How young engineers contribute to the formation of Ukraine's defense capability with their own developments

The National Aviation University is in full swing, with the development, validation and demonstration of innovative developments by university students. Recently, the university hosted the Student Projects Demo Day, an event during which student and faculty teams presented their own know-how to a delegation from the Ministry of Strategic Industries and Ukroboronprom.

The students and their developments were introduced to such distinguished guests as Oleg Korostelev, head of the SE Luch Design Bureau, doctor of technical sciences, Hero of Ukraine and eventually a graduate of our university; Hanna Hvozdyar, deputy minister for strategic industries of Ukraine, member of the Supervisory Board of NAU; Yaroslav Oliynyk, advisor to the minister for strategic industries of ukraine; Herman Smetanin, director general of Ukrainian Defense Industry JSC.

The delegation was hosted by Ksenia Semenova, acting rector of the National Aviation University, the team of the University Project Office, deans of the faculties and our students. Communication at each stand with developments continued during an impromptu panel discussion with all the guests.

"The very fact that young people are interested in defense innovations, have their own ideas in this area and implement them in quite real products is encouraging," Hanna Hvozdyar said after the meeting.

What developments were presented?

Among the projects presented, the developments of the Sky Research and Design Bureau, the Faculty of Computer Science and Technology, and the Faculty of Aeronautics, Electronics and Telecommunications stood out. The event began with a series of fascinating presentations and then moved on to a panel discussion on the future development of the NAU as a leading engineering university and the prospects for the defense technology industry as a whole.

One of the most impressive projects was an airplane-type unmanned aerial vehicle with a turbojet engine developed by student Oleksandr Loboda. In addition, a number of teams presented their achievements in the production of FPV drones, including a 3D farm for their manufacture.

Materials science and structures were also well represented. A team led by Stanislav Shymetenko from Sky Design Bureau demonstrated a tensile testing machine that allows determining the mechanical properties of materials. And Dmytro Solin, a student of the Aerospace Faculty, presented the Strain Gauge Testing Unit, a device for collecting data from strain gauges during tests of mechanical characteristics of materials.

The project of an aircraft overload recording system developed by student Martin Trushkovskyi was also very interesting. This system, mounted on a small foam glider, collects and records data on the overload and deformation of the aircraft structure, allowing for the analysis of the strength of its structure.

In the field of software, the project of an intelligent automated early detection and warning system created by Myroslav Riaby, an employee of the FCST, stood out. This system is capable of analyzing video and audio streams and satellite images, detecting military and civilian equipment, as well as trenches.

In general, this event shows that the National Aviation University supports and promotes the spirit of innovation and involves young people in the creation of advanced technologies for the needs of the defense industry.

Photos from the event, where you can see everything clearly, are in our Photo Gallery.