Elliot Ranger
Hardware Engineer, Analog Systems Group
Technical Director, Nano Air Vehicle (NAV)
 “I’ve always felt that if you want to be part of something you really need to get involved, and I like to challenge myself
with a lot of different things at one time, that’s just my personality,” says Elliot Ranger. Ranger is three years into a
Ph.D. program at Tufts University and volunteers for several community activities. These include the Key Pal Program
(an e-mail pen pal program with sixth-graders) and Draper’s Corporate Contributions Committee, which provides grants
to local nonprofits.
As technical director of a coaxial rotorcraft vehicle project for DARPA’s NAV program—requiring an aerial vehicle that
weighs fewer than eight grams (less than two nickels) but can carry a two-gram payload—his Draper work certainly can be
challenging. “Since we have such a stellar team, they are very good at deciding how the project should get accomplished.
They just need direction to keep them focused on the right elements,” says Ranger of his role.
His team’s technical approach focuses on vanishingly small electronics, GPS-denied navigation, and robust
communications. The stringent weight requirements rule out off-the-shelf components, so Draper has been inventing
unique solutions and partnering with other experts, including MIT and Daedalus Flight Systems.
According to Ranger, this project is ahead of its time for both the Lab and the science community: “It will take a number
of years before it becomes a reality, but this is an opportunity for Draper to maintain its leadership in the key thrust areas
that affect both this program and our sponsors. I am proud that the work we have done on this project has provided
nothing but a positive impression of Draper and our technical abilities.” |
