UAS start-up develops frameless platform

By Emily Aasand | March 12, 2015

UAS Directions, a startup unmanned aircraft system (UAS) manufacturer, has designed a 3D, multi-rotor uni-body platform that eliminates the need for exposed propellers. Aaron Weller, founder of UAS Directions, expects public safety concerns to continue to grow over multi-rotor airframes, which led to his development of the frameless UAS.

“Flight systems are evolving fast, but everyone’s following everyone else with the same basic frame layout,” said Weller. “No one seems to be addressing the limitations and inherent safety flaws in their shape and exposed propellers. What if a drone could take on any 3D shape?

“If we hope to gain acceptance of a safety conscious public, we have to address these safety issues,” Weller continued. “Our first uni-body platform, the Droplet V1, will change our industry permanently. The Droplet design speaks from the psychological vantage point of people who will come into close contact with drones. No one wants a ‘spider-looking’ blender on steroids delivering their future Amazon or DHL package or photographing over their heads at an event.”

The Droplet can hold deliverable packages, cameras and sensor equipment. Other features include: muffled sound signature, total encapsulation of internal electronics and impact absorption in event of an accident.

“Sky’s the limit when you have an airframe that can be safely caught with bare hands,” said Weller. “This technology can be applied to just about any 3D shape or product imaginable. It puts companies and industries in the game that have held back from drone integration due to insurance and liability issues.”

UAS Directions said it’s focused on sharing its scalable and flexible technology with companies already developing drone programs.

“We will be strategically partnering with companies who want to invest in a marriage of their own proprietary systems with the future of uni-body platforms,” said Weller. “The goal is to make developer’s platforms safer and more appealing to the public.”

 

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