IIT-Kanpur students’ unmanned drone helicopter wins prize at international contest A team of postgraduate students of Aerospace department of IIT-Kanpur have designed an unmanned drone helicopter named ‘Vibhram’. The drone has won third prize in 34th Annual Student Design Competition organised by American Helicopter Society. Giving details, head of Aerospace engineering department of IIT-Kanpur Assistant Prof Abhishek said, “The design of Vibhram is very innovative. It has novel dissimilar coaxial rotor concept. It is different from the Kamov 226 helicopter and its design has been patented.” He also said that it can be useful for the army and the air force. Its main benefits include less consumption of fuel, which the traditional helicopters use. The novel design was presented in the Army Technology Day on 8 January in presence of Chief of Army staff General Bipin Rawat. The design of Vibhram is unique unlike any other helicopter design. The design uses the unrelated equational rotors, which are placed above it. The drone has been believed to be 10-20% more efficient than the existing motor design like the traditional Single main rotor and tail rotor and the Regular coaxial design. Vibhram can fly continuously for 24 hours while carrying a payload of 80 kg.

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