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With the BionicOpter, Festo has applied the highly complex characteristics of the mechanics of dragonfly flight to an ultra-lightweight flying object at a technical level.The mechanics of dragonfly flight are unique: dragonflies can manoeuvre in all directions, glide without having to beat their wings and hover in the air. Their ability to move their two pairs of wings independently enables them to slow down and turn abruptly, to accelerate swiftly and even to fly backwards.
For the first time, there is a model that can master more flight conditions than a helicopter, plane and glider combined.
In addition to controlling the flapping frequency and the twisting of the individual wings, each of the four wings features an amplitude controller. This means that the direction of thrust and the intensity of thrust for all four wings can be adjusted individually, thus enabling the remote-controlled dragonfly to move in almost any orientation in space. The intelligent kinematics correct any vibrations during flight and ensure flight stability both indoors and outdoors.
Equipped with four independently adjustable, motorized wings made from carbon fiber and foil, the ultra-lightweight craft (less than a third of a pound) is capable of flying backwards, moving laterally, hovering in place, and gliding. It looks uncannily like an oversized version of the real insect, with a body of about 19 inches long and a wingspan of just over 27 inches. Essentially, it seeks to combine the best features of a helicopter and a glider, and is controlled via a smartphone interface.
Source: Press Release