kulikov, and the Head coach of MAI rugby teams Valery Khromenkov.

Agreements were reached on the joint development of the university Nauka stadium, one of the largest sports complexes in Moscow where rugby players train, on the creation of the Student Rugby Development Center on the basis of the university, on the possibility of entering MAI degree programs for promising young players, and international cooperation in the field of rugby.

MAI is one of the first universities of Russia where a rugby team appeared. Last year, the 60th anniversary of rugby at Moscow Aviation Institute was celebrated, friendly games of students and graduates took place. The MAI team is a multiple champion of Moscow and a multiple prize-winner of the USSR championships, winner of Russian student championships, international tournaments.

Diploma Theses Proposal Defense Started at MAI

In June, students completing undergraduate or graduate studies will have to defend their theses and become happy holders of MAI diplomas. In order to practice them, a diploma thesis proposal defense is held at MAI in advance.

This year, all diploma theses proposal defenses are held online on the LMS MAI platform, so will the defense of theses itself. Each student speaks for 15 minutes, then the teachers ask questions, express their opinion on work and advise to fix some shortcomings.

For now, two groups passed a proposal defense: students of Aircraft Engineering School and joint program between MAI and Beihang University. It is worth noting that some students are not in Russia now, and will defend their works from the home countries. For example, one of the students is now in China.

At each theses proposal defense, there are members of the State Examination Board who evaluate student training level. Such preparatory activities will be held for all future graduates before the formal start of the diploma thesis defense.

MAI Trend: Space

MAI School No. 6 “Aerospace” trains design and systems engineers for enterprises and organizations in the space industry. The university collaborates with leading domestic and foreign developers and manufacturers of space rocket technology. Among the partners areS.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia, NPO Energomash, Information Satellite Systems Reshetnev, Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center and other large enterprises of rocket science.

By the number of cosmonauts-graduates, MAI is the leader among all civilian universities in Russia: 23 cosmonauts are university alumni. Today, they have 49 complete space flights and in total more than 16 years of work in space. MAI students regularly take part in the selection to cosmonauts program.

Once, it was MAI students who developed and assembled the world's first student Earth satellite, and today, among the new projects of the Iskra student space design bureau, there are university cubesats, satellites for the Northern Sea Route and satellite constellations.

The Mission Control Center operates at Moscow Aviation Institute with communication systems and equipment monitoring satellites at a distance of up to 1,500 km. And the satellites themselves are produced right there, nearby, in the laboratories and workshops of the university. In the coming years, MAI plans to launch a dozen small spacecraft under the International Space Station (ISS) launch program, and students are involved in all of these projects. A cooperation between Moscow Aviation Institute and Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center reached a new level: projects to use the scientific research of Moscow Aviation Institute in the interests of the Cosmonaut Training Center are underway, a bachelor's program for future astronauts and space industry specialists is being prepared.

As part of scientific programs conducted by the Roscosmos state corporation, Moscow Aviation Institute takes part in space research with the largest foreign space agencies — the European Space Agency (ESA) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The development of the main areas of outer space activities at MAI:

• unmanned spacecraft (constellation of satellites, space communications, remote sensing of the Earth, navigation, fundamental space research);

• flights;

• space transportation capabilities.

Near horizon - integrated space services:

• fixed and personal mobile communications;

• high-precision navigation based on GLONASS;

• telecommunications;

• global Internet;

• retransmission and data transmission (M2M and IoT);

• radar;

• geophysical monitoring (gravimetry, magnetometry, ionosphere, atmosphere and heliophysical situation);

• exploration of minerals based on gravitational anomalies;

• remote monitoring of gas pipelines, extended technical facilities.

The Final Stage of Selection for MAI-SJTU Program is Held Online

In May, Moscow Aviation Institute began the final stage of selecting students for a double diploma program - a joint Master's degree program between MAI and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU). Traditionally, students were selected in the form of face-to-face interviews, but this year it was held online.

The final stage of selection began with a series of interviews. The interviews are conducted by Chief Designer of the joint Russian-Chinese project for creation CR929 wide-body long-range aircraft, graduate of the MAI Department 101 "Certification of Aviation Equipment", Maxim Litvinov. Meetings are held online on the Microsoft Teams platform.

On May 15, the first online meeting of the expert with candidates took place, as a result of which six people were selected for the master's program in the area “Aircraft Design from Polymer Composite Materials”.

On May 20, Seven people was selected for the “Aircraft Engineering” area. This week, interviews in "Product Life Cycle Management in the Design of Modern Aircraft" are being held.

In June, interviews with students will continue and they will be selected for the remaining places in all areas (group of up to 10 people). According to the plans, training at the MAI-SJTU double-degree program will begin in September 2020. For the first academic year, the students will fly to Shanghai.