Swedish design technology company STILFOLD has officially launched STILPOD, a software-defined vertiport system that utilizes patented metal-folding techniques to create rapidly deployable aviation infrastructure.
Traditional landing platforms typically require intensive construction projects involving cast-in-place concrete and heavy excavation. In contrast, the STILPOD system is constructed from recycled aluminum and shipped as a flat pack in a single standard container. This approach reduces the embodied carbon of conventional concrete vertiports by 81 percent and leaves no permanent footprint once the structure is uninstalled.
The technology is the result of the three-year iPOD (Industrial Origami for Drone Ports) program, an experimental development project funded by Sweden’s national innovation agency, Vinnova. The consortium, which includes STILFOLD, the Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE), and Advanced Air Mobility, focused on structural validation and operational field testing. The resulting modular platform is designed to align with the certification pathways currently being finalized by aviation safety authorities such as EASA and the FAA.
Jonas Nyvang, CEO of STILFOLD, said, “Infrastructure has been the absolute slowest link in emerging air mobility. We have been building the airports of the future with ancient technology. By combining our software-driven manufacturing technology with a vertiport system, we simplify the construction process. We can now ship complete vertiports in flat packs all over the world.”
The system addresses an urgent need for dual-use infrastructure suitable for military and emergency preparedness. Following Sweden’s NATO membership and the evolving security situation in Europe, there is an increased demand for aviation sites that can be deployed quickly with a low environmental impact. Beyond urban mobility, the platform is intended for humanitarian logistics, disaster response, and expeditionary military aviation.
Ramin Mosfegh, RISE, added, “This is not just a greener solution; it’s an entirely new level of operational flexibility. Being able to set up a fully functional, smart landing site for heavy drones in a few hours – and just as easily unbolt it and move it without leaving a trace in the environment – is exactly what the market has been waiting for.”
Following the completion of the validated development phase, STILFOLD is now transitioning to a global commercial launch. The system offers a fully reversible construction method, allowing landing sites to be set up or relocated without the high costs and time requirements associated with traditional groundwork.
