Caltrops are back, now dropped by drone.
They immobilize supply trucks, making them sitting ducks for drone bombers.
Ukraine Drops Ancient Roman Weapons From Drones To Stop Russian Trucks
The Russians are now facing a new threat behind the front line: tire-popping metal obstacles called caltrops, dropped by drones.David Hambling (Forbes)
synlogic
in reply to Isaac Ji Kuo • • •swope
in reply to synlogic • • •@synlogic I've had a similar design in mind that is a single piece, like a bow-tie, twisted in the middle.
But this pictured design packs flat, if you don't mind some assembly in the field.
Isaac Ji Kuo
in reply to swope • • •@swope @synlogic
You can stack twisted bow ties, like Pringles, in long boxes, though.
I think tooling to do the twist might be a bit fiddly, though.
swope
in reply to Isaac Ji Kuo • • •@synlogic
It has to be a pretty stout machine to twist.. if the sheet is thick enough gauge to stand up to truck tires.
synlogic
in reply to Isaac Ji Kuo • • •Isaac Ji Kuo
in reply to synlogic • • •@synlogic @swope
I'm not sure what design you're talking about. There are several different types of caltrop shown in the story, including the one pictured ...
They all have a tetrahedral arrangement of four points. Thus, they come to rest with three points on the ground and one point jutting upward.
synlogic
in reply to Isaac Ji Kuo • • •@swope k. I saw one photo with a flawed design I think, made out of 2 triangle plates
theres a diff design that has like 4 spike-tipped rods all connected at a single common vertex at center, and all 4 spiky points face outward in perfect symmetry. as a kid I associated that design with ninja haha
Isaac Ji Kuo
in reply to synlogic • • •@synlogic @swope
The one in the photo is made out of 2 triangle plates, but it is indeed a tetrahedral type that always has one point jutting upward and three points on the ground.
The two triangles are the same shape, with a slot cut into one point. It's 45-45-90, with the slot cut into the 90 degree corner. Then they are inserted into each other, slot-to-slot; friction fit.
The four 45 degree corners become the points of a tetrahedron.
synlogic
in reply to Isaac Ji Kuo • • •