World's largest aircraft created using 3D printing makes debut at Dubai Airshow

Dubai: The world's largest and most complex aircraft ever created using 3D printing has made its debut at the ongoing Dubai Airshow.

During the aerospace event, Aurora Flight Sciences and Stratasys Limited displayed a 3D-printed, jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which they claim could reach a speed of up to 240 km per hour.

With a wingspan of 3 meters, the aircraft weighs only 15 kg and is already flying. Over 80 percent of it was created using a 3D-printing process called Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) that can produce large yet lightweight objects. "The additive manufacturing allows you to do complex internal structures, which is not possible for traditional manufacturing," said Stratasys marketing manager Gino Rincicotti.

"A tool is a big investment up front, and also it tied manufacturing to stay with the same design. What we do see here is that we can use additive manufacturing to improve your design as you get feedback," he added. Meanwhile, another manufacturer called Digi Robotics unveiled a robotic baggage handler designed for airports.

"It has a scanning system, so it scans the position of the bag which is coming on the conveyor belt and re-position the robot arm to take it and handle it. The robot grabber has a metallic surface with wings, those wings can open as the baggage size. This is for not dropping the bag," said Kollina Haneskehian, project manager at Digi Robotics.

"That is no manpower, it is all programed. There is no manpower forces inside, and in the same time, it saves time. And as well, it could go through all the safety and security levels," she added. The Dubai Airshow lasts through Thursday at the Dubai World Central economic zone.