ASP projects

PTHELI: Piston twin helicopters for territorial and environmental safeguarding

The need to monitor the territory, as can be seen from Regional, National and International requests, is strong and growing. The development of technologies for environmental monitoring and regional safety represents an important aspect for the management and control system. Fixed or rotary-wing aircraft are currently used in this role for monitoring coastlines and borders, traffic surveillance, fire prevention and photographic surveying. Today the operation of these aircraft are characterized by high costs. A better solution could be obtained by exploiting a new class of vehicles: small-sized helicopters defined as VLR (Very Light Rotorcraft) characterized by low design, production, maintenance and operative costs. Crucial for the development of this new class of aircraft is the selection of an innovative engine system that will ensure the aircraft to be A-class certified. In base to the EASA CS-27 regulation, this feature can allow the helicopter to operate for aerial work and to fly over urban centers and bodies of water. The solution analyzed is represented by the piston engine TEPS (Twin Engine Pack System). Despite coming as a “single unit”, the TEPS is in fact the integration of two engines capable of operating in synch. The added value is represented by the capability to work individually and independently, despite coexisting in a single engine body, in case of emergency. Scope of the project is the design this new class of rotorcraft for territorial and environmental monitoring missions. Up to now the aerial photogrammetry has always been carried out by airplane and satellite. This project aims to deduce the technical requirements of an environmental photogrammetric mission as it is done today and to apply and adjust these parameters to an innovative technology that would allow to implement environmental missions also by helicopter. The team also defined alternative mission scenarios and identified viable design configurations, together with the study and the integration of the TEPS engine, sub-systems and an innovative FMS (Flight Management System).
Up to now the aerial photogrammetry has always been carried out by airplane and satellite. This project aims to deduce the technical requirements of an environmental photogrammetric mission as it is done today and to apply and adjust these parameters to an innovative technology that would allow to implement environmental missions also by helicopter.
The revolutionary piston twin pack engine contains two engines in a single unit, making it possible to reach noticeable performances while keeping the flight safe. The helicopter can overfly cities and densely inhabited areas without the limitations of a single engine machine. The simple construction and aerodynamic choices, together with the compact size make it a reliable and cost-effective vehicle.

Principal Academic Tutor
Giuseppe Quaranta, Department of Aerospace Science and Technology, Politecnico di Milano

Academic Tutors
Mario Guagliano, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano
Giorgio Guglieri, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino
Roberto Marsilio, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino
Andrea Maria Lingua, Department of Environment, Land and Infrastructure Engineering, Politecnico di Torino
Angelo Maurizio Brambilla, Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano
Alessandro Casula, Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering, Politecnico di Milano
Muzio Gola, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino

External institutions
Robby Moto Engineering srl
ARPA Lombardia
Camera di Commercio di Cremona

External Tutors
Mirca Papetti, Robby Moto Engineering srl
Enrico Zini, ARPA Lombardia – Direzione Tecnico Scientifica
Ilaria Massari, Cesvin – Centro Sviluppo Innovazione (Associazione Cremonese Studi Universitari)
Andrea Rubini, Camera di Commercio di Cremona

Team members
Alessio Barbato, Mechanical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano
Andrea Carbonara, Aeronautical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano [Team Controller and Communication Coordinator]
Smaranda Chifu, Urban Planning and Policy Design, Politecnico di Milano
Salvatore Costagliola, Mechanical Engineering, Politecnico di Torino
Luigi Grimaldi, Electronic Engineering, Politecnico di Milano
Tommaso Guffanti, Space Engineering, Politecnico di Milano
Giorgio Riva, Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino

Download the poster of the Project