# DRAGON: University of Tokyo JSK Lab drone

Canonical ID: `a9b75c57-f350-4cfb-b53a-658fab3b5a0f`

- **Slug:** dragon-aerial-robot
- **Form factor:** aerial ([Drones](/drones))
- **Maturity stage:** research
- **Lifecycle:** active
- **Deployments registered:** 0

## Specs

- **segments:** 4
- **payload_kg:** 3
- **rotor_type:** ducted
- **publication:** IEEE RA-L 2018
- **rotors_per_segment:** 2

## Deployments

_No deployments registered for this model._

## Supply chain

_No verified supply relationships on file. Supply-chain coverage is being added across the registry; check back as the seed populates this model's suppliers._

_Suppliers appear when verified with at least two strong sources. Sources are append-only; corrections add new sources rather than rewrite history._

## Common questions

### What is DRAGON?

Transformable multilink aerial robot (Dual-Rotor-Embedded Multilink Robot with the Ability of Multi-Degree-of-Freedom Aerial Transformation) developed at the University of Tokyo JSK Lab. Unlike rigid-frame drones, DRAGON is made of four linked segments, each with two ducted rotors mounted on gimbals, enabling it to reshape mid-flight while maintaining full SE(3) pose control. The airframe itself acts as a flying manipulator, with a lifting capacity over 3 kg. A navigation stack computes efficient body shapes for the current task. Published in IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters (2018), the work later spawned the independent DRAGON Lab under Moju Zhao in April 2024.

### How much does DRAGON cost?

DRAGON's price is not publicly disclosed. DEPLOY has no verified price on record for DRAGON from University of Tokyo JSK Lab. Physical-AI systems like this are often sold through enterprise contracts or operated as a service rather than at a public list price; check the manufacturer for the latest.

### Is DRAGON actually deployed in the real world?

DRAGON is at the research stage: it exists, but DEPLOY has no verified real-world deployment on record. Manufacturer capability claims should be read as claims pending independent verification.

### Who makes DRAGON?

DRAGON is made by University of Tokyo JSK Lab, based in Tokyo, Japan.

### Can you buy DRAGON?

DRAGON is at research stage and is not yet available for sale.

### What are alternatives to DRAGON?

On the DEPLOY registry, comparable aerial robots to DRAGON include Wing Delivery Aircraft, Skydio X10, Zipline Platform 2 (P2), Prime Air MK30.

### How does DRAGON compare to Wing Delivery Aircraft?

DRAGON and Wing Delivery Aircraft (Wing · 35 deployments) are both aerial robots on the DEPLOY registry. DRAGON has 0 verified deployments on record. Compare both records for specs, safety, deployments, and verified-vs-claimed autonomy.

### Is DRAGON a top aerial?

On DEPLOY's intelligence score, which blends verified deployments, safety, adoption, media, and IP signals, DRAGON ranks in roughly the top 13% of aerial models tracked by the registry.

### What is DRAGON's maturity stage?

DRAGON is at the research stage on the DEPLOY maturity ladder (research, prototype, pilot, commercial, production). Research stage means active development without commercial deployments on file.

### Where is DRAGON deployed?

No verified deployments of DRAGON are currently on the DEPLOY registry. DEPLOY records deployments only when verified at a named site with a primary source; absence may reflect pre-deployment, research, or manufacturer-internal use.


## Sources (2)

1. **Design, Modeling, and Control of an Aerial Robot DRAGON** · https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8258850
2. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8258850

## The verified answers

- [Which robots are deployed in the most cities](/which-robots-are-deployed-in-the-most-cities.md)
- [Which types of robots are deployed the most](/which-types-of-robots-are-deployed-the-most.md)

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