A drone made of bamboo

Industrial designer Deepak Dadheech designed a lightweight drone made of bamboo.

Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), were originally developed for military purposes, but as control technologies improved and costs fell, their uses expanded to non-military applications and consumer-use.

To make drones lightweight, carbon fibre is often used. If costs are concerned, plastic is used as an alternative, but this material is heavier and less durable. Neither of these options is particular sustainable. This is why Dadheech opted for an inexpensive and natural material: bamboo.

The frame of the drone is made of bamboo, weighing only 350 grams. It consists of a double layered disk in the centre with six legs and six arms to which the propellors (which are made of plastic) are attached. The controller has a range of 500 metres.

Dadheech compares the bamboo design to two traditional drones, one made of carbon fibre that weighs 290 grams, and one of plastic that weighs 750 grams. These respectively costs 12,000 inr (Indian Rupees, about 130 euros) and 2,500 inr (about 27 euros). Dadheech’s bamboo version, with a comparable weight to the carbon fibre drone, cost less than 1000 inr (about 11 euros).

Photos: Deepak Dadheech