A DARPA program called Inbound, Controlled, Air-Releasable, Unrecoverable Systems, or ICARUS, is exploring ways to make expendable drones disappear.
A San Francisco-based R&D firm Otherlab developed a glider prototype, capable of delivering one kilogram of payload using on-board navigation and guidance. By using a glider the design eliminates motors and batteries, which allows more space and weight for cargo.
According to Star Simpson, Otherlab’s project engineer, “we used cardboard as a prototyping material because it is easy to work with and resembled mycelium, the mushroom-based material that we intend for the future product.”
That’s right. This drone will be made of mushrooms. You couldn't make it up!
