Innovative Kirigami Parachute Delivers Payloads with Precision

Researchers in Canada and France have developed a groundbreaking parachute inspired by the Japanese art of kirigami, designed to deliver payloads with remarkable accuracy. The new technology allows for precise drops directly above targets, enhancing the potential for applications in drone delivery and humanitarian aid.

The innovative parachute, tested outdoors under realistic conditions, features a deformable design that effectively stabilizes airflow around its structure. This eliminates the drift that often complicates traditional parachute systems, which glide at an angle to avoid turbulence. David Mélençon, leading the research at Polytechnique Montréal, emphasized the significance of this design. “We proposed to leverage kirigami’s shape morphing capability to design new kinds of ballistic parachutes,” he stated.

Nature-Inspired Design

The team drew inspiration not only from kirigami but also from nature, particularly the mechanisms that allow seeds to disperse effectively in the wind. For instance, the feathery bristles of dandelion seeds create a stabilized vortex, while the wings of sycamore and maple seeds enable rapid spinning during their descent. These natural adaptations provide passive control over where seeds land, a principle the researchers sought to emulate.

The kirigami parachute consists of a flat disc with circumferential slits, enabling it to deform into an inverted bell shape when deployed. The weight of the payload combined with air resistance stretches the slits, allowing air to flow through multiple small openings. This design ensures an orderly airflow, minimizing turbulence and resulting in a predictable descent trajectory.

Extensive testing included numerical simulations, wind tunnel experiments, and real-world drops from a drone at a height of 60 m. In these trials, the parachute successfully delivered a water bottle directly to its target, demonstrating its effectiveness.

Cost-Effective and Easy to Fabricate

The kirigami parachute not only excels in performance but also offers significant advantages in terms of manufacturing. The design requires minimal manual labor and can be constructed from readily available materials such as plastic, paper, or cardboard. “Little hand labour is necessary,” Mélençon noted, highlighting the simplicity and affordability of the design.

By varying the size and patterns of the parachutes, the research team found that those with lower load-to-area ratios and more deformable shapes achieved terminal velocities comparable to traditional parachutes. This capability, combined with enhanced accuracy, positions the kirigami parachute as a promising solution for a range of delivery needs.

Looking ahead, Mélençon and his team are optimistic that further research will lead to advancements in package delivery systems and improved methods for providing urgent aid during crises such as conflicts and natural disasters. The innovative parachute design has the potential to transform how essential supplies are delivered to those in need.

The detailed findings of the study have been published in the journal Nature, marking a significant development in the field of aerial delivery systems.