A New Parachute Inspired By Kirigami Lands With Precision

Parachute inspired by Kirigami. © of the researchers

Engineers from Polytechnique Montréal have created a new parachute inspired by kirigami, the Japanese art of cutting and folding paper.

The design features slits that let air flow through, allowing it to fall more steadily and accurately than traditional parachutes.

Published in Nature, the study presents a simple, low-cost, and durable concept that could be used for everything from humanitarian aid drops to space missions.

Parachute inspired by Kirigami. © of the researchers

The parachute begins as a flat disc and unfolds into a spring-like cone as it descends. The special kirigami pattern gives the plastic sheet new mechanical properties, letting it form an upside-down bell shape when a weight is attached to its center.

Mélançon, co-author of the article, said:

“One advantage of this parachute is that it quickly stabilizes and doesn’t pitch, regardless of the release angle. And unlike conventional parachutes, it follows a strict ballistic descent trajectory.”