The Concept.
Most aerial supply systems are expensive, recoverable, and complex. This concept inverts the model: design a glider that is meant to be used once, built from reinforced cardboard and foam, and capable of delivering meaningful payload mass from altitude with no active control system.
The design challenge is aerodynamic — maximizing lift-to-drag ratio while minimizing structural weight in materials that are cheap enough to treat as disposable. Passive control surfaces keep the system simple and manufacturable at scale.
Primary Structure
Reinforced Cardboard
Design Goal
Max Payload Fraction
Application
Humanitarian Aid Drop
Design Specs.
Wing Profile
High-lift, low-speed cambered
Payload Fraction
Maximized — airframe weight minimized
Control System
Fixed passive control surfaces
Materials
Reinforced cardboard, foam, minimal fasteners
Unit Cost Target
Sub-$10 at scale
Recovery
None — single use
Design Decisions.
01
Passive-Only Control
No servos, no actuators, no electronics. Fixed dihedral and swept geometry provide inherent roll stability. Eliminates the cost, weight, and failure modes of active control — acceptable for a supply drop that doesn't need precision targeting.
02
Cardboard + Foam Composite
Corrugated cardboard provides axial stiffness at low weight. Foam core adds impact resistance and prevents buckling in the wing sections. Both materials are available globally, foldable for compact storage, and non-hazardous.
03
High-Lift Wing Profile
Cambered low-speed airfoil geometry maximizes lift coefficient at the low Reynolds numbers typical of lightweight gliders descending at walking speeds. Prioritizes gentle descent angle over glide efficiency.
The Premise.
The most effective humanitarian delivery system is one that can be manufactured anywhere, deployed from a standard cargo aircraft, and doesn't need to be retrieved. The engineering challenge here is not complexity — it's radical simplicity. Reducing a flying vehicle to its absolute minimum without losing the ability to carry mass safely to ground.
Aerodynamics
Passive Control
Structural Design
Low-Cost Manufacturing
Humanitarian Aid
Concept / Prototyping