Incredible RC Dragonfly!

Incredible RC Dragonfly!

The engineers at Festo, the same folks who designed the amazing SmartBird, have now created a four-winged dragonfly they call “BionicOpter.” Here’s the scoop from their website and don’t miss the video of the dragonfly in flight below!

With the BionicOpter, Festo has technically mastered the highly complex flight characteristics of the dragonfly. Just like its model in nature, this ultralight flying object can fly in all directions, hover in mid-air and glide without beating its wings.

RC Dragonfly

In addition to control of the shared flapping frequency and twisting of the individual wings, each of the four wings also features an amplitude controller. The tilt of the wings determines the direction of thrust. Amplitude control allows the intensity of the thrust to be regulated. When combined, the remote-controlled dragonfly can assume almost any position in space.

Capture

This unique way of flying is made possible by the lightweight construction and the integration of functions: components such as sensors, actuators and mechanical components as well as open- and closed-loop control systems are installed in a very tight space and adapted to one another.

 With the remote-controlled dragonfly, Festo demonstrates wireless real-time communication, a continuous exchange of information, as well as the ability to combine different sensor evaluations and identify complex events and critical states.

Updated: July 15, 2015 — 4:33 PM

9 Comments

  1. I found this article fascinating. As a mechanical engineer, I make an assumption that Festo is the same manufacturer of pneumatic devices and associated controls.
    This dragonfly is an example of where we’ve come in miniaturization of actuators and controls……amazing

  2. Okay indoors it flies well! How about in 5mph wind or above?

  3. Very impressive. Congratulations!

  4. Absolutely amazing! Incredible what focused thinking can achieve!

  5. Love ornithopters! Where do I get one 🙂

  6. Beautiful video and amazing piece of technology!

  7. Are there plans for manufacture and if so, by whom and when?????

    1. I wish! This is a one-of-a-kind creation and I think it may be a few years before we see anything like it commercially available. Festo also created the SmartBird over a year ago and we haven’t seen anything close to it in the marketplace.

  8. Can I buy one

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