Weave Structure for Drone-Dropped Packaging
Creator: William Hua
Supervisor: Peter Yeadon
Collaborator: Dave Sherman, Rogers Corporation
This materials-driven study conceives of new
opportunities for Poron XRD, a rate-dependent foam that is produced by Rogers
Corporation. The material is superior at absorbing and dissipating impact
energy; hence, it’s currently used in protective apparel and sporting products.
However, it also has drawbacks; it’s easily scratched and punctured; it has a
high chance of cracking when washed and folded; it loses its absorption
effectiveness when wet; it can easily tear; and it cannot be recycled easily.
So, what new inventions might take advantage of this material, while avoiding
its shortcomings?
While creating different shapes to see which
shape absorbs impact the best, one particular configuration stood out from the
rest: wavy ribbons. It was the least dense, while also being the best at impact
absorption. Dropping various objects on it, including raw eggs, led to thoughts
about dropping objects from significant heights. Since drone shipping is
currently limited to landing, or low-level cord drops, or low-level parachute
drops, this project explored the creation of a container for high-altitude
drops in rough terrain and emergency situations. The result was a highly
protective, versatile, and reusable container for valuable equipment. This
means that explorers and soldiers do not need to carry additional equipment
until requested.