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#festo#smartbird#bionics

Festo - SmartBird

Festo

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Beginner. No background in the topic needed.

3.1M views15 years ago4 recommendations

HardwareEmbedded systemsElectronics

Festo demonstrates SmartBird, an ultralight autonomous robotic flight model inspired by the herring gull.

Aerodynamic SmartBird flight model - Bird flight deciphered: festo.com/smartbird_en Aerodynamisches Flugmodell SmartBird - Vogelflug entschlüsselt: festo.com/smartbird_de --------------------------------------------------------------------------------­­------------------------- SmartBird is an ultralight but powerful flight model with excellent aerodynamic qualities and extreme agility. With SmartBird, Festo has succeeded in deciphering the flight of birds - one of the oldest dreams of humankind. This bionic technology-bearer, which is inspired by the herring gull, can start, fly and land autonomously -- with no additional drive mechanism. Its wings not only beat up and down, but also twist at specific angles. This is made possible by an active articulated torsional drive unit, which in combination with a complex control system attains an unprecedented level of efficiency in flight operation. Festo has thus succeeded for the first time in creating an energy-efficient technical adaptation of this model from nature. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------­­------------------------- SmartBird ist ein ultraleichtes, aber leistungsstarkes Flugmodell mit einer hervorragenden Aerodynamik und maximaler Agilität. Mit SmartBird ist es Festo gelungen, einen der ältesten Menschheitsträume zu entschlüsseln: den Vogelflug. Der von der Silbermöwe inspirierte, bionische Technologieträger kann von selbst starten, fliegen und landen - ohne zusätzlichen Antrieb. Seine Flügel schlagen dabei nicht nur auf und ab, sondern verdrehen sich gezielt. Dies geschieht durch einen aktiven Gelenktorsionsantrieb, der in Verbindung mit einer komplexen Regelung bisher unerreichte Wirkungsgrade im Flugbetrieb realisiert. Damit gelingt Festo erstmals eine energieeffiziente, technische Adaption des natürlichen Vorbilds.

Why it's here

4 people recommend this

What people say. Recommended as a fascinating demonstration of bionic robotics and autonomous flight control.

blhackon Hacker News • Recommends

On “Fluid Actuators from Disney Research Make Soft, Safe Robot Arms”

If you're interested in this, I highly recommend looking at the stuff that Festo (a german industrial automation company) is doing: link (This is from 2008). And not necessarily related, but really cool anyway: link to this video

Animatson Hacker News • Recommends

On “The first autonomous, entirely soft robot”

…nted to build one with fluidic logic, they certainly could. Their Smart Bird is spectacular.2 Festo is a big, family-owned engineering company. 18,700 employees. founded in 1925. Annual sales €2.64 billion. One of the most innovative companies in mechanical engineering, yet a totally different business model than Silicon Valley's. 1 link 2 link to this video…

jacquesmon Hacker News • Recommends

On “Mercedes-Benz conducting the biggest test using drones to ship everyday items”

You should definitely watch this: link and link to this video Also, while birds are really good at using their wings to glide and provide propulsion flapping designs that need to lift much more than their own weight have so far not worked very well. So I don't really see them as viable for packages.

_Microfton Hacker News • Recommends

On “Feasibility of a Dune Ornithopter”

The German industrial control and automation company Festo 0 created a bionic swift 1 as an engineering demo this year. The flapping wings are no longer as rigid as in their earlier flapping bird model 2. Go and check out their other stuff (e.g. a dragonfly: 3, a flying fox or aquatic animals), it's great! Here is a Youtube search for Festo Animals for your convenience 4. 0 link 1 BionicSwift: link 2 SmartBird: link to this video 3 Dragonfly: link 4 link

tintinon Hacker News • Mentions

On “Quadrocopters juggle balls cooperatively”

When it comes to unpleasant thoughts I'm more scared of this robot bird: link to this video When you see a quadcopter hovering you know you are being watched. But with the bird it's a different story.

blhackon Hacker News • Mentions

On “The DOD had two "better-than-Hubble" space telescopes just sitting around.”

Uh...look at this thing: link to this video This is made by Festo, a German industrial automation company. They did this for a trade show. It was "for fun". Imagine what we're capable of building for spying on China. I doubt we're having problems with it.