2.2011
trends in automation
Compass
14
–
15
The technology in detail
The SmartBird’s arm wing generates lift
and the hand wing beyond the trapezoidal
joint provides propulsion. The spars on
the arm wing and the hand wing are
torsionally stiff. At the end of the hand
wing is a servo motor for active torsion
which rotates the whole wing against the
spar via the external rib of the wing. If the
SmartBird lifts its wings the servo motor
moves the end of the hand wing to a
positive angle of attack that is then
converted to a negative angle of attack
within a fraction of the wing beat period.
The torsion angle remains constant
between these two phases. With this
sequence of movements the airflow on
the profile is used optimally to create
thrust. The battery, motor and
transmission, the crank mechanism and
the control and feedback control system
are housed securely in the torso. The
on-board electronic system provides
precise control of the wings. In addition,
the control parameters can be set and
optimised in real time. This guarantees
the bird’s flight stability and thus its
operational safety.
Transfer into practice
The applications of coupled drives for
linear and rotary movements as used in
the SmartBird range from generators for
extracting energy from water, so-called
stroke wing power generators, to new
actuators in process automation.
Spurred on by a paradigm shift in
bionics, Festo has for a few years now
Those involved in the project present the SmartBird:
Markus Fischer, Head of Corporate Design at Festo; Dipl.-Ing. Agalya Jebens and Dipl.-Ing. Kristof Jebens,
JNTech GbR; Rainer Mugrauer, Effekt-Technik GmbH; Dr. Wolfgang Send, ANIPROP GbR; Günther Mugrauer, Effekt-Technik GmbH (from l. to. r.)
been developing products such as the
adaptive gripper DHDG that has already
been accepted in industry.
www.festo.com/smartbird_en