ZenaTech begins prototype of soccer ball-sized autonomous drone

ZenaTech, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZENA) announced that its ZenaDrone subsidiary has begun prototype development of the IQ Sphere, a spherical autonomous drone approximately the size of a soccer ball, weighing between five and six kilograms.

According to the company, the platform is designed for use in GPS-denied and confined environments, with intended defense applications including building clearance, tunnel exploration, and ship boarding. Commercial applications under consideration include pipeline inspection, underground utility inspection, and hazardous industrial operations.

The IQ Sphere features a lightweight protective spherical frame and a modular architecture. The company states the platform is intended to provide operators with real-time situational awareness and remote inspection capabilities.

"Whether it's navigating pipelines, inspecting hazardous infrastructure, or operating in GPS-denied environments, there is growing demand for intelligent systems that can keep people out of harm's way while delivering real-time data and situational awareness," said Shaun Passley, Ph.D., CEO of ZenaTech.

The IQ Sphere joins ZenaDrone's existing lineup of autonomous platforms, which includes the IQ Nano, IQ Square, IQ Quad, IQ Aqua, and IQ Glider, all described by the company as being at various stages of development, testing, or piloting.

ZenaTech said prototype testing is expected to begin within the coming weeks, with updates to follow as development milestones are reached.

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