Slippery Rock University student Maxx Swoger tests a drone. Swoger and two other students spent the summer working to see if drone technology could be made less expensive and more accessible for municipalities and agencies to use.

SLIPPERY ROCK — Three Slippery Rock University students spent the summer working to see if drone technology could be made more accessible.

Maxx Swoger of Erie, Brittany Drew of Cranberry Township and Kevin Weigle of Ohio received a $500 grant from SRU to work on a drone that could be used by municipalities, first responders, small businesses and smaller law enforcement agencies.

One of the goals was to see if drone technology could be made less expensive.

Krishna Mukherjee, professor of physics and the project adviser, said many small police departments, municipalities or businesses do not have a much money to spend, but a $500 device would be within reach.

“That will be of so much benefit to them,” Mukherjee said.

Mukherjee suggested the project to the students, who then had to write a grant application. She said the students had to justify the project in the application, which is a skill not often learned in classes.

“That is something they learn,” Mukherjee said. “That was kind of like a real life experience to them.” The group used the money to buy a DJI Phantom FC40 drone. The drone is 19 inches by 19 inches, and about 8 inches high. It has four propellers and a camera. The camera could be monitored using an app on a smart phone.

The craft could fly at about 25 feet per second. The students used propeller protectors to prevent them from hitting walls during flight.

Project leader Swoger, a junior, said the drone could be used to inspect sewer pipes for cracks, which he said is a job few people would want to do. They flew the drone through hula hoops and a simulated tunnel.

“It can do it,” Swoger said.

The students tried using it to check tall buildings for cracks. They also tested the feasibility of using it to drop aid items in remote locations or to deliver medications to senior citizens. Swoger said the tests were successful.

One issue with the technology is that the lithium battery that powers the drone takes 80 minutes to charge, but only allows for 20 minutes of flight.

“That's a problem universally (with drones),” Swoger said.

The project helped him develop leadership skills, he said, and he was happy to be able to write a grant application.

“I know a lot of undergraduates don't get that experience at all,” he said.

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