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With the gentle flutter of their wings
the eMotionButterflies captivated visitors to
the Hannover Messe. The latest development from Festo’s Bionic Learning Network
shows how several objects can move freely in a space without colliding thanks
to incredibly diverse networking. An indoor GPS acts as a guidance and monitoring
system and offers new possibilities, for example, in the factory of the future.
On feather-light wings
eMotionButterflies: the Bionic Learning Network has developed ultra-light flying objects
Communication
Continuous communication is needed to ensure
the reliable and stable flight of the butterflies. To
achieve this, an indoor GPS controls the flight paths
of the eMotionButterflies. Ten cameras installed in
the space record the butterflies using infrared mark-
ers and map the space at a frame rate of 160 images
per second. The central master computer process-
es the position data of all eMotionButterflies
and, like an air traffic controller, coord-
inates their flight paths so that
they do not collide.
The broad perspective
With the development of the
eMotionButterflies, Festo’s Bionic Learning
Network is gathering valuable knowledge for
the factory of the future, such as possible solu-
tions for future industrial logistics applications.
In addition to lightweight construction and mini-
aturisation, the indoor GPS in particular is pro-
viding insights into how three-dimensional,
centrally controlled complete systems that
behave collectively actually operate.