Disputes, experience and benefits: light UAVs of the Dobrynya series
General view of "Dobrynya" of the first version
In an effort to meet the needs of the armed forces, the Russian defense industry last year began to actively develop the direction of unmanned aviation complexes. New participants are joining the work in this direction, offering certain samples. So, Concern VKO "Almaz-Antey" last year showed its own UAV "Dobrynya". This project naturally attracted attention, but not all reviews and ratings were positive.
Another copter
Last summer, it became known that enterprises from the Almaz-Antey East Kazakhstan Concern were developing promising drones. As it turned out later, several such samples were created at once for different purposes and with different characteristics.
The first result of such work was shown in November. "Obukhov Plant" (St. Petersburg) from the "Almaz-Antey" for the first time presented a new small UAV called "Dobrynya". It was a traditional quadcopter with an electric propulsion system and a video camera providing a first-person view.
It was reported that in its current form, "Dobrynya" has a fairly high flight performance and is intended for surveillance from the air. In the military sphere, he can solve the tasks of reconnaissance and fire adjustment. Civilian use is also possible - both for solving serious monitoring or search tasks, and in UAV competitions. In the future, the drone was supposed to get new features, incl. devices for carrying and dropping combat load.
At the time of the first demonstration, the Dobrynya product was already in mass production. Obukhov Plant mastered the production of a number of new parts, and received other components from subcontractors, incl. domestic. At the site of the plant, the assembly of the UAV and the kit as a whole was carried out. By the end of 2022, they were going to assemble about a thousand products.
loud reaction
The appearance of the first UAV from the Almaz-Antey concern did not go unnoticed, but it received not only positive ratings. Thus, a number of domestic bloggers related to the issues of unmanned aircraft criticized the project and accused its developers of fraud aimed at extracting benefits.
The Dobrynya was alleged to be suspiciously similar to one of China's mass-produced commercial UAVs. In addition, they wrote that all the main components of the device - engines, battery, controller, radio systems, etc. are also of foreign origin. From this followed the conclusion that the project is Russian only nominally. At the same time, the cost of the listed components was added up, and on the basis of this, they claimed that the Dobrynya was overpriced.
However, a different opinion was cited in the blogs, and then the management of the development plant commented on the situation. Egor Shcherbakov, chief designer of the project, in an interview for RIA News said that "Dobrynya" is a completely own development of the "Obukhov Plant". It was created on the basis of the popular and successful concept of a lightweight FPV drone, but specific models were not taken as a model. Due to the lack of their own experience, the developers used other people's ideas.
Especially for Dobrynya, a frame, a casing, a case, etc. were developed. Also domestic are the flight controller and software for it. During the development of the project, engines and batteries of domestic and foreign manufacturers were used. The camera, radio systems, motor controller and some other elements had to be ordered abroad. The degree of localization, calculated according to the methods of the Concern, reaches 70%. In the future, it can be further increased.
Thus, the initial estimates of the Dobrynya UAV from bloggers were based on incomplete information and assumptions far from reality. The official comment from the developer company answered all the main questions and clarified the situation.
Further development
The first version of "Dobrynya" was tested, according to the results of which the project was finalized. In the spring of 2023, the updated Dobrynya-2 drone was presented. It retains the main features of its predecessor, but is free from "childhood diseases" and has improved performance. There are also new modes of operation, etc.
Due to the improvement of the hardware and software of the complex, flight characteristics have been improved. The maximum flight speed has increased to 120 km / h. Automatic flight is possible along a more complex route with an increased number of control points. In this case, the flight can be carried out even in the absence of signals from navigation satellites.
"Dobrynya-2" received a new camera with improved performance, allowing for full-fledged reconnaissance. We also introduced our own control panel with a screen for video output. The UAV of the previous model was equipped with a ready-made remote control and a tablet computer. Radio channels for transmitting video, telemetry and commands are protected from interference and encrypted.
As part of the Dobrynya-2 project, the process of production localization continued. New domestic parts have appeared, and some of them are made by the manufacturer himself. In particular, we use engines of our own production, which are quieter with the required power. They also independently develop software and create new modules for it.
On June 24, the TASS agency, citing specialists from the Raven project, spoke about the new tasks and successes of Dobrynya. Thus, Obukhov Plant has developed a universal platform for training operators on the basis of this UAV. Such training complexes have already entered the troops and are used for their intended purpose. With their help, pilots are trained for FPV drones of various models. The training takes seven days and covers three areas: aerial reconnaissance, dropping weapons and direct hit attack.
In the course of the latest modernization, the UAV became combat. A system was developed for suspension and load shedding in the form of light weapons. Due to these devices, Dobrynya-2 can work as a bomber or solve the tasks of loitering ammunition.
Features of the complex
UAV "Dobrynya" of all versions is a small quadcopter of the traditional layout. Propeller groups and a central fuselage with equipment are mounted on a common cruciform frame. The take-off weight of the device without battery is approx. 500 g. Three-dimensional printing is widely used in the manufacture of the device.
Case with drone
The set is delivered in a shock-resistant case or in a cardboard box with a lodgment. Depending on the version, it includes the UAV itself, a control panel with a screen or with an additional tablet, batteries with a charger, etc. Removing the drone from the case and preparing for flight takes a few minutes. After departure, you can change the battery and / or prepare a new one.
The device is equipped with four electric motors, the type of which depends on the modification and version. All variants use three-blade propellers. Power is supplied from a removable lithium-polymer battery with a capacity of up to 2600 mAh. A UAV with a propulsion system of later versions is capable of speeds up to 120 km/h and stay in the air for at least 15-17 minutes. The flight range along the programmed route, without the participation of the operator, reaches 20 km.
A video camera with a resolution of at least 720 pixels is rigidly installed in the forward part of the fuselage. with a viewing angle of 120° and, in later versions, with a zoom. It provides both general surveillance and FPV piloting. The video signal is sent to the remote control. At the same time, the communication range with direct control by the operator is limited to 1500 m.
In the course of the latest modernization, Dobrynya received a device for hanging and dropping small ammunition. Its design and parameters have not yet been openly demonstrated or specified. Nevertheless, it is clear that a UAV of this class is quite capable of carrying such a load.
Experience and benefits
In general, the Dobrynya project, which is growing into a full-fledged family of drones, is of particular interest. First of all, it shows that the Russian industry is capable of developing and assembling mass-produced light UAVs similar to the leading examples of this class. At the same time, we are talking not just about assembling from available components, but about a gradual reduction in the share of imported parts due to our own developments.
Remote control, charger and other components
The process of creating new units and software is associated with known difficulties. They are overcome by using their own ideas and analyzing foreign experience. In addition, we have to organize our own production of previously missing parts and assemblies, up to the most complex ones - motors and controllers.
The development of original controllers and software is of particular importance. With their help, you can insure the project from negative external influences. Third countries will not be able to prevent the production of such products, and besides, they will not be able to make "bookmarks" in the software and hardware of the complex. In addition, the rejection of model foreign solutions may increase resilience to major types of suppression or struggle.
It should be recalled that the development of new light UAVs with different capabilities is not only carried out by the Concern VKO Almaz-Antey. Due to the increased interest, a number of organizations are working in this direction, and many new developments are being proposed. As a result, "Dobrynya" of all versions will have to face competition, and "opponents" will be not only domestic counterparts, but also foreign models. Bypassing imported products in terms of characteristics and capabilities will, at least, not be easy.
Nevertheless, work continues, and all the main tasks are successfully solved. In addition, "Dobrynya" gets rid of the features and characteristics that previously caused criticism. With further improvement, the share of foreign components will fall to a minimum, and mass production using established technologies will reduce the cost of the finished product. At the same time, Obukhov Plant will gain the necessary experience in design and production, which can be used in future projects.
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