JTEKT Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kariya, Aichi Prefecture, President: Kondo Yoshito, hereafter referred to as "JTEKT") has embarked on the development of a system called "Flight Controller" that controls the attitude and speed of drones based on the competence of electric power steering, which controls the steering of automobiles.

(From left) A drone equipped with JTEKT's attitude control system (provided by Pro Drone)
Prototype of Flight Controller

JTEKT aims to become a "solution provider" that creates the future of the mobility society through manufacturing and manufacturing facilities, based on the JTEKT Group 2030 Vision. The JTEKT Group is utilizing a technology platform called "Techpla" that brings together competence, which is element technology and knowledge related to products and manufacturing facilities, to propose solutions to internal and social problems by combining these competences in the Solution Co-Creation Center (referred to as "Sorisen").

The development of the drone's attitude control system is an announcement of development that serves as a precursor for JTEKT to leap to a solution provider through Techpla and Sorisen.

1. Background of Development

Amidst social issues such as declining birth rates, aging population, and aging infrastructure, the use of drones for facility inspections and cargo transportation is expanding, leading to an increasing demand for reliable domestic drones. In this regard, JTEKT has been proposing the high-heat-resistant lithium-ion capacitor Libuddy to various drone manufacturers as a solution to enhance the maneuverability of drones since 2022.

In addition to their previous efforts, JTEKT aims to further contribute to the improvement of drone performance by developing a flight controller that enhances the reliability of attitude control using their own competences.

*Libuddy is a registered trademark of JTEKT Corporation.

2. Product Overview

Multi-rotor drones used for inspection, surveying, and short-distance logistics fly by controlling the rotation speed of multiple propellers. This requires high responsiveness, including calculations for stable attitude based on multiple sensors and command control to the rotors.

Based on JTEKT's competence in motor control technology and safety design, which has been cultivated through electric power steering, the flight controller being developed incorporates high responsiveness, attitude stability, and reliability, resulting in improved stability during sudden gusts compared to conventional products.

Furthermore, by leveraging the synergy with JTEKT's high-heat-resistant lithium-ion capacitor Libuddy, we will continue to realize high-performance attitude control of drones.

3. Future Outlook

Currently, JTEKT is collaborating with the drone startup company ProDrone, in which it has invested, to develop and verify attitude control systems through continuous flight tests and various component tests.

In the future, we will continue to make efforts to contribute to the drone industry and society, including the mass production and sale of flight controllers for various drone models.

JTEKT will continue to promote manufacturing practices that embody the top priority of JTEKT's basic philosophy: "For the Earth, for the world, for our customers."

4. SDGs Goals and Targets Achievable Through This Development

■ 9. Building the Foundation for Industry and Technological Innovation

At the JTEKT Group, we are working on business activities with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by All JTEKT in 2035.

- March 3, 2022: High-temperature resistant lithium-ion capacitors adopted as auxiliary power source for hydrogen fuel cell drones

- June 20, 2022: JTEKT-manufactured hydrogen fuel cell drone equipped with high-temperature resistant lithium-ion capacitors successfully completes test flight and exhibits at Japan's largest drone exhibition, 'Japan Drone2022'

- February 24, 2023: JTEKT collaborates with industrial drone manufacturer 'ProDrone' to contribute to solving social issues through technology

- April 20, 2023: Capital participation in 'ProDrone' aiming to develop 'flying light trucks', an industrial drone manufacturer aiming to solve social issues

- May 25, 2023: Contribution to drone-powered logistics, participating in Aichi Prefecture's adopted 'Aichi Model 2030, Connecting the Sky and Roads' initiative