While it used to be common for a person to come across small dragonflies during the summer months, nowadays they're rarely ever seen. Festo has creatively come up with a way to provide insect enthusiasts with a way to appreciate these insects by creating a robotic flying object. The BionicOpter is able to engage in complex flight maneuvers, similar to that of a dragonfly. It's able to fly in all directions, hover in mid-aid and glide throughout the air.
The lightweight parts used to create the flying robot aids with the ease of movement. All four wings features an amplitude controller, which determines the direction of thrust and intensity.
With whimsical creatures such as the dragonfly slowly disappearing from this world, this technological substitute brings about a somewhat sad reminder about how technology is slowly chipping away the splendours of nature.
Photo Credits: designboom, festo
Whimsical Robotic Dragonflies
Festo's BionicOpter Resembles Realistic Small Dragonflies
Trend Themes
1. Bionic Insects - There is an opportunity to develop a range of realistic, lightweight and energy-efficient bionic insects that can serve a range of purposes including as toys, educational tools and even as pollinators in agriculture.
2. Bio-inspired Drones - The development of bio-inspired drones could lead to a new generation of smaller, more agile drones that can fly in all directions, hover in mid-air and glide, much like the dragonfly.
3. Eco-tourism - Eco-tourism operators can leverage the rise of bionic insects to provide unique experiences that bring people closer to nature while also educating them on important environmental issues and conservation efforts.
Industry Implications
1. Toy Manufacturing - Toy manufacturers can develop a range of bionic insect toys that can engage and educate children on the science behind biomimicry, robotics, and insects.
2. Drone Manufacturing - Drone manufacturers can develop bio-inspired drones that replicate the movements of insects, which could serve a range of applications beyond entertainment, including performing complex inspections and surveys in difficult-to-reach places.
3. Agriculture - Agricultural companies can explore the use of bionic insects, such as pollinators, to improve crop yields and reduce dependence on traditional pollination methods that may harm the environment.