Can you chemically "grow" a military drone?
It sounds like an idea for a science fiction film, but here in the UK scientists and engineers are spending time and money to see if they can do exactly that.
British warplanes are already flying with parts made from a 3D printer.
Researchers are already using that same technology to build drones.
The military advantage is obvious - building equipment quickly and close to the battlefield - without long waits and long supply chains - gives you an enormous advantage over any enemy.
Chemical reactions
But the latest innovation being developed by Prof Lee Cronin at Glasgow University takes 3D printing to another level.
With industrial advice from BAE Systems he is developing something called a "Chemputer" which, in theory, would be able to "grow" small scale unmanned aircraft, or drones in a laboratory.
While a 3D printer physically makes the parts for a machine, the "Chemputer" speeds up the chemical reactions from the molecular level.
Such a breakthrough could mean it would take weeks rather than months or years to build an aircraft from scratch.
New research considers 'growing' drones - BBC News
It sounds like an idea for a science fiction film, but here in the UK scientists and engineers are spending time and money to see if they can do exactly that.
British warplanes are already flying with parts made from a 3D printer.
Researchers are already using that same technology to build drones.
The military advantage is obvious - building equipment quickly and close to the battlefield - without long waits and long supply chains - gives you an enormous advantage over any enemy.
Chemical reactions
But the latest innovation being developed by Prof Lee Cronin at Glasgow University takes 3D printing to another level.
With industrial advice from BAE Systems he is developing something called a "Chemputer" which, in theory, would be able to "grow" small scale unmanned aircraft, or drones in a laboratory.
While a 3D printer physically makes the parts for a machine, the "Chemputer" speeds up the chemical reactions from the molecular level.
Such a breakthrough could mean it would take weeks rather than months or years to build an aircraft from scratch.
New research considers 'growing' drones - BBC News
