PackDrone receives 3 awards at the 46th International Invention Fair

The PackDrone, safe foldable transportation drone developed at the Laboratory of Intelligent Systems in EPFL's School of Engineering, received three awards during the 46^th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva, Palexpo, 11-15 April 2018: the Audience Award, the Special Award of the President of the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland, and the Award of the President of the Association of Portuguese Inventors.

Packdrone is equipped with several innovations that make it particularly safe, autonomous and easy to transport.

The unique idea here is that the drone becomes the package that wraps around the cargo before flight, just like a mail package. The foldable carbon-fiber cage protects the drone and the cargo in case of a collision or fall. What’s more, the recipient can catch the drone mid-flight without being injured by the propellers, which are located within the structure and have a safety system so that they stop when the cage is opened.

The origami-inspired design means that the frame can be folded and unfolded in a single movement. It can be flattened in just a few seconds, reducing the drone's volume by 92% so that it can easily be slipped inside a backpack.

An accurate, self-flying drone

The drone – a multicopter with four propellers – can take off and land vertically, which enhances its accuracy. And it can carry a package weighing up to 500 grams over a distance of 2 kilometers.

The drone contains specially designed self-flying software to program the delivery. A flight plan is created to ensure it avoids obstacles such as trees and buildings. The drone can then be tracked in real time on a tablet or smartphone. And once the package has been delivered, the drone makes its way back on its own. The device also has a safety system to prevent it from being hacked.

More information: here