An insect-like flying machine with paper wings

Researchers at Cornell University used a 3D printer and sprayed multiple layers of material on paper to create a new paper-wing insect-like aircraft that uses a carbon fiber frame, weighs just 3.89 grams, and can hover in the air for nearly 90 seconds. The researchers explained that the reason for using 3D printing paper is that paper can be created into more complex structures, like a hand-folded paper airplane. And the paper can be made 40 microns wide and 16 microns thick. Another advantage of using paper is the speed of manufacturing, which takes only one hour to make a new wing model.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the US Department of Defense, is keen on this technology, and you can see why.