For most people, a drone is something that hovers above the ground, snapping pictures or conducting land surveys. For Collin Taylor, it is a starting point. As the co-founder of Revolute Robotics, Collin and his team have built something few thought possible: a machine that can both roll across the ground and take to the skies when the mission demands it.
This creation, the Hybrid Mobility Robot (HMR), addresses problems that students at the Sonoran Desert Institute (SDI) are familiar with. Battery life limits drones. Ground rovers can carry heavy payloads but come to a stop at obstacles. Collin’s HMR blends the two. It can operate for over an hour on the ground carrying advanced sensors, then lift off when debris, walls, or pipes block the way. For industries such as oil, power, and construction, this means safer inspections, faster data collection, and reduced risks to human workers.
From Scottsdale Roots to Industry Innovation
Collin’s path into robotics began at home. His father ran Extreme Aerial Productions, one of Arizona’s first drone service providers approved for commercial operations at night and over people. That business began with real estate photography and evolved into projects with National Geographic, Red Bull, and major construction firms.
The real turning point came when customers asked a question: “Can you bring this technology indoors?” Once walls and infrastructure were in place, drones lost their advantage. There was no easy way to inspect tight, dangerous, or GPS-denied environments.
While finishing his degree at the University of Arizona, Collin met an engineer studying hybrid aerial and ground systems. Together, they saw the solution. The result was Revolute Robotics, launched with the goal of sending robots where others simply could not go.
Lessons for SDI Students
Collin’s story resonates with SDI students. He did not start with deep engineering knowledge. What he had was curiosity, hands-on exposure, and the willingness to learn. His advice is simple: start now, even if you do not feel ready. The best way to grow is by building, testing, and fixing.
That is the same philosophy behind SDI’s Uncrewed Technology Programs. From assembling your own kit in Design/Build/Fly to mission planning and troubleshooting, students get real-world practice that mirrors what Collin calls rapid prototyping. Employers are looking for people who can pivot quickly, solve problems in the field, and adapt when a customer asks for something new.
For students interested in the business side of drones, Collin’s experience also proves that entrepreneurship is built on relationships. Revolute Robotics grew not only through technical innovation but also through cold emails, pilot projects, and consistently overdelivering for customers.
The Future of Robotics and Where Students Fit
Revolute’s HMR is already being tested at critical facilities, from power plants to confined industrial spaces. The company is integrating advanced sensors, including LiDAR, thermal imaging, gas detection, and ultrasonic systems, for non-destructive testing. Beyond robotics, the vision is about data. The HMR collects information in dangerous spaces and turns it into actionable insights.
For SDI students, this is a glimpse of where the industry is headed. Hybrid robots, AI-driven autonomy, and swarm collaboration will create new jobs in design, engineering, piloting, and maintenance. Collin points out that this wave of unmanned systems is not replacing people. It is creating opportunities for those with the skills and initiative to step in.
Why It Matters
What Collin Taylor and Revolute Robotics are building may look like science fiction, but it is also a roadmap for the future. Students at SDI are already learning the fundamentals needed to step into this field: flight planning, remote sensing, systems design, and the creativity to troubleshoot in real time.
As Collin reminded us during his appearance on The Flight Path, “You are never going to feel ready. Start anyway.”
If you are ready to take your passion for drones from hobby to career, explore SDI’s Uncrewed Technology Programs. And to hear more from Collin himself, check out his full interview on The Flight Path Podcast, SDI’s show on everything uncrewed aerial systems.
RELATED STORIES
