Page 4 - Festo Smartbird

Humankind, nature and diversity

Modelled on nature: at Festo, the diversity of biological processes provides inspiration for strategic learning and promotes successful, innovative action. Even the individuality of a small herring gull fosters openness, which at Festo is the key to human and technological efficiency. The engineers have deciphered bird flight; with their SmartBird model they are realising new per-spectives for the automation technology of tomorrow.

In Richard Bach’s modern-day fable “Jonathan Livingston Seagull”, a herring gull with human characteristics sets out in search of new insights. Jonathan wants to learn, experience and understand. Along his path to inspiration, his the love of flying quite literally lends him “wings”.

In his quest for perfection, Jonathan draws on his full potential. He succeeds in overcoming his fear in his ex-ploits of aerial acrobatics.

Humans and organisations strive for superior goals. Compelling ideas and inspiring values bring to life their special potential for achievement. This is the fuel for the engine of innovation at the family company Festo.

Festo’s Bionic Learning Network learns from nature – and SmartBird learns above all from the herring gull. All the knowledge and skills it requires are already at hand in the natural model. With the Bionic Learning Network – an open association of renowned universities, institutes and development companies – Festo is giving shape to sustainable innovation processes within the enterprise:

Preamble