TechJect, a Georgia company headed by Indian American Dr Jayant Ratti, has developed a spy drone small enough to fit in your hand and which looks and flies like an insect. Called TechJect Dragonfly, it’s a lightweight robot that collects and relays data while flying like a bird or hovering like an insect.
The smallest and the most sophisticated flying drone has unique flight characteristics which are native to the insects thus giving it superior flight performance compared to conventional flying systems like helicopters, airplanes and quadrotors.
TechJect is the developer of the world’s newest and smallest flying drones for gaming, research and personal photography/videography use. TechJect Dragonflies are indistinguishable from an insect in the environment. It is a level of camouflage that while guarding your house or keeping a watch on your kids/family, it literally goes unnoticed. With more color options, one can customize it to any environment.
TechJect founder Dr Jayant Ratti says, “Our prototypes have gone through multiple design cycles. We’ll be offering a number of Apps that the users can download from Google Play and App stores to perform pre-defined operations like: Indoor mapping, automated patrolling and more. If you’re an entrepreneur, you can literally kickstart your own Next-Gen application market using our Software Development Kit (SDK). If you are a researcher or a hobbist, skip to the next most versatile and compact platform to do your research. Create your own remarkable Apps on the coolest robot on the market.”
He says,TechJect’s expertise has been acquired through years of research and development into micro flight solutions for various reconnaissance objectives.
The company is a spin-off from Georgia Tech’s Robotics & Intelligent Machines (RIM) Department where Dr Jayant Ratti and Emanuel Jones, Co-Founder have worked together designing and improving flight mechanics, controls and avionics towards creating the smallest and the most sophisticated flying drone.
It is the culmination of four years of research and development at Georgia Tech, assisted by US$1 million in funding from the U.S. Air Force. The RIM was created to bring the Dragonfly and other robotic flyers to market. To that end, the TechJect team has turned to crowdfunding site indiegogo to help get the Dragonfly off the ground.
According to Gizmag.com, Dragonfly measures 15 cm (6 in). It weighs around 25 g (0.88 oz) and is powered by a 250 mAh lithium polymer battery that provides hover times of 8-10 minutes and a hybrid (hover/flight) time of 25 to 30 minutes.
Designed with a focus on modular customization, the Dragonfly carries up to 20 onboard sensors to suit a variety of applications, from aerial photography, gaming, research and development, civilian security and military reconnaissance. The modular approach results in the availability of various flight control packages.
There are four models available: the Alpha model, Delta model, Gamma model and the Omega model. All models are offered in blue, green, yellow, orange, red, black, white and silver color options and come with a fully customizable software development kit (SDK) for the creation of custom applications. However, TechJect will offer a number of free apps for iOS and Android devices and PCs. There will also be an online forum where users can share their custom apps and get development help from the TechJect team.
The Dragonfly’s modular construction also allows the future upgrade of various components, such as the wings, actuators, and onboard electronics. These will be available through the TechJect website.
TechJect is looking to raise $110,000 via indigogo by the time the calendar ticks over to 2013. If it achieves its goal, TechJect aims to be delivering Dragonflies to pledge-makers from July, 2013.
India Post News Service
Thank You For Your Vote!
Sorry You have Already Voted!
