Scientists turn pineapple leaves into drone parts
Nowadays, drones are used in a wide variety of fields. From scientific research to monitoring and filming to delivering product to parties, these devices are in use almost everywhere today. Now Malaysian scientists have found a way to make these drones even smarter.
Malaysian researchers have developed a technique that turns discarded pineapple leaves into a material that can be used to make drone frames.
According to a Reuters report, the project led by Professor Mohamed Thariq Hameed Sultan of the University of Putra in Malaysia, located 65 km from Kuala Lumpur, focused on turning pineapple leaves into a fiber that can be used in various aerospace applications.
Now Mohamed Thariq and his team have created a fiber that can be used to make drone parts. In a statement to the news agency, he said drones made from bio-composite material have a higher strength-to-weight ratio than those made from synthetic fibers. They are also lighter, cheaper, and easier to dispose of. This means that even if a drone made of this fiber were damaged, it would degrade within two weeks of being buried in the ground, making them environmentally friendly.
This all sounds good in theory, but is it really that good in reality? Well, the report states that the prototype drones they created were able to fly to a height of around 1,000 meters and stay aloft for around 20 minutes.
Researchers are now planning to make a larger drone using this technique which can be used in various real-life situations, such as delivering larger payloads and including more sensors, among others.
