Each year Guinness World Records presents thousands of exciting records from all over the world. Festo’s BionicOpter will be included in the 2020 edition. The ‘Robots’ chapter presents the most amazing records from the world of super robots and artificial intelligence. The Festo BionicOpter, an ultra-light flying object based on the dragonfly, has scooped the world record for the biggest flying robotic insect.
The BionicOpter is an ultralight flying object. Just like its model in nature, it can fly in all directions and execute the most complicated flight manoeuvres. Its ability to move each of its wings independently enables it to slow down and turn abruptly, to accelerate swiftly and even to fly backwards. This means that for the first time there is a model that can master all the flight conditions of a helicopter, plane and even a glider. Despite its complexity, the highly integrated system can be operated easily and intuitively via a smartphone.
The principles of ultra-lightweight construction are applied throughout the flying object. With a wingspan of 63 cm and a body length of 44 cm, the model dragonfly weighs just 175 grams. The wings consist of a carbon fibre frame and a thin foil covering. The intelligent kinematics correct any vibrations during flight and ensure flight stability. In order to stabilise the flying object, data on the position and the twisting of the wings is continuously recorded and evaluated in real time during the flight of the dragonfly.
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