The Dronut X1 is a two-rotor, donut-looking ducted drone that comes with an unconventional design. The device owned by Cleo Robotics bears little semblance to a drone on the outside, at least. In addition, the drone doesn’t use the same flying technology prevalent in conventional drones.
Cleo Robotics says the Dronut X1 is the world’s first bi-rotor ducted drone, being able to fly in previously uncharted areas for any drone. The palm-sized drone is designed for indoor use – the outer propellers visible in drones are absent in the Dronut X1. The ducted fan design, therefore, allows the drone to operate extremely close to humans and can operate around sensitive equipment.
The Dronut X1 uses Cleo Robotics’ proprietary thrust vectoring technology for lift resources, while several other sensors provide a variety of functionality for the drone. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. The compact Dronut X1is well-suited for applications in challenging environments such as tight spaces even with poor or no illumination.
The Dronut X1 is fitted with a 3D LiDAR, a 4K camera, a global shutter camera for precise positioning, and can be reliable in areas lacking GPS service. It can accurately detect and avoid obstacles, and can also be remotely controlled via an Android smartphone.
The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), produced in the US, has a $9800 price tag. The battery of the device however only offers 12 minutes of flight time on a full charge. The battery can be charged from 0-100% in 40 minutes. The drone can be deployed in several innovative ways to track activities in confined and difficult spaces. The short battery life could however be a limitation of the device, for its high price.
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(via)
