Smallest Artificial Intelligent Drone

Mini drone autopilots claim to be compact, Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled and equipped with autonomy, communication, and power management features.

ModalAI has launched the VOXL 2 Mini drone autopilots, which the company claims are compact yet equipped with autonomy, communication, and power management features. According to the press release issued by the company, the chip, weighing only 11 grams, delivers the same performance with a small form factor, making it perfect for the next generation of smaller, smarter, and safer drones. According to the company’s claim, Software Development Kit (SDK) empowers developers who aim to develop, verify, test, and incorporate their autonomous flight software into their small Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) solutions.

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The press release highlights that the chip is equipped with a Qualcomm processor featuring an Artificial Intelligence (AI) engine, as well as a Hexagon Tensor Accelerator, a graphics processing unit (GPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), and a neural processing unit (NPU). As small as an Oreo cookie, the autonomous computing stack is claimed to be packed with dense computing power. It comprises a new chip featuring an integrated power management system (APM) and closed or open loop Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) control with feedback.

“The response to VOXL 2 has been incredible, and we are thrilled for customers to experience the same powerful computing in an even smaller design,” said Chad Sweet, CEO and co-founder of ModalAI, Inc. “Weight is the dominant factor when designing a drone as they need to fight gravity in flight. VOXL 2 Mini is only 11 grams and delivers the same performance as its VOXL 2 predecessor in a smaller form factor, ideal for the next generation of smaller, smarter, and safer drones.”

Some of the specifications of the product include: 

• Dimensions : 11g, 42mm x 42mm 
• Powered by Qualcomm QRB5165: Hexagon Tensor Accelerator, GPU, DSP, NPU
• 15 TOPS AI: NPU and GPU-accelerated TensorFlow Lite
• 30.5mm x 30.5mm industry standard mount
• Works with (voxl-software package e.g. voxl-modem)
• Open-source software: Open CV, ROS2, Docker, PX4 integrated flight controller
• NPU and GPU-accelerated TensorFlow Lite
• Add-on Connectivity: USB 3: WiFI, 5G, 4G/LTE, Microhard

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