Cucumber-inspired Drones Collect Eco Data and Dissolve Into Nature

Researchers have developed a biodegradable drone with sensors designed to gather key environmental data in hard-to-reach locations.

Author Christian Nathler, 07.12.23

Translation Benjamin Lucks:

We know climate change is a critical threat to our environment. Still, we’re missing key data about our ecosystems. That’s because data collectors can’t always gather information in remote and inaccessible areas – especially without leaving a footprint. While advanced technologies like drones or remote sensing offer benefits in terms of efficiency and data quality, they also have environmental impacts.

Empa researchers at the Sustainability Robotics laboratory in Dübendorf have developed a solution in the form of biodegradable gliders with sensors. These cheap and sustainable devices can collect environmental data in an energy-efficient and autonomous manner, even in areas previously difficult to reach.

Bio-gliders modeled on the Javan cucumber

The biodegradable gliders with sensors draw inspiration from the flying seeds of the Javan cucumber, both in design and their ability to biodegrade. The gliders are equipped with smart sensors that gather vital eco-parameters in real-time, including information on soil moisture, acidity, and other environmental factors. By releasing these gliders, researchers can monitor the condition of forest soil and its biological and chemical balance. Future versions of these sensors will be able to get real-time readings on trees, water, and soil. Of course, nature is increasingly studied to inspire technology design. Recently, dandelions served as a model for remote sensing in a mass network.

Sensors respond to rain and open like flowers

The gliders are made from potato starch, which can be printed and shaped into the form of the cucumber seed. With a wingspan of 14 centimeters, and weighing only 1.5 grams, including the sensor, the glider is able to descend slowly for optimal data collection. The smart sensor, protected by a nanofibrillated cellulose film, reacts to atmospheric moisture. When rain falls, the protective film opens like a flower, enabling the sensor to start its operation. Once the data collection is complete, the glider decomposes naturally within a few weeks, returning its components to nature.

Smart bio-sensors unfold like flowers, capturing real-time environmental data. Image: Empa

Advancing the evolution ofhigh-quality biotech

The biodegradable gliders with sensors are part of a broader effort to develop environmentally-friendly sensor drones for accurate environmental monitoring. The goal is to record the effects of climate change on various habitats using technology fully capable of natural breakdown. The drones, equipped with high-quality biodegradable components, will provide accurate data for predicting environmental changes and taking appropriate preventive measures. The findings from the bio-glider project will contribute to the development of these advanced drones, supporting the concept of “digital ecology” for a sustainable and informed approach to conservation. The next step, as we recently learned in our interview with Stephan Bohn from the Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG), is making sure the data is open for all.

Could Fungal Batteries be the Power Source of the Future?

Researchers from Empa have developed the fungal battery, a completely biodegradable battery created with 3D printing techniques.

Electronic Waste: What Happens to Our Used Devices?

E-waste is filling landfills and releasing toxins that harm people and the environment alike. How can we correctly dispose of our devices?

New Project: From Sustainable Smartphones to Green Data Centres—Solutions for Sustainable Digitalisation

The digital world is becoming an ever greater problem for our planet. But, there are alternatives. Sustainable digitalisation is the focus of RESET's expansive and in-depth latest project.

wooden buoy
© CLS Oceania
Reducing Plastic Waste With Wooden Buoys: CLS Oceania’s Design Decomposes in the Ocean

The sea is full of plastic buoys that never decompose. Could a new design of wooden buoy be the biodegradable solution our oceans need?

38C3 - Blick auf das CCC-Gebäude in Hamburg.
© Thomas Fricke
Hacker Congress 38C3: All About Sustainability in the Digital World

The Chaos Computer Club's annual conference took place at the end of 2024. Here are the top presentations to watch.

AI-Simulations Improve Aircraft Efficiency: The Solution the Aviation Industry Desperately Needs?

New software uses artificial intelligence to design more fuel-efficient aircraft. Will the technology sufficiently reduce aircraft emissions?

Newly Discovered Bacterium is “Chonkus” By Name, CO2 Degradation Tool by Nature

Even with the most consistent savings measures, it is not possible to totally stop greenhouse gas production. However, a newly discovered cyanobacterium "Chonkus" may be a vital partner for reaching net-zero.

The Good Search Engine: Web Search Without Advertising Benefits Users and the Climate

The GOOD search engine uses a paid subscription model. Co-founder Andreas Renner explains why this saves CO2 emissions and benefits users.