Young tech genius develops cutting-edge drones for life-saving missions

At just 17 years old, Cooper Taylor is already shaking up the drone world -building cutting-edge, affordable drones in his basement that could transform everything from disaster relief to wildlife conservation. 

What started as frustration over his sister’s short-lived drone flight has sparked a breakthrough design that’s catching the attention of top scientists and the US Navy alike, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Over the past year, Taylor has focused on improving vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drones—versatile machines increasingly used in agriculture, disaster relief, wildlife conservation, search-and-rescue missions, and medical deliveries. By 3D-printing every component, coding the software, and soldering the control circuit board himself, Taylor has built six prototypes.

Taylor estimates his drone costs only one-fifth as much as comparable commercial models, which typically cost thousands of dollars. His goal is to make such drones accessible to “first responders, researchers, or everyday problem solvers,” he said.

His innovation earned him an $8,000 scholarship in April at the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS), funded by the Department of Defense, followed by a $15,000 scholarship from the US Navy in May at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.

Winnie Boyle, senior director at the National Science Teaching Association, which runs JSHS, said, “Ultimately, having people in STEM careers is a matter of national security.” She added, “We as the community will still benefit from the research that they’re doing,” even if many students don’t enter military fields.

Taylor’s interest was sparked when his sister’s drone ran out of power after just 30 minutes. He discovered that VTOL drones, which combine helicopter-style lift-off with airplane-style flight, could offer longer durations and greater range without needing a runway.

However, VTOL drones are typically expensive because some motors sit idle during flight, wasting cost and energy. Taylor’s innovation is a tilting motor that functions as a helicopter rotor for takeoff, then transitions to airplane mode—reducing the number of motors required and cutting costs.

His fully 3D-printed, modular drone allows users to swap out wings, tails, or scientific equipment, making upgrades affordable. David Handelman, a senior roboticist who mentors Taylor, said the drone “could appeal to users who need a versatile platform but can’t afford large or complex systems.”

Taylor spent a summer rigorously developing his design, overcoming coding and circuitry challenges with online resources and courses. After several prototype crashes—including one that soared 50 feet before nosediving—his fourth version flew successfully.

The latest drone weighs about 6 pounds with a 4-foot wingspan, flying up to 15 minutes at a time, though Taylor estimates it could cruise for 105 minutes at 45 mph. Handelman praised Taylor’s work ethic, saying, “He got the aircraft flying, which is a testament to his persistence, creativity, and problem-solving ability.”

Taylor is now working on his seventh iteration, aiming to make it small enough to fit in a backpack. This summer, he’ll shift focus to a new drone project with MIT’s Reliable Autonomous Systems Lab, continuing his journey of innovation in aerospace technology.

By Naila Huseynova