With potential for vaccine distribution, IIT-Kanpur's unmanned drone-helicopter is first of its kind

Standing up to its brand name, the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur(IIT-K) has always been a hub of progressive innovations. In recent times, the institute has worked on multiple projects to revolutionise the field of avian technology. Associating with a start-up company called EndureAir, the Aeronautics Department at IIT-K has produced an unmanned drone-helicopter which would be an interesting addition to the country's aircraft ensemble.

Passed the test trials for flying at an elevation of 11,500 feet

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The recently manufactured unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which is fuelled by petrol, has the capacity of carrying weight up to 5-kg. A professor from the Aerospace Engineering Department of IIT-K informed that the helicopter can be deployed in areas that require long-endurance surveillance. This makes it a perfect agent for the purpose of vaccine distribution across different regions.

The academician also stated that the aircraft has passed the trials conducted at an elevation of 11,500 feet. Despite being a novel development, the helicopter-drone faces one problem. The engine of the helicopter loses power with an increase in height and the Aeronautics department is working hard to resolve this issue. The department has already started its work on a different version powered by a battery-device that can equip the helicopter to fly at greater heights.

New battery-powered version to be ready in 2-3 months

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It is anticipated that the production of the new version shall be completed within 2-3 months. Among the provisions included in the drone-helicopter, the Global Positioning System(GPS) device for mapping its location, is a highlight. The official from the aeronautics department also asserted that they are waiting for the government's approval to start the long-range trails. As of now, the helicopter has been tested for carrying a load of 5-kg till a distance of around 50-km