Prathap N.M. (ಪ್ರತಾಪ್ ಎನ್.ಎಂ.), widely known as Drone Prathap, is an Indian drone engineer, scientist, entrepreneur, and social media influencer born on 10 January 1998 in Netkal village, Malavalli Taluka, Mandya district, Karnataka. His father Marimaddaiah is a farmer and his mother Savita is a homemaker. Although passionate about engineering since childhood, his family's financial constraints prevented him from pursuing an engineering degree; he instead completed a B.Sc. in Science from JSS College of Arts and Commerce, Mysore. Inspired by former President APJ Abdul Kalam - whose photograph he always carried in his wallet for motivation - and by the sight of eagles in flight, he taught himself drone technology through self-study. He began building drones from discarded electronic waste, ultimately constructing 600+ functional drones. His work spans six major research areas: Telegraphy in Border Security, Cryptography in Drone Networking Systems, Drones in Traffic Management, Drones in National Socio-Defence, UAVs in Rescuing Humans, and Auto-piloted Drones. His Eagle 2.8 drone, capable of flying at 280 km/hr, once transported antivenom in just 8.5 minutes to a snakebite victim in a village that was 10 hours away by road, saving a child's life. During the devastating floods of North Karnataka in 2019, his drones delivered food, water, and relief materials from Hipparagi Barrage to the village of Janawada. He won first place at IIT Bombay's International Robotic Exhibition and used the prize money to establish Dronark Aerospace, a laboratory in Bengaluru dedicated to drone technology advancement. He is recognised as a Research Scholar for Skill India by the Union Ministry of Science and Technology. In October 2023, he entered Bigg Boss Kannada Season 10, where his simple, loyal, emotionally honest gameplay made him a consistent audience favourite. He survived numerous evictions and finished as the first runner-up on 28 January 2024, winning ₹10 lakh and a Bounce Infinity electric scooter.

Building 600+ drones from electronic waste; founding Dronark Aerospace; delivering food and relief supplies to flood-affected areas in North Karnataka via drones (Hipparagi Barrage to Janawada, 2019); winning first place at the IIT Bombay International Robotic Exhibition (project: 'Drones in Traffic Management'); being recognized as a Research Scholar for Skill India by the Union Ministry of Science and Technology; finishing as first runner-up on Bigg Boss Kannada Season 10 (2024).

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