As sea birds and excellent divers, penguins forgot how to fly as they evolved. With the AirPenguins, our Bionic Learning Network has developed a group of artificial penguins and taught them to fly again.
The group consists of three penguins that fly autonomously. They float within a defined airspace, which is detected by ultrasound transmitting stations. The penguins can move freely within this space and explore it independently according to agreed rules. The flying objects recognise each other based on the distances to the transmitting stations, which enables collision-free flying in the collective.
The AirPenguins can also perform synchronous actions in the group. The intelligent control technology guarantees the height control and position stability of the flying penguins. An extensive central monitoring system counteracts sensor failures and continuously checks their energy status. If necessary, it also allows autonomous return to the charging station and ensures that flight is safe.
Together with institutes, universities and partners, we are researching biological principles in order to develop innovative ideas and solutions for our core business in automation technology and technical education. Find out more about the Bionic Learning Network or discover other exciting topics related to Festo in our blog.