Propulsion Solutions for Uncrewed Systems
Plettenberg is a leading developer and manufacturer of rugged electric propulsion systems for UAV, UUV, USV and UGV applications. Want to learn more?
Propulsion solutions for demanding applications
Plettenberg’s product portfolio comprises a wide range of electric motors, starter-generators, power electronics as well as accessories. Our products are unrivalled in their robustness, power-to-weight ratio, efficiency and compactness, making them suitable for heavy duty professional and defense missions in harsh environments. We operate an ultra-scale production line for providing propulsion systems at mass as well as a separate lower-volume-higher-mix production line for highly customized systems. With more than 30 years of experience, we are among the leading suppliers to unmanned system OEMs.
Uncrewed system engineers need to solve complex problems
Our customers face numerous challenges when deciding on the ideal propulsion solution for their unmanned system application.
Find supply chain partners that can deliver at scale
Find the best value-for-cost and minimize total cost of ownership
Partners that accelerate time to market
Find ideal propulsion solution for chosen design and mission
Finding the right trade-off of robustness vs. weight
Design propulsion system with sufficient performance safety buffer
Choose ideal combination of motor, ESC, prop and battery
Find suppliers with resilient supply chain and NDAA compliance
Consider evolving regulation and certification requirements
We have all the answers to these questions and are available to support you!
Our Ecosystem
We take a holistic ecosystem approach, delivering integrated system solutions with perfectly matched components. Our ecosystem also extends beyond flying UAVs to include USVs, UUVs, and UGVs, enabling seamless performance across multiple autonomous platforms.
Our UAV Motor Map
Our motor map visualizes the Plettenberg motor portfolio based on MTOW and propeller size. Our propulsion systems support VTOL UAVs with MTOWs ranging from 10–260 kg (X4 configurations) and 17–440 kg (X8 configurations).
Our UAV Motor Portfolio
Plettenberg offers a comprehensive UAV motor portfolio, ranging from premium MIL-STD-certified inrunners to highly scalable, weight-optimized outrunners, meeting the demands of both mission-critical and commercial applications.
Engineering Studies
We work closely with our customers to provide comprehensive engineering support and identify the optimal drive solution for each application. Our engineering studies help reduce technical risk, safeguard project timelines and budgets, and accelerate time to market.
Key benefits of working with us
Our propulsion systems can be customized to ideally match the mission profile of our customers
Designed for plug&play installation with modular mounting options
Ultra robust design for applications in the harshest environments. Qualified to MIL-STD 810H
For each motor/generator fully qualified power electronics and accessories are available
Design and production process optimized for high scalability, shortest lead times and best value-for-cost
Ensuring long-term spare parts availability through best-in-class obsolescence management, backed by a commitment to never discontinue any product
Certified to EN9100:2018 standards, with every product 100% Made in Germany from the highest-grade materials
Highly resilient supply chain that guarantees operational reliability and continuity, even amid complex geopolitical challenges
NDAA- and DFARS-compliant versions available for integration into defense-related applications
Product Overview
Electric Motors
Inrunner and outrunner BLDC and brushed DC motors. Up to 30 kW.
Generators & Starters
Generators and starters. Up to 30kW.
Power Electronics
High performance power electronics (hard- & software)
Accessories
Mission critical accessories.
COTS
Our commercial-off-the-shelf (“COTS”) drive solutions have been designed to cover a wide range of applications in demanding end-markets. Our portfolio of more than 30 COTS standard motors comprises rugged inrunner BLDC motors from our NOVA and ADVANCE series as well as outrunner BLDC motors from our ORBIT series. Datasheets for all COTS motors are available. Lead times for our COTS motors are typically ~4-6 weeks.
MOTS
MOTS (“modified-off-the-shelf”) motors have the same mechanical parts as COTS motors but come with a customized winding. The winding of the motor determines the Kv (rpm/V) and allows for adapting the motor to the application requirements. Plettenberg offers MOTS motors with electrical design support from our engineering team, including an engineering study, which covers data sheets and performance simulations.
Fully Custom
If a MOTS solution is not sufficient and significant tailorization is required, a FC (“fully-custom”) solution is the best choice. FC drive solutions are often highly application specific and adjusted to complex requirements. Examples of customization options include:
- Application specific housing and shaft adaptation
- Special cooling systems with active or passive fans and/or ducts
- Special materials for aerospace or maritime applications
- High ingress protection class up to IP67
- Compliance with MIL-STD 810 or RTCA DO-160 requirements
- Special wrapping of magnets for high rpm applications
- Redundant winding solutions
- Frameless stator / rotor solutions
- Single line replaceable units with integrated ESC
- Custom MIL-STD connectors
- Customized generator and starter systems for hybrid applications
Plettenberg has more than 40 years of motor design and manufacturing experience, with proprietary design and simulation tools, which utilize a huge database of actual dyno measurements. This allows for highly accurate performance and thermal simulations of custom motor designs.
From our experience, most projects start with a COTS or MOTS solution, and progress to FC solutions as first data has been gathered and requirements become more rigid.
WHITE PAPER
Get our white paper on how to select the ideal propulsion systems for UAVs.
FAQ
COTS products are typically shipped within 4-6 weeks. For many COTS products there are 24h premium shipment options available. Please reach out to out sales team.
Please reach out to our sales team for a quotation for our COTS and MOTS products. For fully custom solutions, we can provide a ROM pricing, after we have evaluated all requirements.
Plettenberg products are available in numerous configurations and power classes. Our propulsion solutions cover VTOL UAVs with MTOWs of 10-260kg (X4) and 17-440kg (X8), i.e. the Group 2 and Group 3 segment.
We need detailed information on your application, such as targeted voltage, amps, rpm, thrust, load profile data, etc. If certain data points are not yet availabe, we will support you. Please reach out to our sales team and we provide you with a spec sheet, which provides a template for required data.
We are specialists in designing high performance propulsion solutions. Our team takes a comprehensive perspective and helps you in making the right decisions, such as trading off performance vs. weight vs. robustness. In addition, we provide you with data to evaluate how much efficiency/added-value a tailored propulsion system generates for you. The end result is a solution, which precisely matches your requirements. We also support you with all other topics that come up when designing your UAV propulsion system, such as choosing the right prop, thermal management, system integration, power supply, noise, certification, etc.
We have a test and development lab for performing load measurements, thrust tests, MIL-STD 810 and 461 qualifications as well as temperature tests.
We have long standing relationships with customers in the aerospace and defense industry. Hence, we have quality and documentation systems in place to support our customers in obtaining certifications.
All our products are manufactured at our HQ in Germany according to the highest quality standards.
We provide drive solutions for various types of unmanned systems. This includes airborne drone systems such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) or Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). In addition, we provide solutions for marine system, such as Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) or Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV). Lastly, we also offer drive solutions for unmanned land missions, such as Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV) or robotic systems.