Proposed revolutionary chemical computer to 'grow drones'

Professor Lee Cronin, at the University of Glasgow is developing a "chemputer"; a revolutionary system that would allow the production of UAVs in a laboratory setting. By using a 3D printer, Cronin hopes that small devices like drones could be produced at ground-breaking speeds with the assistance of chemical synthesis. He is currently receiving assistance from UK aerospace and defence company BAE Systems. Whilst admitting that creating the system will be "very challenging," Cronin said the developments could radically change the production of warfare-ready drones by allowing countries to build UAVs quickly and close to a battlefield.

BAE Systems

In the future, militaries will need to adapt quickly to changing situations. One of the biggest challenges in doing so is the wait time required to design, construct, and ship new equipment. Some militaries are already addressing this need by using 3D printing to create new parts for vehicles and weapons, but new research by Prof Lee Cronin at Glasgow University could take that technology a step farther.

With support from BAE Systems, Cronin is developing what he calls a "chemputer" which will be able to "grow" small unmanned vehicles like surveillance drones in a laboratory setting.

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The parts would still be created using a 3D printer, but the assembly process could be sped up with use of chemical synthesis.

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This sci-fi technology, realistically, is still a long way off. Cronin says that building an unmanned vehicle using this method "would be very challenging". But he believes that by working on developing an "autonomous digital synthesis engine", as the BBC puts it, this innovation is reachable in the future.

Via BBC