Teen Builds Drone: DoD & MIT Take Notice
Seventeen-year-old Cooper Taylor is revolutionizing drone technology with his innovative designs. His vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone, a blend of helicopter and airplane capabilities, is now turning heads. Taylor’s VTOL drone design caught the attention of the U.S. Navy, awarding him a $15,000 scholarship. built using 3D printing,his prototypes offer enhanced efficiency and affordability,making them accessible to first responders and researchers. Taylor’s ingenuity has already garnered significant recognition, also including a scholarship from the Defense Department, and this summer, he’ll be working with MIT. News Directory 3 is proud to showcase this inspiring story. Discover what’s next for this emerging drone innovator.
Teen Drone Innovator Cooper Taylor Lands navy Scholarship
Updated June 15,2025
Cooper Taylor,a 17-year-old,is making waves in the drone industry with his innovative designs. Taylor’s work focuses on creating more efficient, customizable, and affordable drones, particularly his vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone.
Taylor’s interest in drone technology sparked when his younger sister received a drone that had a limited flight time. He researched ways to improve drone endurance, leading him to VTOL drones, which combine the maneuverability of helicopters with the extended flight range of airplanes. His design allows the drone to take off like a helicopter and then transition into airplane mode for longer flights, overcoming the limitations of conventional rotor-based drones without needing a runway.
taylor has built six prototypes,utilizing 3D printing for hardware components,programming the software,and soldering the control circuit boards. He estimates that his drones cost about one-fifth of comparable commercial models.
His ingenuity has garnered notable recognition. in April, Taylor received an $8,000 scholarship at the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, funded by the Defense Department. This was followed by a $15,000 scholarship from the U.S. Navy in May, awarded at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.
Taylor hopes his affordable drone technology can be accessible to first responders, researchers, and everyday problem solvers.
This summer, Taylor will participate in a drone project with the Reliable Autonomous Systems Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
What’s next
Taylor plans to continue refining his drone designs and exploring new applications for VTOL technology,with a focus on increasing accessibility and affordability for various users.