These New NASA UAV Designs Could Take Your Tech to the Next Level

Taking to the sky is what NASA does best—and we want to help entrepreneurs and businesses take flight too! We are offering drone design improvements that can help create the next wave of advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). But, before you dive into our technology portfolio, check out the following technologies available for licensing to help you get a feel for new capabilities we can help you unlock.

Cut wing weight to keep drones flying longer
When it comes to takeoff, lighter is better. Enter this NASA tool that can be used with a wide range of fiber optic sensing systems that is enabling the next-generation of flexible aircraft wings. This tech can help build stronger, lighter drones that can spend more time in the air doing work thanks to its increased fuel efficiency.

Keep UAV swarms in the air despite a broken drone
In the past, if one drone went down, the entire swarm could be at risk for disaster. Inspired by insect colonies, NASA’s self-sacrificing components can save the mission by donating resources from the failing drone before self-destruction, keeping the swarm on task and in the air.

Shape memory tech can reconfigure aircraft wings in flight
Flight conditions can change rapidly the moment a drone takes off. Thanks to this shape memory alloy tech, a change in conditions doesn’t have to mean an emergency landing. The NASA spanwise adaptive wing uses shape memory alloy actuators to change the outboard portion of the wing to just the right configuration for the new flight conditions, which boosts engine performance, reduces energy consumption and—most importantly—keeps the drone doing its job without the need for a pitstop.

Cheap, compact drone doesn’t know the meaning of quit
Finally, a UAV that can burn the midnight oil just like you! Meet NASA’s vertical takeoff UAV that is capable of flying for 24 hours straight, all while being small enough to fit into a cargo van for easy transport. It can also land horizontally and vertically and is perfect if you need a drone that can take off and land in a wide variety of places, such as fields or forests.

Interested in licensing the tech mentioned above? Follow the links to apply through our website. You can also browse our entire technology portfolio here.

Follow the NASA Technology Transfer Program on twitter @NASAsolutions for the latest updates on technologies available for licensing.