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A lightweight, low-cost parachute design inspired by the Japanese art of kirigami may offer a practical solution for delivering supplies in humanitarian operations and beyond. Developed by researchers at Polytechnique Montréal, the parachute uses a precise pattern of cuts to transform a flat plastic sheet into a stable, compact aerial delivery tool.
Unlike traditional parachutes, which rely on fabric canopies and multiple suspension lines, this design uses a single piece of material shaped by a laser-cut, closed-loop kirigami pattern. When dropped, it naturally forms an inverted bell shape, stabilizing rapidly and maintaining a steady descent without pitching or swinging—regardless of how it’s released.
According to TechXplore, one of its standout features is a strictly ballistic descent path. This controlled trajectory allows for accurate drops, especially useful when delivering supplies to remote or hard-to-reach locations. Its minimal setup—requiring only a single suspension line to attach a payload—makes deployment quick and uncomplicated.
Although the research team explored high-precision laser cutting to prototype the design, they note that mass production could easily be done using basic die-cutting methods. The simplicity and affordability of the approach make it particularly well-suited for humanitarian missions, such as delivering food, water, or medicine after natural disasters or in conflict zones.
The parachute has undergone extensive testing, including simulations, wind tunnel experiments, lab trials, and drone-based field drops. Results showed consistent performance, even as the size of the parachute was increased—an encouraging sign for scalability.
While the team sees immediate applications in humanitarian aid, they also point to potential future uses in planetary exploration and logistics (such as delivering packages to remote locations). They’re currently experimenting with alternative cutting patterns to expand the parachute’s capabilities, such as spiraling descent or glide paths tailored to specific payloads.
This kirigami-based approach to aerial delivery combines simplicity, reliability, and adaptability—offering a new tool for efficient, low-cost deployment in a range of challenging environments.
This research has been published in the Nature Journal.
