Royal Navy Uses A 3-D Printed Pilotless Aircraft To Navigate Antarctic

The engineers from the University of Southampton have built a 3-D print aircraft, and the Royal Navy's ice patrol ship HMS Protector is using it to assist in navigating the Antarctica. It is the first time the Royal Navy utilized a pilotless aircraft to scout the ice-covered sea.

Science Daily reports that the drone is dubbed as SULSA or Southampton University Laser-Sintered Aircraft. It is considered to be the world's first "printed airplane." It is small and made of nylon. It is printed in four main parts and manufactured without the use of any tools.

The printed airplane is operated from the laptop on board. It voyages with almost 60 mph with a quadcopter, utilized for short-range exploration missions. On the other hand, the 3-D printed pilotless aircraft was sent off on longer patrol. The 3-kg aircraft is cheaper, which costs about 7,000 pounds.

"This trial of these low-cost but highly versatile aircraft has been an important first step in establishing the utility unmanned aerial vehicles in this region," Captain Rory Bryan, The Protector Commanding Officer, said. He said that he can use the aircraft's capability for a great effect.

Andy Keane, Professional of Computational Engineering at the University of Southampton, said that the number of flights operated by Southampton staff with the Royal Navy from HMS Protector was a great sign. Otherwise, Commodore James Morley, the Navy's Assistant Chief of Staff Maritime Capability, was delighted with the thriving deployment of the 3-D printed aircraft from HMS Protector in the Antarctic, according to Engineering and Technology Magazine.

He said that the entire team has overcome important hurdles to demonstrate the vast utility of the aircraft and persistent surveillance and investigations from ships. He further said that even though it was a short duration trial, he and his team were continuing to review some of their options for gaining of maritime pilotless aircraft in the future.