Kirigami-Inspired Parachutes Offer Precise, Lightweight Airdrop Solution
Researchers from Polytechnique Montréal and École Polytechnique have developed a new type of parachute using kirigami, the Japanese art of paper cutting. By laser-cutting specific patterns into thin Mylar discs, they created a device that folds into an inverted bell shape, allowing it to stabilize quickly and descend with high precision. This innovation addresses the common issue of conventional parachutes drifting off target due to wind, offering a lightweight and cost-effective alternative for humanitarian aid and rescue missions.