On-Demand Small Unmanned Aircraft System
A 3D printed drone configured and built within 24 hours.
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The On-Demand Small Unmanned Aircraft System (ODSUAS) is a miniature drone built with 3D printing, created by the U.S. Army Research Laboratory and Georgia Tech’s Aerospace Systems Design Laboratory. Soldiers can enter mission-specific needs—like size, weight, or flight endurance—into planning software, and the drone is then configured and printed within a day. The 3D printer produces the drone’s body, while components such as motors, sensors, cameras, and propellers come from existing stock. This approach allows extra parts to be printed as needed, removing the requirement to carry spares for different setups.
The ODSUAS is designed for tasks including perimeter surveillance, aerial defense, and reconnaissance. It was first tested in December 2016 at Fort Benning, Georgia, as part of the Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiments, where feedback suggested improvements in agility, noise reduction, and payload capacity. The drone has demonstrated flight speeds up to 55 miles per hour. Researchers view the 3D printed drone as an initial step, with the broader aim of using 3D printing to quickly produce mission-specific tools.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) and Georgia Technical Institute’s Aerospace Systems Design Laboratory
- Maximum flight speed
- 55 miles per hour
- Manufacturing time
- Within 24 hours
- First test location
- Fort Benning, Georgia
- First test program
- Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiments (AEWE) program
- Test date
- December 2016
Facts from the source article.
Background
The ODSUAS was first tested in December 2016 at Fort Benning, Georgia, as part of the Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiments (AEWE) program. During these tests, researchers received feedback suggesting possible improvements, including enhanced agility, reduced noise, and a heavier payload capacity. The drone demonstrated flight speeds of up to 55 miles per hour.
The system's design eliminates the need to carry spare parts for different configurations, as additional drone parts can be manufactured on demand. While the 3D printer constructs the body of the UAV, components such as motors, sensors, cameras, and propellers must be obtained from a standing inventory. The ODSUAS can be tasked for missions involving perimeter surveillance, aerial defense, and reconnaissance.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: On-Demand Small Unmanned Aircraft System (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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