75% cost-cut: China unveils world’s first fixed-wing drone made of bamboo fibre

Chinese researchers have developed the world's first fixed-wing drone made from bamboo fiber, offering a significant cost reduction and a more sustainable alternative to carbon fiber. The drone, co-developed by the International Centre for Bamboo and Rattan, Beihang University’s Ningbo Institute of Technology, and the Long Bamboo Technology Group, completed its first flight in Tianjin last month. The bamboo material makes the drone 20% lighter and reduces overall structural costs by more than 20% because it costs approximately 25% of carbon fiber. This innovation addresses the drone industry's reliance on energy-intensive and difficult-to-degrade carbon fiber, offering a lightweight, low-cost, and sustainable option. The project lead, Qin Daochun, noted the challenges in meeting mechanical performance requirements and ensuring environmental adaptability.

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