The main directions of research at the Department are:
- Development of new hydropneumatic systems, their units and equipment as well as enhancement of the existing ones;
- Calculation, development, and diagnostics of tracking electro-pneumatic drives, anti-lock braking systems, combined hydraulic systems of brake drives and steering and tipping mechanism of dump trucks, and other hydraulic and pneumatic systems of mobile and technological machines.
The Department participated in implementing various state-subsidized and commercial research including major State Programs, such as "Resource Saving", "Belarusian Tractor Engineering", "Mechanics", "Mining Dump Trucks" and others.
The teaching staff of the Department published more than 1 500 papers. They obtained more than 450 inventor"s certificates and patents; many inventions are introduced into production.
The Department contributes to the development of Belarusian scientific school of mechanical engineers training postgraduate students in the following specialities:
- for PhD students: "Machine Science, Drives and Machine Parts", "Wheel and Caterpillar Vehicles";
- for Master students: "Mechanical Engineering and Machine Science".
Among the postgradutate students of the Department are:
- M. Halamonski, Head of the Division of Heating and Ventilation at the University of Technology and Life Sciences, Bydgoszcz, Poland, Doctor of Engineering;
- M. Zabolotsky, Deputy General Designer of BelAZ, PhD in Engineering;
- L. Glazkov, Head of Research and Testing Laboratory of Hydraulic and Pneumatic Systems and Petrol Products, PhD in Engineering;
- M. Zhilevich, Deputy Dean of the Automotive and Tractor Faculty at the BNTU, PhD in Engineering;
- P. Kishkevich, Deputy Dean of the Automotive and Tractor Faculty at the BNTU, PhD in Engineering;
- Flerko, Deputy Dean of the Automotive and Tractor Faculty at the BNTU, PhD in Engineering;
- Smirnov, Head of the Management Sector of the Chief Designer of JSC "Amkodor".
Over the years the Department has trained more than 30 PhDs in engineering.
The students actively participate in the Department"s research activities. Every year 15–25 students report on their research projects at national and international conferences. The best researchers apply for patents and grants, submit their projects for scientific contests, and publish articles. Ambitious graduates have the possibility to continue training and take postgraduate courses.
All research projects implemented at the Department and the Research Laboratory are closely connected with production. Many of them are carried out upon the requests of the leading industrial enterprises of Belarus, such as BelAZ, MAZ, MTZ, OJSC "Belkommunmash", JSC "Amkodor", Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant, and many others. The students have their technological, design, and diploma practical trainings at these enterprises.
The Department cooperates with foreign partners in the field of technology and trains foreign specialists in "Hydraulic and Pneumatic Systems of Mobile and Technological Machines".
Foreign specialists from Poland, Vietnam, Jordan, and Lebanon obtained PhD degrees and several citizens of Libya got their master"s degrees at the Department.
In 1985 the Research Laboratory of Hydraulic and Pneumatic Systems was founded. The Laboratory aims at developing and consolidating the scientific division of the Department. In 2005 the Research Laboratory of Hydraulic and Pneumatic Systems was transformed into the Research and Testing Laboratory of Hydraulic and Pneumatic Systems and Petrol Products. The Laboratory is led by Leonid A. Glazkov, PhD in Engineering, and Petr R. Bartosh, Scientific Supervisor, Lecturer.
In 2008 a branch of the Department was founded at JSC "Amkodor". Making use of modern research facilities, the experience and professional knowledge of highly-skilled staff, the branch contributes to rapid professional adaptation of young specialists as well as the integration of research and educational work of the Department with production.
JSC "Amkodor" is one of the leading manufacturers of road-building, municipal, snow removal, agricultural, forestry, and other special equipment in the CIS. "Amkodor" product range numbers more than 80 models and upgrades of vehicles: front-end bucket loaders, multipurpose loading chassis, side dumping loaders, material handlers, telehandlers, snowploughs, dozers and backhoe loaders, cold planers, harvesters, and many others. "Amkodor" products have a high reputation in more than 30 countries worldwide.
