Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology have developed a tiny origami drone whose arms are folded in according to traditional origami technique. This allows it to remain compact, with arms wrapped around each side of its trapezoid body, ready to spring to life when needed.
Once powered up, the drone's rotors force the arms to extend outwards into their natural position. This allows the propellers to spin freely and for the drone to take flight. What's so impressive about this origami drone's workings is that the entire unfolding and take-off process is automatic and happens in one third of a second.
Origami is an ancient art form, while drones are the thing of the future. However these drones marry the two seamlessly, creating something that's brilliant from both an engineering and an aesthetic standpoint.
Origami-Inspired Drones
This Origami Drone Spreads Its Wings In Less Than a Second
Trend Themes
1. Origami-inspired Drones - With the development of origami-inspired drones, there are opportunities for disruptive innovation in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles.
2. Compact Folding Mechanisms - The use of compact folding mechanisms in drone technology opens up possibilities for disruptive innovation in the design and portability of other devices.
3. Automatic Unfolding and Take-off - The advancement of automatic unfolding and take-off mechanisms in drones presents disruptive innovation opportunities in various industries requiring fast deployment and maneuverability.
Industry Implications
1. Drone Technology - The origami-inspired drone technology creates disruptive innovation potential for the drone industry by combining aesthetics and efficient design.
2. Aerospace - The aerospace industry can utilize the compact folding mechanisms of origami-inspired drones to enhance space optimization and reduce storage requirements.
3. Emergency Services - The automatic unfolding and take-off mechanisms of origami drones can be applied to emergency services, enabling rapid deployment and response in critical situations.