Our Bionic Learning Network has been investigating flight and gripping for a long time. We have now brought together both areas for the first time with the FreeMotionHandling. The indoor flying object can manoeuvre autonomously in any direction, independently picking up and dropping off items where they are required.
The FreeMotionHandling system consists of an ultralight carbon ring with eight adaptive propellers. In the middle of the ring sits a rotatable helium ball with an integrated gripping element. Unlike other indoor flying objects, contact is not dangerous even in the event of a collision. This means that humans and the sphere can interact with each other safely at any time, without any problems.
This opens up new prospects for the workspace of the future. The free-moving sphere could act as a flying assistance system for people – for example, when working overhead, working at dizzying heights or as a feeder system in spaces that are difficult to access.