T
heeMotionSpheres installation
consistsof eightwhite, helium
filledsphereseachwitha
diameter of 95cm. Theyare
poweredbyeight small propellers
attached to theouter skin.Theadaptive
drivesprovide thesame thrust forwards
and in reverse,which isagenuine
innovationwithflyingobjects. Together
with the camerasystemandan intelligent
control system, theyare capableof the
widest rangeof flightmanoeuvres. The
main computer actsas theair traffic
controller. It coordinatesboth the
choreography for all thespheresand the
freemovements.
Threedimensional aesthetics
Amodern trackingsystem,
consistingof ten infrared
cameras installed in the
space, record thespheresvia
their active infraredLED
markersandpasson the
positiondata toamain
computer. Preprogrammed
pathsstoredherespecify the
spheres’ flight pathswhenflying in
formation. Speciallystoredbehaviour
patternsallow the individual spheres to
move. Thepatternsensure that even in
chaotic situations thereareno clashes,
since thespheresmoveout of one
another’sway. Thespheres canalsobe
controlled individually. Becauseof their
process reliability, lightweight designand
flexibleadaptivepropellers, theyaresafe
inproximitywithpeople.
Lightweight construction inspired
bynature
Thedesignof theadaptivepropellers
drewon the research carriedout for the
BionicOpter, theartificial dragonfly from
Festo. Thedevelopersof the
eMotionSpherespursued thewing
principleof theartificial dragonflyand
transferred it to thedrivesused for the
spheres. Just like thewingson the
BionicOpter, thepropellersof the
eMotionSpheresaremadeof asturdy,
laser sintered frame in the formof afigure
of eight, coveredwithaflexible
membrane. As themembrane isnot
completely taut, it inflatesononesideor
theother, dependingonwhichdirection
thepropeller is turning. Thepropellers
supplyup to42gof thrust both forwards
andbackwardsandare thusequally
efficient inbothdirections. As the
propellersweigh less thanonegram, the
direction canbe changedalmost
eMotionSpheres:
showcasingan indoorGPS toprevent
collisions in theworkspaceof tomorrow.
