Draper and DoD Work Together on Next Generation of Small Drones
MA-based engineering firm Draper[1] and DoD are working together on the next generation of small drones – developing technology to improve autonomous navigation that could rapidly move into the commercial space.
Under a three-year contract with the Department of Defense, Draper is focused on addressing the hardest parts of autonomous navigation – demonstrating how they can equip small drones to reduce collisions and develop robust new navigation methods.
Autonomy is a key capability for commercial drones as well as military drones. Ease of use – allowing small drones to avoid obstacles more easily – means that drones can be more widely used in the commercial arena, and can be used for inspection or monitoring of any complex environment: whether that’s an urban interior or the underside of a bridge.