Case Study

Material inspection

Heat resistance analysis within practical fire test of

md4-1000 carbon fibre body and electrical driven
propulsion system

Version 1.0: [Date published]

Presented by: microdrones GmbH

CASE STUDY FIRE PRACTICAL TEST FOR MD4 BODY

Profiles:

microdrones / partner

microdrones information
microdrones / Partner

microdrones GmbH

microdrones Logo
Branch

Aero / UAV

Address

Gutenbergstrae 86

ZIP Code, State, City

57078 Siegen, NRW, Germany

Phone number

+49 (0) 271 77 00 38 - 0

Fax number

+49 (0) 271 77 00 38 - 11

Contact name

Tobias Matschke

Title / Position

Project Management & Technical Support

Phone number

+49 (0)151 229 961 04

Fax number

+49 (0)271 7700 38-11

E-mail address

t.matschke@microdrones.com

Project AirShield: Commissioned company for Materials Testing:

Name

Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing

Logo

Address

Unter den Eichen 87

ZIP Code, state, City

12205 Berlin, Germany

Web site address

http://www.bam.de/en/index.htm

MICRODRONES 2012

PAGE 2

CASE STUDY FIRE PRACTICAL TEST FOR MD4 BODY

Case Study for

Fire Practical Test for md4 Body

Company profile
The company microdrones GmbH was founded in October 2005. All founders had been engaged with
development of aerial vehicles for several years. The innovative fusion of our core expertise is our formula
for success.
microdrones objective is the development and production of rotary wing based VTOL MAVs. (VTOL =
Vertical Take Off and Landing, MAV = Micro Aerial Vehicle)
The first product, the md4-200, is available since April 2006. The microdrone md4-200 is used in many
applications. The newest microdrone is the md4-1000 which has outstanding capabilities. It is the most
efficient UAV in the 5.5 kilo class. With flight times of up to 70 min. and payloads up to 1200g it definitely
sets new standards. With future products microdrones will introduce even much more sophisticated controland communication technologies

Situation, aims and objectives

The VTOL UAV md4 systems of microdrones GmbH are used for public authorities (e.g. police and fire
fighters) and in industrial applications world-wide. Furthermore, universities and official project offices trust
the md4 platforms and its features such as the open interface.
Motivated by the project AirShield, microdrones faced the challenge to test its products for their resilience
against heat and flame at the German "Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing".
The goal was clearly defined:
In particular, operations for authorities in the field of fire and industry inspections, the carbon fiber body,
carbon fiber arm and the engines and rotor blades made of carbon fibers needed testing to the extreme
requirements for flights close to fires in regard to operability and reliability.

MICRODRONES 2012

PAGE 3

CASE STUDY FIRE PRACTICAL TEST FOR MD4 BODY

Solution
The results were impressive: The microdrones arms had to withstand the tough test twice for half an hour.
Once with and once without the rotor blade.
With success: approximately 450C were measured outside of the carbon fiber structure. Inside it, on the
motor circuit board temperatures up to 150C have been recorded. The carbon fiber arm withstands the
heat, the engine is reliable and performs as expected.
The excellent results are entirely due to the intensive R&D programs of microdrones. Years of intesive
research and testing as well as consistent development and last but not least the close cooperation of the
responsible staff having created a powerful product that is currently the most advanced technology on the
market you can get.

Benefits

The only VTOL MAV in its class, which has officially passed a fire test
Especially tested for the use in extreme areas of applications
Reliable VTOL MAV for the use of public authorities (Police / Fire / Emergency Services)
md4-1000 motor functioning at extreme heat conditions
md4-1000 functioning at extreme heat conditions

Products and services which got used

microdrones md4-1000 carbon fiber arm

microdrones md4-1000 motor
microdrones md4-1000
Infrastructure BAM ("Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing")

MICRODRONES 2012

PAGE 4

CASE STUDY FIRE PRACTICAL TEST FOR MD4 BODY

Photos

MICRODRONES 2012

PAGE 5