In an unexpected blend of ancient tradition and modern engineering, researchers turned to kirigami, the Japanese art of cutting paper, to redesign parachutes. Instead of relying on careful folding, stitching, and fabric domes, they cut flat sheets of material with precise patterns that transform into three-dimensional shapes as they fall.
From Flat Sheets to Stable Descent
The principle behind this innovation is simple yet powerful. Scientists cut concentric slits into a thin disk of material such as Mylar, and when air flows through the slits, it reshapes the flat sheet into a vase-like structure. This transformation stabilizes the parachute, slows the descent, and reduces sideways drift. While conventional parachutes often sway or veer depending on conditions, the kirigami-inspired design realigns itself naturally and lands closer to its target.
Advantages and Applications
Wind tunnel experiments and outdoor drops demonstrated the parachute’s potential. In one test, researchers attached a half-meter-wide kirigami parachute to a one-kilogram water bottle and dropped it from a drone. The parachute cut the bottle’s fall speed to less than half of free fall. Since laser cutting can produce these parachutes without complex sewing or folding, manufacturers could lower production costs and simplify scaling. Humanitarian aid drops, drone-based deliveries, and even planetary exploration could benefit from such reliable and lightweight technology.
Challenges Ahead
The design still faces obstacles. Scaling up to human-sized loads would demand sheets over a hundred meters wide, making the idea impractical for people. Laser cutting also slows mass production. To overcome these hurdles, researchers are experimenting with faster fabrication methods and new slit patterns. Even with these challenges, the work shows how ancient art can drive modern aerospace innovation.
