Electric propulsion course for UAVs
Online course of 300 hours in electric propulsion for UAVs: 6 modules covering drone propulsion systems, motors and ESCs, propellers and rotors, energy sources, integration, control and reliability, and a UAV propulsion project, with an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Understand the architecture of a drone electric powertrain.
Select motors and ESCs from their characteristic curves.
Design and select propellers using blade element theory.
Size battery systems and alternative energy sources.
Integrate propulsion with the flight controller and its failure logic.
Apply European regulatory requirements for drones.
Design the complete propulsion system of a UAV for a specific mission.
Who it's for
- UAV systems engineers.
- Electric propulsion engineers moving into unmanned aviation.
- Drone designers.
- Drone flight test engineers.
- UAS maintenance technicians.
- Payload integration engineers.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to join the unmanned aviation sector.
What you'll work with
- Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (rules and procedures for the operation of unmanned aircraft)
- Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 (unmanned aircraft systems and third-country operators)
- EASA SC Light-UAS (special condition for light unmanned aircraft systems)
- JARUS SORA 2.5 (specific operations risk assessment)
- ASTM F3298-19 (design, construction and verification of lightweight UAS)
- IEC 62133-2:2017 (safety of portable lithium cells and batteries)
- UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, Section 38.3 (lithium battery transport testing)
- eCalc
- PX4 Autopilot
- ArduPilot Mission Planner
- XFOIL
- QPROP
6 modules
1.1Components of the electric powertrain1.2Multirotor, fixed-wing and VTOL configurations1.3Thrust requirements and thrust-to-weight ratio1.4Endurance and range by configuration1.5Open, specific and certified categories1.6Drone classes C0 to C61.7Civil applications and their mission profiles1.8Trends in drone propulsion1.9Component selection criteria1.10Case study: analysis of a commercial inspection drone
2.1Outrunner brushless motors2.2KV constant and torque2.3Copper and iron losses2.4Electronic speed controllers (ESCs)2.5Trapezoidal commutation and FOC control2.6DShot and PWM protocols2.7ESC telemetry2.8Motor thermal management2.9Motor and propeller test bench2.10Lab: performance curve of a motor–propeller set
3.1Momentum theory3.2Blade element theory3.3Thrust and power coefficients3.4Diameter and pitch selection3.5Folding and variable-pitch propellers3.6Ground effect and coaxial rotor effects3.7Noise of small propellers3.8Propeller materials and balancing3.9Design with open-source tools3.10Workshop: designing a propeller using blade element theory
4.1LiPo and Li-ion batteries for drones4.2Capacity, C-rate and internal resistance4.3Series–parallel cell configuration4.4Battery management and state of charge4.5Hybrid systems with combustion engines4.6Fuel cells for long endurance4.7Safe transport and storage4.8Battery ageing and retirement4.9Energy reserve requirements4.10Practical exercise: sizing a battery for a mapping mission
5.1Overall powertrain sizing5.2PX4 and ArduPilot flight controllers5.3Motor mixing and allocation5.4Behaviour after a motor failure5.5Electromagnetic compatibility with avionics5.6Data logging and flight analysis5.7Motor and propeller maintenance5.8SORA requirements for propulsion5.9Design for the certified category5.10Case study: log analysis after a motor failure
6.1Drone mission and requirements6.2Aircraft configuration6.3Motor and ESC selection6.4Propeller design or selection6.5Energy system sizing6.6Endurance and performance estimation6.7Validation on a test bench or in simulation6.8Operational risk analysis6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
A 100% online programme on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so you can combine it with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is eCalc, PX4 Autopilot, ArduPilot Mission Planner, XFOIL and QPROP, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for bench testing motor–propeller sets, sizing batteries for mapping missions and analysing flight logs after failures. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947, Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945, EASA SC Light-UAS, JARUS SORA 2.5, ASTM F3298-19, IEC 62133-2:2017, UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, Section 38.3
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with eCalc, PX4 Autopilot, ArduPilot Mission Planner, XFOIL, QPROP, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute certificate, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
No prior qualification is required: you need an internet connection, a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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