The US Marine Corps is allegedly looking to start using disposable drones in order to deliver supplies to different areas, according to a recent report from IEEE Spectrum. These disposable drones are engineless drones that can provide efficient and tactical air delivery assistance.
The drones that they would use are mostly made of plywood and have metal fasteners to hold them together.
They are equipped with GPS in order to help them find where they are going.
These plywood disposable drones are cheap, able to carry about 700 pounds of supplies, and they would be able to be used in order to fly one-way cargo missions. The model itself is referred to as TACAD; Tactical Air Delivery. They'd use the disposable drone to deliver things like fuel, food, and water etc.
It's estimated that they would be able to create this drone for about $1,500.
The drone would have to be dropped from an airplane but after that it would be able to glide for many miles (up to 70) in order to reach a certain destination; despite not having a motor.
And this isn't the only model for a disposable drone either, there are others.
The TACAD drone is said to be more efficient than current methods used to try and drop supplies for many reasons. This new disposable drone method is seen as being more maneuverable than the current JPADS option (Joint Precision Air Drop System) and it's much cheaper and safer than using a helicopter when it comes to supplying forces.
Pics:
Pixabay
IEE Spectrum
Sources:
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/604209/plywood-drones-could-help-the-marines-safely-deliver-supplies/
http://uk.businessinsider.com/us-marine-corps-is-testing-disposable-drones-2017-4