Two private firms have come forward to achieve a feat that could take the manufacture and maintenance of military unmanned aerial systems in the country way ahead. They want to make the Indian Army capable of manufacturing suicide drones on the battlefield by combining 3D printing and artificial intelligence (AI).
Zuppa and Divide by Zero Technologies (DBZ) are the two companies that have come up with the project to take high-speed 3D printing to the frontlines, a report said. They call it mobile rapid fabrication units, where Indian Army field units will be made capable of assembling mission-ready drones. These units will be capable of fabricating structural components needed for the real-time manufacture and launch of kamikaze drones.
Making and launching drones from battlefields
In case of a full-fledged conflict, each Corps of India is estimated to require about 1,500–2,000 drones, including surveillance and Kamikaze types, each day. Many will need repairs, while plenty more will be shot down — which will need to be replaced by fresh swarms. Thus, it is not advisable to entirely depend on a drone manufacturer to keep supplying the forces, The Print claimed in a report citing sources with the private players. Instead, it is better to 3D print the fuselage, chassis, wings, and integrate them with already procured components in the battlefield, the report added while explaining the project.
Zuppa specialises in drone technology and advanced sensor systems, while Divide by Zero Technologies (DBZ) is India’s foremost industrial 3D printer manufacturer, The Print said. Their strategic collaboration plans to integrate Divide By Zero’s industrial-grade additive manufacturing systems with Zuppa’s autonomous drone platforms and AI-driven mission control software. If things go as planned, the Indian Armed Forces should be capable of deploying UAVs even in remote or high-risk environments for surveillance, logistics, or even attack missions, the report added.
The report, however, noted that components like motors, cameras, electronics, and additional payloads cannot be 3D printed real-time and, depending on the operational needs, have to be taken to the mobile fabrication unit.