Students and researchers debate the role of semiconductors in the drone industry

On 11 February, the lecture “A look inside a UAV” was held at the Department of Physics at the University of Aveiro, led by Pedro Lousã, Chief Operations Officer of Beyond Vision. The session gathered around 50 students, researchers, and others interested in technologies related to unmanned aerial systems.

The presentation highlighted the technological architecture of drones, with a particular focus on the electronic systems and sensors that support their operation. Components such as electronic speed controllers, energy management systems, and communication modules are essential to ensure autonomy, flight stability, and data transmission, highlighting the role of microelectronics and semiconductors in the development of these vehicles.

Beyond Vision's electric drones can achieve flight times of up to 150 minutes, thanks to a combination of lightweight materials, optimized batteries, and electrical architectures based on 48VDC motors with integrated electronic speed control. Compared to combustion-powered drones, which can achieve flight times of up to 25 hours, electric drones are geared towards efficiency, precision, and operational versatility.

Practical application examples were also presented, including port surveillance, monitoring of high-precision works, support for firefighting, dam observation, and monitoring in non-combat defense scenarios.

The initiative strengthened the link between academia and the national technological ecosystem, highlighting the importance of microelectronics and semiconductor technologies in the development of autonomous systems.