Sep 5, 2016 | By Benedict
Canadian startup SlidX has unveiled KAYRYS, a 3D printed Gyro-X8 VTOL (vertical take-off and landing aircraft) for emergency assistance. SlidX partnered with fellow Canadian company Lezar3D to 3D print 60% of the drone.
Developers of drone technology have long considered unmanned aerial vehicles as a potentially revolutionary method of emergency assistance, whether in natural disasters, war zones, or everyday medical emergencies. Naturally, for a drone to be effective in such a situation, it must do more than simply fly and take photographs—an adequate payload is required to deliver emergency supplies, and effective communication tools are essential for relaying information to those on the ground.
With the new KAYRYS Gyro-X8 VTOL, Canadian startup SlidX looks to have met most of the criteria for an effective, emergency-ready drone. The 3D printed VTOL has a battery life of one hour, a maximum load of 12 kg (26 lbs), and is aerodynamic and flexible enough to get to its target destination in a short space of time. Better still, the KAYRYS is fully equipped to deal with emergencies thanks to a clever communication interface which lets professionals (medical, fire, diplomatic, etc.) communicate remotely with those in the affected area. With this feature, doctors can provide medical supplies to those in need, while also telling them exactly how to administer those supplies.
With the assistance of Canadian additive manufacturing company Lezar3D, SlidX used 3D printing technology to print 60% of the KAYRYS. Using four separate 3D printers, the two companies 3D printed 150 pieces for the KAYRYS prototype in less than 20 days. SlidX chose to use 3D printing in order to reduce its carbon footprint and to enable easier maintenance. “It’s easier to replace defective parts,” said SlidX’s Gary Cho. “Because of all the [testing] we have to do, when [a component] is broken, it’s easier and [faster] to reprint this piece only. The cost for a prototype can be divided by three thanks to this technology.” The non-printed parts of the drone are made from a carbon composite.
According to SlidX, the KAYRYS could be deployed in situations such as road accidents, fires, and search-and-rescue operations. Thanks to onboard obstacle-avoiding technology, the 3D printed aircraft is able to fly through different environments quickly and safely, making it suitable for several further applications. Furthermore, each KAYRYS will be subjected to 2-5 hours of flight testing.
“We want to bring innovative solutions and answer to the new societal stakes in the 21st century,” said James Desauvage, cofounder of SlidX. “By wishing to guarantee efficient solutions to current environmental problems, our team developed a flexible drone, the KAYRYS, useful in the emergency medical care, for the transportation of goods and for the collection of data.”
Founded in 2015 by Cho, Desauvage, Jérome Le Dall, and Xavier Paillat, SlidX develops and produces professional UAVs, and expects to have the KAYRYS on sale by the fourth quarter of 2016. The company is based in Montreal, Canada.
SlidX KAYRYS
- Battery life: 1 hour
- Max. payload: 12 kg (26 lbs)
- Wingspan: 2.65 m (8 ft 6”)
Posted in 3D Printing Application
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