Cambodian Students Build Drone
2021-09-29
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1Cambodian students have designed a prototype drone that they hope can eventually be used to move people around Phnom Penh and even help fight fires.
2The drone was developed by students at the National Polytechnic Institute of Cambodia (NPIC), a college in the capital city.
3The drone has eight propellers and uses a school chair for the pilot's seat.
4Lonh Vannsith, age 21, recently piloted the drone.
5"The drone, when we see it flying without a pilot, there is a lot of shaking, but when I sit on it and fly... it becomes more stable and I feel so excited," he said.
6Excited is a term that means very happy or enthusiastic about something.
7Vannsith added that the group of students "wanted to solve some problems for our society by making a taxi drone and... inventing drones for firefighters."
8He explained that the drone could reach the upper floors of a building to bring a hose if a fire truck could not reach the area.
9The prototype can carry a pilot weighing up to 60 kilograms and fly for about 10 minutes for a distance of 1 kilometer.
10It took three years of research and development, and it cost around $20,000 to build.
11The drone currently only rises as much as 4 meters, but the team hopes it will eventually fly far higher.
12The project faced delays because of coronavirus restrictions.
13Parts for the drone had to be purchased from abroad, said Sarin Sereyvatha.
14He is NPIC's head of research and development technology.
15The team plans to improve the design to permit it to take more weight and fly farther and higher.
16"In principle, if we make one drone, the cost is expensive but if we make them to sell on the market, the cost will go down," said Sarin Sereyvatha.
17I'm John Russell.
1Cambodian students have designed a prototype drone that they hope can eventually be used to move people around Phnom Penh and even help fight fires. 2The drone was developed by students at the National Polytechnic Institute of Cambodia (NPIC), a college in the capital city. 3The drone has eight propellers and uses a school chair for the pilot's seat. 4Lonh Vannsith, age 21, recently piloted the drone. 5"The drone, when we see it flying without a pilot, there is a lot of shaking, but when I sit on it and fly... it becomes more stable and I feel so excited," he said. 6Excited is a term that means very happy or enthusiastic about something. 7Vannsith added that the group of students "wanted to solve some problems for our society by making a taxi drone and... inventing drones for firefighters." He explained that the drone could reach the upper floors of a building to bring a hose if a fire truck could not reach the area. 8The prototype can carry a pilot weighing up to 60 kilograms and fly for about 10 minutes for a distance of 1 kilometer. It took three years of research and development, and it cost around $20,000 to build. 9The drone currently only rises as much as 4 meters, but the team hopes it will eventually fly far higher. 10The project faced delays because of coronavirus restrictions. 11Parts for the drone had to be purchased from abroad, said Sarin Sereyvatha. He is NPIC's head of research and development technology. 12The team plans to improve the design to permit it to take more weight and fly farther and higher. 13"In principle, if we make one drone, the cost is expensive but if we make them to sell on the market, the cost will go down," said Sarin Sereyvatha. 14I'm John Russell. 15Prak Chan Thul reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor. 16_____________________________________________________________ 17Words in This Story 18prototype - n. an original or first model of something from which others are copied or developed 19propeller - n. a device with two or more blades that turn quickly and cause a ship or aircraft to move 20shake - v. to move sometimes violently back and forth or up and down with short, quick movements 21stable - adj. in a good state or condition that is not easily changed or likely to change 22hose - n. a long, usually rubber tube that liquids or gases can flow through 23principle - n. a basic truth or theory, an idea that forms the basis of something