Video of the Day: Winged drones glide like graceful butterflies

For centuries inventors have focused on the phenomenon of flight- it may even be one of mankind’s oldest dreams. As a result, there’s always plenty of technology being developed to expand on the art of flight.

The Bionic Learning Network, a division of a pneumatic and electric automation company called Festo, has created ultra-light artificial insects that can fly. The wafer-thin creatures consist of an elastic membrane which gives them their unique lightness and aerodynamic abilities.

Watch these eMotionButterflies’ graceful and agile flight in the video below.

These eMotionButterflies feature on-board sensors and radio technology as well as a guidance and monitoring system to glide effortlessly and gracefully like real butterflies. 

An important part of the indoor GPS is its camera system which could potentially be used in the factory of the future. Ten infrared cameras are installed into the flying space to record the butterflies’ movements using infrared LEDs. The cameras transmit the positional data to a central computer that acts like an air traffic controller and can coordinate the butterflies from outside. The eMotionButterflies do not require any human piloting since pre-programmed routes can be stored in the computer. 

Each butterfly receives its flight path wirelessly from the central computer, but if one happens to leave its course, it can be corrected immediately. In order to do so, the camera system measures the exact position of all the flying objects 160 times per second and the computer readjusts each deviation. This also helps to prevent collision.
   
For more on the technical data regarding the butterfly drones, visit Festo.