Small in size, the Sprite drone offers alternative to larger quadcopter drones
The developers of the Sprite, a small, durable drone that offers an alternative to larger, generally more fragile quadcopter drones, have received the latest Proto Labs Cool Idea! Award, a service grant given to innovative companies by quick-turn manufacturer Proto Labs, Inc.
The popularity of drone aircraft for consumer use is surging. More than 700,000 drones are expected to be sold nationwide this year, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. Drones are also getting lots of buzz as a hot holiday gift item this year.
“Drones are already playing key roles in a variety of industries, and for military and public safety applications,” said Proto Labs founder Larry Lukis. “This particular drone is innovative because of its consumer-friendly design: a smaller size, greater durability and ease of use.”
The Sprite Drone, developed by Arizona-based Ascent AeroSystems, is an ultra-portable drone that collapses to the size of a water bottle and uses a coaxial rotor design (two rotors stacked one atop the other).
Proto Labs’ Cool Idea! Award grant provided injection-molded parts for several iterations of prototype parts for the Sprite.
Jonathan Meringer, one of the founders of Ascent AeroSystems, said early Sprite concepts were developed on a consumer-grade 3D printer using PLA and ABS-like plastics. “While that was great for our initial development, that process didn’t provide the parts with the durability we required…the injection-molded polycarbonate parts (from Proto Labs) represent production-grade quality that’s added a dramatic improvement in everything from flight performance to assembly and maintainability. We were able to build several conforming vehicles that are really close to what the final product will be.”
The target market for the Sprite includes outdoor enthusiasts, such as hikers, backpackers and wilderness adventurers, though significant interest has also come from public safety, law enforcement, defense, security, scientific research and other commercial end-users, Meringer said.
Meringer says Q2 of 2016 is targeted for when the Sprite will actually reach the market. Current pricing begins at $699.
Ascent AeroSystems
ascentaerosystems.com
Proto Labs
protolabs.com
This country has gone “drone crazy”. And as a private, recreational pilot… I cannot say I’m thrilled about it.
Rule #1, for flight safety, is “see & avoid”. With 700,000+ relatively small, hard-to-see, zippy drones, crowding up the airspace, see & avoid is not easy. Especially since will be all up to me. With another airplane, at least I have a reasonable expectation that the other pilot is also searching the sky for air traffic. Not so with a drone. The only thing they’re searching is the ground below them.
And yes, I know there are FAA regulations on where, and how high, drones can be legally flown. I understand that the rules say they have to stay out of “my” airspace. But I also know that with that many drone “pilots’ out there, there are bound to be a few (thousand) who either won’t be aware of the regulations, or just won’t care. The last thing I want to see is a sightless, 20 pound sightless machine, cross directly in front of me, while I’m on short final for landing.
Sooner of later a collision is going to occur. And people are going to be injured, or worse. All so some kid can get his jollies. I wonder how folks would react if we let “drivers” of RC cars & trucks speed down the U.S. Interstate highways.
Lets just ban everything and get it over with. No drones, no non comerical aircraft, which has killed more people than drones. The list is endless of what people want to ban.
Mexicans have killed more people than drones, what is your point?
Nice efficient design. KIS
Lardo140.. .you should already be aware that there have been 100s of thousands of drones flying around for a very long time.
They were called RC Flying Models.
And yes, some of them have been flown in a recklessly manner.
I am sure there have already been numerous collisions over the years.
What has changed?
I have legally flown RC gliders within 400 ft of ground .. (slope soaring/mountain ridge) and had private / recreational pilots buzz the ridge – risking collision with my model.
They weren’t looking for a model sharing their airspace.
They weren’t looking for the eagles / condors/ vultures soaring there.
Always had examples of risky behavior, everywhere by a small percentage of the population.
What has changed?
We have new large wave of users of our shared airspace.
The primary difference: their level of education (concerning their responsibilities).
Lots of reason for this situation. Hobbyist and pilots know most of the reasons.
You are correct, the larger the number of users of a given resource (airspace), the increased risk of collisions.
There will never be a solution for this. Unless you believe we can have forced population control.
The more people in the life raft, the fewer freedoms available to them.
FAA is trying to address this situation.
It is my belief that anyone that is reasonably knowledgeable on the subject carries some responsibility in helping educate those interested in flying anything (kites included) on the responsibilities of using our shared airspace.
This is simply helping others and should be done in a spirit of service to society.
Our concerns cannot be addressed exclusively by the authorities through laws and regulations.
Unless, of course, we want to live in a “police state”….
Lord help us if we ever get affordable flying cars or airplanes!