Researchers at Polytechnique Montreal have designed a parachute inspired by kirigami, the Japanese art of folding and cutting paper. The concept, which earned a Nature article, demonstrates new possibilities for cheap, adaptable parachutes in humanitarian work, scientific research, and beyond.
From art to engineering: how kirigami informs parachute design
The idea comes from kirigami, where flat sheets are cut to create 3D structures when deployed. “So you probably made snowflakes with your kids around Christmas… you fold paper, you cut it, and when you unfold it, you get this pattern,” said Frédérick Gosselin, professor of mechanical engineering and co-lead author.
The prototype uses a flat sheet cut into a Kirigami pattern that unfolds into a parachute as it drops. The team notes that the behavior remains consistent across sizes, suggesting scalability for larger payloads.
“We were able to make a parachute for very little cost and simple materials like a sheet of paper, plastic, or cardboard,” Gosselin added. “So we can make parachutes that are cheap to make but also they could be recyclable, reusable or even biodegradable.”
Cost, manufacturing, and scalability
The current prototype is produced with a laser cutter that costs tens of thousands of dollars, and each parachute takes about 25 minutes to fabricate. The laser’s working area limits the size to about two by three feet.
During a demonstration, Gosselin used a bristol board from a dollar store to show the concept in action. A key challenge is choosing among an infinite set of possible patterns. The team says they settled on designs that yield an exceptionally stable parachute, with a straight descent and minimal drift.
“These Kirigami parachutes could limit material losses during airdropping as well as decrease manufacturing costs and complexity,” the researchers wrote in the Nature article. The behavior remains consistent as the parachute scale changes, suggesting the design could be adapted for larger payloads.
Potential applications
Gosselin sees a wide array of uses: drone delivery, humanitarian drops, and perhaps sensor-carrying missions that gather atmospheric data during storms. “So these Kirigami parachutes could be made very cheap to achieve these kinds of applications,” he said.
Development journey and future work
The project spanned two years and formed the focus of Danick Lamoureux’s master’s thesis, which earned Polytechnique’s best master’s dissertation award for 2024. A Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) grant supported Lamoureux’s trip to École Polytechnique in Paris for hands-on testing of parachute designs.
Gosselin plans to continue optimizing kirigami patterns to increase functionality, such as improving descent behavior, enabling rotation, and possibly mounting cameras to scan surroundings. Manufacturing at scale and high-volume production remain logistical hurdles as the team moves from fundamental research toward real-world implementation.
Space exploration remains a distant goal. Mars’ thinner, faster winds pose an environment far harsher than Earth tests, and a kirigami parachute would face extreme development challenges before even considering entry into another planet’s atmosphere.
Conclusion
While still at the fundamental research stage, the kirigami parachute concept from Polytechnique Montreal opens new avenues for affordable, environmentally friendly aerial deployment. If patterns can be refined and scalable manufacturing unlocked, the technology could support humanitarian aid, drone logistics, and environmental sensing—proof that artful folds may fold into the future of engineering.
