DARPA's ASPARA systems are the latest piece of unmanned aerial vehicle technology aimed at supply essential goods and products to incredibly remote areas. What sets the ASPARA systems apart from other drones is that they aren't designed to be durable. Just the opposite, ASAPAs are intentionally designed to make only a single flight over the course of their lifetimes.
The system is part of DARPA's Vanishing Programmable Resources initiative, which looks to develop self-destructing electronics in order to prevent sensitive military equipment from falling into the wrong hands. As such, ASPARAs are made out of heavy duty cardboard with biodegradable circuitry; they are just strong enough to complete long-distance cargo flights, but too flimsy to be used more than once.
Once implemented, the systems have the potential to be an inexpensive means of delivering things like medical samples to isolated areas.
Cardboard Delivery Drones
DARPA's ASPARA Systems Make One-Way Trips
Trend Themes
1. Single-use Drones - Developing drones that are intentionally designed to make only a single flight over the course of their lifetimes presents an opportunity for a new market for disposable drones.
2. Biodegradable Circuitry - The use of biodegradable circuitry in drone technology presents opportunities for sustainable manufacturing and environmental sustainability in the electronics industry.
3. Remote Delivery - The implementation of unmanned aerial vehicle technology for remote delivery has the potential to revolutionize the delivery industry and improve access to essential goods and products in remote areas.
Industry Implications
1. Drone Manufacturing - The development of single-use drones presents opportunities for manufacturers to create a new market for disposable drones with potential cost savings for delivery companies.
2. Electronics Manufacturing - The use of biodegradable circuitry in drone technology presents opportunities for sustainable manufacturing in the electronics industry while reducing environmental impacts.
3. Delivery Services - The implementation of unmanned aerial vehicle technology for remote delivery presents opportunities for delivery companies to improve access to essential goods and products in remote areas and expand their customer base.