Cheap 3D printing drone enters the navy

Yesterday, the Royal Navy HMS Mersey tested a low-cost 3D printed drone on the south coast of England. The jet-shaped drone weighs about 3 kilograms and uses a three-meter-long catapult to launch it, then flies for five minutes on a pre-programmed flight path and landed on a pebble beach. It is worth noting that the main structural components of the drone were made on shore using 3D printing and then installed on board.

The purpose of the experiment was to verify that the one-time cheap drone had a huge military value when necessary, and that the crew could quickly perform new tasks.

Geoff Hayward, head of drones at the British Maritime Operations Center, said that in the military sense, drones that are mass-produced at the factory are not flexible enough, and the cost of customizing them is too high. The use of 3D printing technology to produce inexpensive dedicated drones is well suited to military needs.

Prior to testing, the wind resistance and stability of this drone was not known. The 3D printing company from the military said they have begun to look for ways to push related technologies to civilian use.

Screen captured by Sulsa drone lens

The drone (called the Sulsa) has a wingspan of 1.5 meters and is driven by a propeller. It was developed by the University of Southampton. The four main parts of the drone were made by a 3D printer, and the laser was used to fuse the nylon powder together. It is worth noting that the hinge-controlled surface components of this drone, such as the rudder and aileron, are made using 3D printing. Of course, the electronic parts are still prepared in advance. The completed drone can also be equipped with sensors, radars, etc., and even bombs can be installed. It can fly at speeds of up to 160 kilometers per hour.

In fact, the application of drones to the navy has precedents, but previous drones were difficult to implement on a large scale because of their high price.

According to the researchers, the cost of manufacturing a Sulsa is only a few thousand dollars, which is quite obvious compared to the cost of a million dollars in the previous dedicated military drone. But in terms of battery life, it is not enough. It can only last for 40 minutes. This time is not enough to track pirates. But since it's so cheap, if you lose one, you can send another one.

The researchers envisioned that the military could carry some custom-made components, 3D printers, raw materials and various sensors to the sea to perform tasks. When needed, it is only necessary to select the appropriate combination according to the conditions. But it takes a few hours to print a complete Sulsa part, and it may not be as useful in a task that requires quick response.

(Editor)

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