Stilfold and AirForestry creates lighter, stronger drone systems with AI optimised design
AirForestry, a company developing electric drones for sustainable forestry, is collaborating with STILFOLD to build drone systems that are both extremely light and strong. The partnership will leverage STILFOLD’s technology and RISE AI competence to develop a new generation of robust, lightweight components.
The project addresses a critical industrial challenge: the need for fast and flexible development of complex, lightweight metal products. STILFOLD contributes its unique manufacturing and design method, which reduces both material waste and energy consumption. The goal is to use machine learning to automate the design of optimized structures that are strong, lightweight, and tailored for efficient production.
"STILFOLD has a revolutionary technology for shaping lightweight steel. For us, this is a perfect match because, working with airborne systems, we always need materials that are both durable and extremely lightweight," says Mauritz Andersson, CTO and co-founder at AirForestry.
This technology directly meets the needs of AirForestry, which develops electric drones for selective tree harvesting to reduce the environmental impact of forestry. The drones require systems that are extremely lightweight yet robust enough to withstand harsh forest environments.
Jonas Nyvang, CEO of STILFOLD, says, "Our technology is perfectly suited to create the lightweight and strong structures that AirForestry needs. With support from Advanced Digitalization and Vinnova, we can now accelerate the development of AI-driven design engineering, which strengthens our competitiveness."
AirForestry's system is built on robust, lightweight components. The Vinnova financed project PINNForm project offers an opportunity to explore new metal constructions with a special focus on components where low weight combined with high stiffness and strength is crucial.
"It's exciting to participate in a project that combines cutting-edge design and manufacturing technology with AI optimization. We look forward to seeing how it can strengthen our future systems," says Olle Gelin, CEO and co-founder at AirForestry.
RISE, Research Institutes of Sweden is project coordinator and contributes with their cutting-edge expertise in physics-informed AI.
For further information, please contact:
Jonas Nyvang, CEO, STILFOLD
Email: jonas.nyvang@stilfold.com
Phone: +46 70-766 30 22
About STILFOLD
STILFOLD is a Swedish design and technology company revolutionizing manufacturing with its patented origami-inspired curve-folding technology. The company combines sustainability with innovative design to create strong, lightweight, and cost-efficient structures with minimal environmental impact. STILFOLD’s unique method enables the production of complex metal components from flat materials, reducing material waste, energy consumption, and the need for heavy tooling.
The company collaborates closely with clients across various industries, including automotive, aerospace, and consumer goods, to develop tailored solutions that meet the future demands of sustainability and innovation. With a strong belief that form and function should unite without compromise, STILFOLD aims to redefine the possibilities within design and manufacturing.
