HYDRO LEDUC expertise at the service of UTC innovation
The drone market is today dominated by 100% electric solutions. However, for demanding service applications, the limits of this technology are becoming apparent: overheating, reduced autonomy under heavy load and sensitivity of power electronics.
On the occasion of the Global Industrie 2026 exhibition, the Université de Technologie de Compiègne (UTC) is presenting a breakthrough alternative: the first hydraulic propulsion drone demonstrator. To bring this out-of-the-ordinary project to life, UTC relied on HYDRO LEDUC’s know-how for the supply of critical power transmission components.
A 10-year genesis: From idea to first flight
Initiated in 2015 under the impetus of ARTEMA and the UTC hydraulics chair, this project has mobilized more than 100 people. The objective was to demonstrate that hydraulic power could be miniaturized to comply with drone regulations (less than 25 kg).
On July 31, 2025, after a decade of research, the UTC quadrotor drone completed its first flight. This technical success is based on an innovative mechatronic architecture integrating high-precision micro-hydraulic components.
The role of HYDRO LEDUC components: Power and Miniaturization
The originality of the demonstrator lies in the speed control of each propeller, ensured by our micro-motors powered by a central pump.
An optimized specific power
For this project, we supplied our PB2.9 micro-pump and our MH450 micro-motors (equipped with a specific aluminum housing for weight reduction). As Eric Noppe, chair holder at UTC, points out, these components are unique in their size and their ability to operate at 300 bar, enabling a mass/power ratio of 2 (16 kg weight for 30 kg of thrust).
Endurance and reliability
Unlike electric systems, hydraulics manages high loads better without immediate overheating. This makes it possible to consider extended flight missions (up to one week of flight depending on configurations). Moreover, this project validates the robustness of hydraulics in the face of the sensitivity of 100% electronic systems, a reliability observation shared by the aeronautical sector.
Beyond the drone: The versatility of micro-hydraulics
If the UTC drone is a remarkable technological showcase, it above all illustrates the adaptability of our micro-components to various environments. The know-how developed for this project is the same as the one we deploy for:
- The medical field: Bionic hand prostheses.
- Motorsport: High-performance braking systems.
- Industry: Portable tooling and oceanographic research.
Supporting technological breakthroughs
This partnership with UTC confirms HYDRO LEDUC’s ambition: to provide the necessary power where conventional solutions reach their limits. Precision hydraulics is no longer a promise, it is an industrial reality.
Discover the UTC demonstrator and our micro-hydraulic components at the Global Industrie exhibition (Paris-Villepinte), stand 5P159, until April 2.