This YouTuber built a flying tank… or a drone that can drive? You decide

It’s the age old problem, you’re out flying your drone and think to yourself, “I really wish this thing could drive.” Well engineering YouTuber Michael Rechtin did, and now we have tank drone… or a drone tank? A drone that can drive and a tank that can fly.

The drone or tank, we’re just going to go with a drone for simplicity, features blades attached to four wheels. The wheels help also act to enclose the blades like a cinewhoop, although I don’t think this drone will ever move as fast. Around the wheels is a tread to aid in ground movement.

In total, the drone has six motors, one for each rotor and one to power each side of the wheels. Also, minus the motors, servos, batteries, and other electronics, the drone is entirely 3D printed.

Well how does one make a drone drive and fly you might ask? Well, Rechtin was able to crate an innovative system that would rotate the wheels 90 degrees and elevate them so they were above the drone’s body. With a touch of a button, Rechtin was able to transition the drone from drive mode to fly mode.

To control all of this, Rechtin turned to dRehmFlight as the flight software of the drone. Making customizations for the vehicle obvious special features.

Surprisingly, the drone works flawlessly! While I would say it looks to be a better driver than a flyer, it both looks freaking awesome and in a potential larger scale, he might be on to something.