It’s always fun to see what new biologically inspired creation the people at Festo Corp. come up with, and the latest incarnation, the BionicOpter, is no letdown. This mechanical dragonfly was unveiled in April and it incorporates flight characteristics from airplanes, helicopters, and gliders—and you can even control it from your phone.
After Festo engineers deconstructed bird flight with their SmartBird a few years back, they took on the challenge of modeling a dragonfly at a technical level. The resulting BionicOpter ultra-light flying object can fly in all directions and execute complicated flight maneuvers. Its ability to move each of its four wings independently enables it to slow down and turn abruptly, to accelerate
swiftly, and even to fly backwards. This means that for the first time there is a model that can master all the flight conditions of a helicopter, plane, and even a glider. Despite its complexity, the highly integrated system can be operated easily and intuitively via a smartphone.
This unique way of flying is made possible by lightweight construction as well as integration of functions—sensors, actuators, and mechanical components (as well as open- and closed-loop control systems) are installed in a tight space and adapted to one another. Flapping frequency, amplitude, and angle of incidence are controlled by software and electronics. The pilot merely has to steer the dragonfly; there is no need for him/her to coordinate the complex motion sequences.
The principles of ultra-lightweight construction are applied throughout the flying object. With a wingspan of 24.8 in. and body length of 17.3 in., the model dragonfly weighs just 6.2 oz. Wings consist of a carbon-fiber frame with a thin foil covering. The intelligent kinematics corrects any vibrations during flight and ensures flight stability. To stabilize the dragonfly, data on the position and the twisting of the wings is continuously recorded and evaluated in real time during flight.
You can visit the BionicOpter webpage at http://www.festo.com/cms/en-us_us/18029.htm for the brochure and for flight videos.
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