OPC reposted this
Drone startup Firestorm Labs has devised a way to sharply reduce the amount of time it takes to build a small drone using a global network of 3D printers to surge capacity. "Firestorm Labs can 3D print the airframe of a Group 2 unmanned aerial vehicle ... in around nine hours and finish integrating all its components in a total of 36 hours." Brett Barbee, Firestorm Vice President of Business Development, attributes the advanced production rate to "the 3D printing process, the simplicity of design and the use of commercial-off-the-shelf components." Barbee adds that the finished product would cost around one-fifth of the cost of Group 2 fixed-wing drones. #defenseinnovation #defensetech #defenseindustry https://lnkd.in/e8rVkH9j
So the exact same thing RapidFlight is doing?
I hear good things about those guys
During WW2, the Willow Run factory was able to produce a B24 bomber in one hour at max capacity (normally 1 per day). Glad to see this, but we need to go further and faster.
The impact of Firestorm Labs’ use of 3D printing for small drone production is transformative. By reducing manufacturing time to just 36 hours and cutting costs by up to 80%, this approach not only makes drone production faster and more cost-effective but also scalable. The simplicity of design and reliance on commercial off-the-shelf components enable rapid deployment, especially in defense and commercial sectors where speed and flexibility are critical. This innovation sets a new standard for drone manufacturing, pushing the industry towards more accessible, efficient, and adaptable solutions.
one-fifth of the cost of Group 2 fixed-wing drones - Equivalent to saying half the weight of a bucket of water.
“Global network”. Great, but don’t forget that this network will come with export controls in each country, which may mean more pressure on some supply chain nodes over others.
The days of multi-million dollar surveillance drones has to be questioned.
Ukrainians have been 3d printing for a while now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C09BqiGlhWo
How much can she carry and how far? How big a bang do we get?
Flight Test / UAS / Autonomy
1wI’m sorry, but 36 hours for a single completed system? How many similar systems are being used per day in Ukraine? Dozens? Hundreds? 3D printing is an amazing capability and obviously has a place in development and manufacturing, but I seriously doubt the viability of “print in the field” systems to meet the realities of current and near future production demands.