Air Force Institute fabricates surveillance hexacopter

The Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) has fabricated a multi-rotational drone named hexocopter in its bid to becoming a world-class institution and first choice for study of aerospace and defence engineering.

The Commandant of AFIT, Air Vice Marshal Cletus Udeagulu, who disclosed this at a press conference to kick-start activities lined up for the 47th convocation ceremony of the institute, said the drone is different from the other unmanned aerial vehicles.

He said: “Our intention is to meet 70 per cent local content in the hexocopter so that we can claim total ownership of both the software and the hardware. Anyone can make it but the coding and making sure it works is where the ownership property comes in. The coding of this project was done by the institute.

“Not resting on our oars, there are five members of staff and students-led projects, which will be displayed at the convocation grounds. They are the Sun Tracker, Rocket Launcher Tester, Shock Absorber, Constructed Surveillance Airship and Fabricated Hexacopter.”

Besides, Lead engineer of the project, Nkemdilim Ofodile, while displaying the fabricated hexacopter, said the device was 100 per cent manufactured by the institute with few materials imported.

She said the device would be used for aerial surveillance and could go as high as 400 metres altitude and cover 40 kilometres in 40 minutes.

“The name was derived from the number of legs the copter has which has a GPS system, auto pilot system, communication system and the camera system and can take up to five kilogrammes pay-load,” she said.