Inspiration
“You are your brain”
For more than 30 years the renowned
neuroscientist, Prof. Manfred Spitzer,
has been studying the human brain.
In this interview Spitzer talks about
approaches to “brain-friendly” learning
and explains why movement and feelings
are so important.
8
Compass
Flying like a bird
Perfection in motion: The bionic
SmartBird, inspired by the herring
gull, takes off, flies and lands
autonomously. Powerful wing beats
and electromechanical wing torsion
achieve electromechanical efficiency
of up to 45%.
12
12
The SmartBird
inspires us to
new methods for energy-saving
and lightweight design in
automation.
8
“The brain is not a cassette
recorder
that records every single
detail. Instead, it creates memory
traces, paths that work better and
better over time.”
2.2011
trends in automation
Cover story
There is no end to learning
A machine flies like a bird, a tool changer works
fully automatically, engine parts are separated
smoothly. The fascinating products created by
human intelligence that are included in our current
edition are based on a common process: learning.
trends in automation 2.2011 therefore looks into
how knowledge is acquired, identifies new
approaches and visits a modern learning factory
for future generations of engineers.
Editorial
3
Panorama
6
Festo worldwide
43
About this magazine
45
Soft Stop
46