Researchers Develop Light Yet Strong Drones Using Pineapple Leaves

Researchers at the Putra University Malaysia have come up with a way to use fibers from pineapple leaves to make sturdy drone frames. According to the lead researchers, Mohamed Thariq and Hameed Sultan, the drones constructed using this method have a higher strength to weight ratio which gives the board systems better control. Moreover, since the frame is lighter than frames made with synthetic fibers, it consumes less energy which increases the range.

On top of providing the obvious benefits for control systems, the pineapple frame drones are much cheaper and are eco-friendly. A damaged frame can be buried and the bio-composite material will degrade within two weeks. The researchers detailed that prototypes made from the material have flown to around 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) and, like many other drones, they can stay aloft for about 20 minutes.

The researchers now plan on making larger drones that can that are larger and can carry payloads such as imaging sensors for different uses.

The project originally started in 2017 and is working towards finding sustainable uses of pineapple waste that farmers often burn or discard of the leaves after harvest. This is one of the main causes of air pollution in the area. Selling this waste will not only increase the income but will also benefit the environment.