Festo unveils BionicOpter robot
Inspired by the dragonfly's ability to hover in mid-air and manouvre in all directions, automation specialist Festo has developed a new flying robot called the BionicOpter.
The device is powered by two LiPo cells and can be remotely controlled using a smartphone or digital spectrum transmitter. Its tiny body houses nine servo motors, an ARM microncontroller and a host of sensors and actuators.
The microcontroller calculates all the parameters that can be adjusted mechanically based on the recorded flight data and the pilot's input. The processor actuates the nine servo motors to translate these parameters into movement using beat frequency, a swivel device and an amplitude controller.
Each of the robots' four wings has a carbon fibre frame covered by a polyester membrane, and can be twisted up to 90° from the horizontal. Festo says the model doesn't need to tilt forward to transition smoothly from hovering to forward flight, and is capable of manoeuvring up and down, forward and backward, and to the side.
You can view the BionicOpter in action in the video below.
