The Teen Genius Revolutionizing Drones with 3D Printing
While most 17-year-olds are worried about passing exams or getting likes on social media, Cooper Taylor is building drones that cost five times less than commercial ones. 🚁 His secret: 3D-printed parts and that magical combination of teenage curiosity with hours not spent watching TikTok.
A Drone That Doesn't Break the Bank
Cooper's invention is a VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) drone that stands out for:
- Reduced cost: Only 20% of the market price
- Smart design: Tilting rotors that save energy
- Accessible manufacturing: 3D-printed parts and manual assembly
"It's like the IKEA of drones: you assemble it, but at least this one doesn't leave you with leftover screws"
From the Bedroom to the MIT Lab
This young inventor's journey is more impressive than the flight of his drones:
- He has built 6 functional prototypes
- Won $23,000 in science scholarships
- Was compared to advanced university students
- Next stop: MIT Autonomous Systems Lab
And all this without having finished high school. 📚 At this rate, when he graduates, he'll probably be teaching at university.
More Than a Tech Toy
These affordable drones could be vital tools for:
- Rescues in remote areas
- Medicine delivery
- Agricultural monitoring
- Scientific research
The current prototype flies for 15 minutes, but promises to reach 105 minutes in its final version. ✈️ Enough time to deliver a pizza... or save lives, which sounds a bit more important.
So the next time you complain about "today's youth," remember Cooper Taylor, who is probably 3D printing the solution to problems you didn't even know existed. And all this before he can legally vote.
P.S. If at 17 your greatest achievements were beating a hard level in a video game, don't worry... you can always buy one of his drones. 😅