South Korean engineers have developed a drone made entirely from eco-friendly cardboard and paper fibers. The drone is said to be significantly cheaper than conventional models.
South Korean engineers from WOW Future Tech have developed a drone called AirSense V2, which is said to be made entirely from eco-friendly cardboard and paper fibers. This is supposed to be the successor to the Paperwing drone (visible in the title image). The development is reportedly inspired by the war in Ukraine, where similar construction methods for drones are used due to resource scarcity (via defensenews.com).
The drones can be produced cheaply worldwide thanks to the material and cost about $1,400. This is said to be roughly a tenth of the price that military drones usually cost.
The advantage of these drones: Their repair is particularly simple: With tape and new layers of cardboard, they can be maintained cost-effectively. Cardboard is also sufficiently available in most countries and easy to recycle.
Drones are primarily intended for non-military purposes
Where will the drone be used? According to TomsHardware, the CEO of WOW Future Tech emphasizes the non-military applications of the cardboard drone. Sensors are mentioned as an example for measuring air quality.
Nonetheless, the South Korean Ministry of Defense has taken notice of the manufacturer and the innovative drone. Allegedly, there have already been tests where the drone is used for reconnaissance and training purposes.
The commercial marketing of the cardboard drone abroad is already expected to begin next year, according to the company’s CEO. Initially, however, it is hoped that the domestic capabilities of Korea will be strengthened.
Not only drones are considered very expensive, but the tabletop for Warhammer 40,000 is known as a notoriously expensive hobby. A passionate fan wanted to save money and built a robot from cardboard and other inexpensive materials: Player builds a Dreadnought from Warhammer 40,000 out of cardboard and ice sticks for 1 year, fans celebrate: “More details than GW kits”
