Manchester University in the UK made a giant drone with four propellers out of paper and very light foam board. The length of this quadcopter from one end to the other is 21 feet or 6.4 meters. The weight is 24.5 kilograms, which is 500 grams less than the limit set by the British Civil Aviation Authority.
The four arms of the innovative design drone are composed of a series of hollow box structures. They can be opened and taken anywhere. So far there is no record of such an uncrewed quadcopter (four rotors).
The inventors claim that this is the world’s largest quadcopter built till date. Dan Koning, a research engineer at the University of Manchester who led the design and construction of the vehicle, said, “After extensive background research we were able to do this design. We can confidently say that we have built the world’s largest quadcopter drone.”
However, no international recognition of this record is known.
The Giant Foamboard Quadcopter (GFQ) drone has also been able to be flown automatically. Its maiden flight was completed on July 5 in a hangar at the Snowdonia Aerospace Centre. Its pilot was Kieran, a lecturer in aerospace systems at the University of Manchester. He said the first flight of the drone was successful without any major problems.
The main structure of the giant drone is made of several sheets of foamboard. Paper is sandwiched between them.
GFQ first started as a student project to create drone structures that are more environmentally friendly, lighter weight and less expensive than carbon fiber.
“Now with this design you strategically hold a 25kg airship with a few pieces of paper,” said university professor Bill Crowther.
The team is now trying to increase the size of this giant drone.
The project was taken up by the university authorities out of curiosity to design lightweight aerospace structures that are more environmentally friendly than conventional carbon fiber using low-cost alternative materials. The objective was to inspire students’ creativity. Unlike carbon fiber, this project with students starts with low-density sheet materials that are highly recyclable or even compostable. Now the researchers hope their design will inspire the next generation to think about sustainability from a whole new perspective.
Dan Koning, a research engineer at the University of Manchester who led the design and construction of the vehicle, said, “Foamboard is an interesting material to work with, used in the right way we can create complex space structures; where each element is designed. Just as powerful as it needs to be – no room for over-engineering here.
Building a drone out of cardboard might seem like child’s play to many compared to cutting-edge aerial technology. But this is real and big business.
Ukraine is using fixed-wing cardboard drones made by Australian firm Cypac in its war against Russia. The company admitted last March that it was supplying Ukraine with hundreds of drones each month.
One of the advantages of these drones is that they can be easily attached by soldiers and since they are made of cardboard, the drones are less likely to be detected by radar.