Students build Bond-style micro pocket drone that flies instantly

Students at Texas A&M University’s Advanced Vertical Flight Laboratory have developed a groundbreaking micro air vehicle (MAV) weighing just 112 grams that folds to smartphone size and unfolds midair to stabilize itself within seconds. This pocket-sized drone features foldable propeller arms that extend and lock automatically when thrown, enabling it to recover from extreme spins—up to 2,500 degrees per second—and hover smoothly. Its stability is achieved through an advanced onboard feedback controller that uses sensors and algorithms to detect orientation and adjust propeller speeds in real time, allowing immediate flight readiness without careful handling or controlled takeoff. The design balances portability, strength, and performance, supported by a sophisticated six degrees of freedom (6DOF) flight dynamics model validated with real-world motion tracking data. This rigorous testing ensures reliable operation even under unpredictable launch conditions. The MAV’s compactness and rapid deployment make it ideal for practical applications such as emergency response, where first responders could quickly launch drones into hazardous zones for damage assessment or survivor