Ufa State Aviation Technical University (USATU) informed that its engineering students from the Kater design office had developed a multi-purpose high-speed craft. The marine vessel with an innovative water-jet engine will outspeed existing analogues by 25 km per hour. Its notable features are also manoeuvrability, operating convenience, and controllability.
By now, the scientists have created a 3D model of the water-jet drive and obtained a patent for a pre-production prototype of the craft, USATU's Press Office reports. Sea trials of the new fast ferry will take place later in the year. A context for the best conceptual idea of designing the vessel's hull will happen shortly, too.
The five-metre vessel accommodates four to five people and easily fits into a standard-sized car trailer. The invention's authors equipped the fast craft with a 90-horsepower petrol engine, which comes with Lada cars. Thanks to the innovative construction of the hydro-jet unit, the craft's design speed can reach 80 to 90 km per hour, whilst the rest of the models on the market do not accelerate above 60-65 km per hour. Concurrently, fuel consumption does not exceed 30 litres per hour, which is a good indicator for vessels in this class.
"The new vessel has a critical advantage - it mainly utilises domestically produced materials; hence, its manufacturing doesn't depend on expensive components, units and spare parts shipped from abroad. Since the power unit and its repair parts are pretty widespread, servicing the equipment or repairing the engine and hull systems is possible at virtually any location. It would also be quick and cheap", says Prof Arsen Mesropyan, D.Eng.Sc., academic supervisor for the Kater design office.
The research carried out by USATU's engineering team won the grant in the UMNIK-Marinet competition for young scientists, organised by the Foundation for Support of Innovations and MARINET.
With the sea trials completed, the scientists will proceed to develop a business plan. There are two options under consideration currently: either small-scale assemblage of the craft on USATU's premises or through concluding a licence agreement with a future manufacturer.
Let us recall that a team of scientists from USATU joined by colleagues from the P. I. Baranov Central Institute of Aviation Motor Development designed the first-ever aircraft with a hybrid powertrain. They will present their pioneer solution at the International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS-2021 at the end of July.
