Cleo Robotics

Cleo Robotics is a drone maker based in Boston, United States. Its main product is the Dronut DD1, a small aircraft with completely enclosed propellers designed to fly near people and sensitive equipment. The company states that it engineers and assembles its products in the United States. The Dronut is aimed at indoor and confined spaces where conventional drones cannot easily operate. The site presents the enclosed propellers as the reason the aircraft can fly close to people and equipment without exposed blades.

Flight and autonomy

The DD1 relies on the company's autonomy software and a set of sensors that let it fly in low light and without GPS. The airframe is small enough to fit in a palm and is built to withstand impacts, dust and debris. Its rugged design is meant to keep missions running in harsh conditions. The company says the aircraft is NDAA compliant.

Product line and build

• Dronut DD1: the current model, with enhanced autonomy and stability over its predecessor.
• Dronut X1 Pro: the earlier model in the Dronut line, which the site lists as the step before the DD1.
• Ground controller: a durable anodized aluminum unit with a 1920 by 1200 pixel screen.
• Manufacturing: designed, assembled and tested in the USA.

The site lists three operating conditions for the aircraft: indoors, in tight and confined spaces, and in GPS-denied environments. Each is presented as a setting where larger aircraft cannot easily fly. The site also notes that the company's aircraft are made and assembled in the USA, and that its enclosed propellers mean the blades are not exposed to people or equipment nearby.

Key facts

• Based in: Boston, United States
• Certifications: NDAA compliant
• Products: Dronut DD1, Dronut X1 Pro, ground controller