Flat-Packed Cardboard Drones Take Off To Help Ukrainians In The War
As the war wages on in Ukraine, a Melbourne-based organization, SYPAQ, has devised a solution to deliver supplies to those caught in the crossfire efficiently.
These flat-packed cardboard drones, called ‘Corvo Precision Payload Delivery System’ (PPDS), were designed to be easily shipped out, with 24 of them in pizza-sized boxes easily fitting onto one pallet. They can then expand into their full form, where a catapult will be needed to launch them. Moreover, they are fully autonomous once airborne, and valuable human resources will not have to be spared to operate them.
Outside of delivering essentials, they have also been converted into stealthy drones for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
They use a GPS to guide them to their destination, where they will drop off supplies and equipment. Additionally, if their system gets jammed, they can deploy their control software to determine their position from speed and direction. This makes them incredibly valuable as Russia’s electronic warfare has disarmed many of Ukraine’s drones during the war.
A timely discussion, as we launch the PPDS Heavy Lift (PPDS-HL) UAS.
— SYPAQ (@SYPAQ_Official) February 27, 2023
The big brother of our operationally proven PPDS - this system increases payload capacity, range and endurance - bringing even greater mission flexibility to the battlefield.
See it at @AvalonAIA https://t.co/dME2oVOCyV pic.twitter.com/0F6gP1dGsz
The Australian government has pumped AU$1.1 million into the venture, where the company says it ships out an average of 100 drones monthly. The Armed Forces of Ukraine have so far received 60 of them. The ability to provide low-cost machinery in such tumultuous times remains a valuable avenue for the company and the countries it aids, proving that sometimes the shiniest toy in the box is not always the best option.
[via Interesting Engineering and Forbes, images via SYPAQ]
