Engineers Turn Pineapple Leaves Into Biodegradable Drone Parts

The components are cheaper, lighter, and degrade within two weeks when buried in the ground.

Engineers all around are devising novel ways of turning one thing into another, and especially those who make use of the leftovers are picking up action due to their sustainable and eco-friendly nature.

At a time where the economy is stagnating due to COVID-19, Malaysian farmers have turned to selling the leftover pineapple leaves, which are typically burnt at the end of each farming season, for a cause that is quite odd: Building materials for drones.

Malaysian researchers have devised a method to transform the fiber found in pineapple leaves to make a sturdy enough material that can be used to build frames for drones.

Professor Mohamed Thariq Hameed Sultan leads the project at University Putra Malaysia (UPM), and his team is trying to find help farmers in Hulu Langat, an area about 40 miles (65 km) from Kuala Lumpur.

The main goal is to create a larger drone that can carry bigger payloads for agricultural purposes and aerial inspections. Furthermore, farmers hope that this project can boost their incomes. 

“With the health issue, the economy problem due to COVID-19, the society is desperate and there is no alternative to increase income,” said pineapple farmer Irwan Ismail to Reuters.

Such projects could encourage more engineers to come forward with projects to find uses for other wastes, helping farmers and the environment at the same time. 

Source: https://interestingengineering.com

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