Posted to News on 4th Dec 2012, 20:30
Festo SmartInversion is latest airborne innovation
Festo has unveiled SmartInversion, the latest airborne innovation from its Bionic Learning network. The SmartInversion flying kinematic structure follows on from the flying AirPenguin and Jellyfish, but this machine is a stunning embodiment of 20th century Swiss mathematician Paul Schatz's geometric structure.
Linear and rotary movements are familiar and well understood, but inversion is a third and far more complex principle which, when seen in the form of the SmartInversion, is both fascinating and inspiring.
SmartInversion is a lighter-than-air, helium-filled structure that utilises a smartphone app to remotely control three miniature closed-loop servo motors. The result is a large 4.75m structure that can propel itself by self-inversion through the air in an intriguing and beguiling way.
Steve Sands, product manager at Festo GB, comments: "The Bionic Learning Network concepts are developed as a collaboration between our research, development, corporate design teams and leading universities and research establishments. They always provoke discussion and are a great way for us to gauge reaction to ideas and innovations inspired by nature and applied to automation. We also use the Bionic Concepts to inspire young engineers; changing their perceptions by displaying complex engineering in novel ways.
"We reinvest more than 8.5 per cent of our turnover into future developments through research and development. It is important that we use a small part of this budget to explore completely new ideas; nature inspires us with so many ideas for improved efficiency, optimised movements and improved communications."
For further information on SmartInversion and to see a video of it in action, go to www.festo.co.uk/smartinversion.
