When operational, the Quantum Drone will lose battery charge. Eventually, they'll need to return to the station to recharge.

When you enter the Prisma Core, interact with the machine and speak to Gigi, who tells you that putting Prisma Plorts into that machine will let her produce the blueprint for the Nullifier. Ideally, ...

The Quantum Drone is unlocked through an interaction rather than finding it in pods or learning it through communications ...