Prioria Robotics Maveric

The Prioria Robotics Maveric is a discontinued unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that was pitched as a high-performance, next-generation option for small and miniature drone operations. Its standout feature is bendable wings, which let the fully assembled airframe fit inside a 6-inch tube. This design means the drone can be launched immediately without any assembly, with a claimed top speed of 55 knots. It was marketed as the first smart, customizable small UAS, running on Prioria’s proprietary Merlin processing platform.

Operation

The Maveric can operate fully autonomously from launch to landing using waypoints, or a human pilot can fly it manually with a simple joystick under autopilot assistance. It was built for a single user in a military, tactical setting. To meet that goal, the airframe had to be small and light—just 2 pounds—so one person could carry it, yet its wings needed to be large enough (28 inches) to support batteries, cameras, and electronics for up to an hour of flight time.

The bendable-wing design solved portability and assembly issues. The wings, big enough for operational needs, collapse and wrap around the fuselage while staying fully assembled, allowing the drone to be stored in a small tube and launched immediately upon removal. The flexible wings were also said to create a dampening effect called "adaptive washout," helping the UAS fly in heavy wind gusts. Additionally, the bendable wings and bird-like shape were claimed to provide biological camouflage.

Legal scandal

In 2015, Prioria vendor Condor Aerial alleged that Prioria was providing false specifications for the Maveric, selling a hobby-grade drone at a military-grade price and selling refurbished drones as new. The complaint included claims that the UAV was easily damaged and featured sworn statements from a former employee who said the then-CEO knowingly falsified information on government contracts.

A report by NOAA noted that their own Maveric drones lasted over six years without mechanical issues across 4,500 combined sorties. Condor won a breach of contract suit with a jury award of $1.5 million on December 7, 2017, and a writ of execution was placed on Prioria’s assets in January 2018. The verdict was appealed, but Prioria filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on January 29, 2018, and the appeal has been on hold since.

Former operators include the U.S.