Dive Brief:
- 3D Robotics, which calls itself North America’s largest personal drone company, has started a program offering free and discounted unmanned aircraft and autopilot technology for college and university science, technology, engineering, and math programs.
- The Berkeley, CA, company will also provide classroom support and promotional opportunities to the higher ed STEM programs using drones.
- Putting unmanned aircraft in the hands of future innovators will help develop the drone technology for industries, applications, and research opportunities that were previously unheard of.
Dive Insight:
For 3D Robotics, pushing their product out to STEM programs seems like a smartphone company — in the early days of smartphones — encouraging up-and-coming programmers to develop apps for the platform. Drones already have been used for bird and habitat protection, site surveying, invasive species protection, and archaeology. So far, 3D Robotics has donated quadrotors, named for their four vertical lift rotors, to colleges and universities. For some schools with advanced degrees in robotics, geographic information systems, and other fields related to unmanned aircraft, the company will offer beta-testing opportunities with new technology.