Ukraine is using cardboard drones

[Blueprint]( What’s lightweight, sustainable and tactical? A cardboard drone, of course. An Australian company has delivered several "[Corvo Precision Payload Delivery System]( (PPDS) drones to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The flat-pack drones are made of waxed cardboard, can be easily assembled, and are launched with a catapult. They have a flight range of up to 75 miles (120 kilometers) and are designed to deliver ammunition, food, and medicine directly to the front line. In addition, they can perform reconnaissance flights or drop small explosive devices. But before you marvel at what those, marvel at [this video](. It shows a hydraulic press that crushes everything in its path Good morning. I’m Alice, an Editor at IE. This is The Blueprint. Let’s dive in. Last Sunday, Blueprint subscribers heard about what we now know about Doggerland. Don't miss out — [subscribe to IE+]( today to receive exclusive interviews, features, and much more. VIDEO OF THE DAY [Hydraulic press crushes everything in its path.]( [Hydraulic press crushes everything in its path.]( It’s a pressing thought. MUST READ [Ukraine is using cardboard drones to do battle with Russia.]( [Ukraine is using cardboard drones to do battle with Russia.]( A Melbourne-based company, SYPAQ Systems, has delivered several "Corvo Precision Payload Delivery System" (PPDS) [drones to the Armed Forces of Ukraine](. The flat-pack drones are made of waxed cardboard, can be easily assembled, and are launched with a catapult. They have a flight range of up to 75 miles (120 kilometers) and are designed to deliver ammunition, food, and medicine directly to the front line. In addition, they can perform reconnaissance flights or drop small explosive devices. The PPDS is a low-cost, expendable drone for delivering supplies and equipment into areas that traditional logistics capabilities cannot reach. It flies autonomously without operator control and uses GPS guidance where available. But the control software can work out its position from speed and heading if GPS is jammed. This makes it possible for the drone to carry out missions even under conditions of complete radio jamming, which is essential in Ukraine, where Russian electronic warfare has reportedly taken down large numbers of drones. → The company could not discuss the price, but it is understood to be a few thousand dollars per unit. About 100 Australian drones are delivered every month, according to the manufacturer. According to Yahoo News, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have already sent more than 60 on sorties to the front line. The drones are designed to operate under challenging conditions. 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While deep fakes or synthetic media have been around for quite some time, the recent rush of photo-realistic images has been powered by the advent of easy-to-use AI algorithms like Stable Diffusion and MidJourney. [Read More]( [lexicon_banner]( MAIL & MUSINGS Ukraine is using cardboard drones to do battle with Russia. What other uses do you think this technology might primarily have? [Other military purposes]( [Agricultural uses]( [Lightweight deliveries]( [Something else entirely]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Yesterday, we asked you what you think we should do about the increasing amount of "space debris" and 68 percent of you said we need to invent something. 68% We need to invent something 19% Something else entirely (please state) 8% This is an ISS responsibility 5% Nothing, just leave it QUOTE OF THE DAY Drones overall will be more impactful than I think people recognize, in positive ways to help society. Bill Gates. 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