#bionic learning network

New Post has been published on https://www.aneddoticamagazine.com/bionicswift/

BionicSwift

The BionicSwifts are agile, nimble and can even fly loops and tight turns. The five artificial swallows can move in a coordinated and autonomous manner in a defined airspace by interacting with a radio-based indoor GPS (ultra wideband, UWB).

New Post has been published on https://www.aneddoticamagazine.com/bionicswift/

BionicSwift

The BionicSwifts are agile, nimble and can even fly loops and tight turns. The five artificial swallows can move in a coordinated and autonomous manner in a defined airspace by interacting with a radio-based indoor GPS (ultra wideband, UWB).

New Post has been published on https://www.aneddoticamagazine.com/bionicswift/

BionicSwift

The BionicSwifts are agile, nimble and can even fly loops and tight turns. The five artificial swallows can move in a coordinated and autonomous manner in a defined airspace by interacting with a radio-based indoor GPS (ultra wideband, UWB).

New Post has been published on https://www.aneddoticamagazine.com/bionicswift/

BionicSwift

The BionicSwifts are agile, nimble and can even fly loops and tight turns. The five artificial swallows can move in a coordinated and autonomous manner in a defined airspace by interacting with a radio-based indoor GPS (ultra wideband, UWB).

http://scitechnews.co.uk/technology-2/networked-technologies-in-the-factory-of-the-future/

Networked technologies in the factory of the future

“Integrated Industry – Join the Network!” is the motto of this year’s Hannover Messe trade fair. Festo has provided a foretaste of the highlights awaiting visitors to the fair: from the significance of the partner country India to the qualification of employees for future production systems, and from new technologies for the factory of the future to current projects from the Bionic Learning Network.

Industry 4.0 involves a number of challenges – for example the search for the business model of the future, matters of data privacy protection or universal standards for communication between machines. The increasing volume of rapid networking at the technological and organisational levels will be decisive when it comes to realising more efficient value-added chains and product life cycles in future business models. Festo is viewing production from various perspectives – the focus of attention is on the development of new technologies, but also on technical education that meets the requirements of Industry 4.0.

Festo press photo OPC 2015_Festo India Rashmikant Joshi, General Manager of Festo India: “For around 50 years Festo has been a partner of Indian industry, which is relying to an increasing extent on automation technology.” (Photos: Festo AG & Co. KG)

Partner country India: Festo is a partner in industry and in education and training

Festo India is making an important contribution to the success of the family enterprise and the development of the region. This is confirmed by Rashmikant Joshi, Managing Director of Festo India: “The size of the Indian national economy, transformations in the age structure of the population and the relatively high level of economic growth make the Indian subcontinent an important market for the future. Despite the cautious forecasts for the Indian economy, Festo grew by 12% last year alone.”

For around 50 years Festo has been a partner of Indian industry, which is relying to an increasing extent on automation technology and now numbers among the world’s most strongly expanding national economies. The Global Production Centre Bangalore manufactures around 2,000 different products and components. Some 80% of the products made at the GPC are destined for the regional market. India is thus an important factor not only for Festo, but also for the global economy; in 2015 it is the partner country of the Hannover Messe trade fair.

Qualification 4.0: Education for production of the future

For countries with a high proportion of productive industry, the fourth phase of industrialisation is both a potential game-changer and an immense challenge. Education and training for dealing with the new technologies and the development of digital networks in production, sales and further areas will be a decisive factor for the enterprises of these countries over the coming years.

Festo Didactic is the world market leader in technical education and offers integral solutions in education and training for Industry 4.0 to enterprises and universities throughout the world.

SupraMotion 3.0: Automation modules for motion in suspension

Festo has already been investigating superconductor technology and its industrial application for several years. At the Hannover Messe 2015 trade fair, the company will once again be showcasing three new, innovative application concepts. “We are now not merely showing impressive levitation effects and the opportunities offered by superconductor technology, but are actively discussing their potential together with the automation industry. We are currently working towards initiating our first pilot projects,” said Georg Berner, Head of Strategic Corporate Development, Group Holding Festo.

SupraCycle – contactless transfer

SupraCycle for the first time demonstrates how a suspended permanent magnet can be actively transferred from one superconductor automation module to another. Two magnetic object carriers are suspended in the cryostats at a distance of a few millimetres to the superconductors and then transferred in turn from one cryostat to the next.

SupraHelix – a rotating conveyor shaft

The SupraHelix exhibit makes use of two cryostats with superconductors that are arranged alongside each other on a semi-rotary drive unit. When cooled to below their transition temperature, they suspend a shaft with integrated permanent magnets beneath them and hold it at a distance of eight millimetres. The shaft is inclined at 40° by means of the semi-rotary drive. A permanently excited integrated stepper motor sets it in rotation without contact, so that it can convey individual metal rings upwards along its thread. This exhibit shows how ring-shaped workpieces can be transported from one processing station to the next.

SupraCarrier – storing and moving objects on suspended rollers

Two cryostats with superconductors are mounted on an electrical axis, above each of which two magnetic transport rollers are held in suspension. A flat workpiece carrier rests on the rollers. The axis moves the superconductor elements horizontally. Between these and the suspended rollers is a cover plate with openings through which the rollers are retracted when the cryostats are lowered; the workpiece carrier then lies on top of the cover plate. Suspended transport rollers such as these could be used to move flat, non-ferromagnetic products of all sizes.

Networked technologies demonstrate new approaches – the Bionic Learning Network in 2015

In the Bionic Learning Network, an association of Festo with universities, institutes and development companies, the engineers have investigated and further developed technical concepts and industrial applications based on models from nature – at the 2015 Hannover Messe especially under the motto “Join the Network!” The BionicANTs and the eMotionButterflies illustrate how individual systems can be combined into an intelligent

overall system by means of networked communication. In addition, the FlexShapeGripper shows how a flexible, adaptable gripping mechanism based on a natural model can find possible applications.

Festo press photo OPC 2015_Bionic ANTs Highly integrated individual systems for solving a common task: in an abstract manner, this cooperative behaviour provides interesting approaches for the factory of tomorrow. (Photos: Festo AG & Co. KG)

BionicANTs – cooperative behaviour based on a natural model

For the BionicANTs, the Festo engineers have not only taken the delicate anatomy of the natural ant as a role model. For the first time, the cooperative behaviour of the creatures has also been transferred to the world of technology using complex control algorithms.

“Like their natural role models, the BionicANTs work together under clear rules”, explains Dr.-Ing. Heinrich Frontzek, Head of Corporate Communication and Future Concepts at Festo. “They communicate with each other and coordinate both their actions and movements. Each ant makes its decisions autonomously, but in doing so is always subordinate to the common objective and thereby plays its part towards solving the task at hand.” In an abstract manner, this cooperative behaviour provides interesting approaches for the factory of tomorrow. Future production systems will be founded on intelligent components, which adapt flexibly to different production scenarios and thus take on tasks from a higher control level.

Festo press photo OPC 2015_FlexShapeGripper Soft gripping for various tasks: the FlexShapeGripper can pick up, gather and set back down several objects with the widest range of shapes in one procedure – without the need for manual conversion. (Photos: Festo AG & Co. KG)

FlexShapeGripper – gripping modelled on the chameleon’s tongue

Gripping applications have always played a key role in production. In cooperation with the University of Oslo, Festo is now presenting a gripper whose working principle is derived from the tongue of a chameleon. “The FlexShapeGripper can pick up, gather and set back down several objects with the widest range of shapes in one procedure – without the need for a manual conversion”, says Dr. Frontzek. The unique inherent ability to adapt to different shapes gives the FlexShapeGripper its name.

This is made possible by its water-filled silicone cap, which wraps itself around the items being gripped in a flexible and form-fitting manner.

In future, the FlexShapeGripper could be used in any facility where multiple objects with a range of different shapes are handled at the same time – for example in the service robotics sector, for assembly tasks or when handling small parts.

Festo press photo OPC 2015_eMotionButterflies Coordinated flying thanks to indoor GPS: with the eMotionButterflies, Festo now combines the ultra-lightweight construction of artificial insects with coordinated flying behaviour in a collective. (Photos: Festo AG & Co. KG)

eMotionButterflies – ultra-lightweight flying objects with collective behaviour

The eMotionButterflies developed by Festo demonstrate complex issues from the world of future production such as functional integration, ultra-lightweight construction and communication between individual systems that is networked and optimised on a real-time basis. The aesthetically appealing bionic butterflies show the extent to which the virtual and real worlds can grow together. The coordination between the individual flying objects is effected autonomously and safely by means of a well-networked external guidance and monitoring system. The communication and sensor technology used, which constitutes an indoor GPS system, enables the butterflies to exhibit collective behaviour without danger of collision.

The combination of integrated electronics and external camera technology with a host computer ensures process stability by means of an intelligent guidance and monitoring system.

Further information will be available as of 26th March at www.festo.com/bionics

Festo at the Hannover Messe in 2015

At the main stand in Hall 15, Stand D07 from 13th to 17th April 2015, in addition to new product features for factory and process automation Festo will be showing its Multi-Carrier System, a freely configurable transportation system solution, and the OPAK research project, which is concerned with efficient engineering processes. This year’s bionics projects and Future Concepts will also be on exhibit. The Didactic unit for industrial education and training is also represented, for example with the Transfer Factory.

Original Source: Metal Supply

Bionic ants, butterflies produced on 3D printer as beautiful as real ones

NEW YORK: Bionic ants and butterflies produced on a 3D printer are just as beautiful and industrious as their counterparts in the natural world. Research efforts into minitaurization, practical adaptation of nature’s tactics and functional integration with technology by the Bionic Learning Network will be showcased. The research network links German electronics company Festo to universities,…

New Post has been published on http://www.wovow.org/robot-elephant-trunk-acquires-working/

Robot Elephant trunk acquires working

From the moment when the man began to acquire technology, he has a need for hoisting mechanisms. Including those that are able to move over rough terrain and make handling loads of varying weights and dimensions, preferably with high accuracy. And one of these mechanisms appeared elephant: a smart and strong Hathi of “The Jungle Book” by Rudyard Kipling firmly entrenched in commercial mythology. Well, now working to acquire the trunk and robots.

Was sometime around 3300-1300 years BC. e., before the invasion of the Aryans in the Indus Valley civilization mighty. Now her name or Harappan India. Dwelt in its cities, the largest of which is considered Harappa, Lothal and Mohenjo-Daro, about five million people. Well territory covered by the Indus Valley Civilization, was much higher than those that were controlled by her “peers” – Egypt and Sumer.

British archaeologists who started to dig her city in the late nineteenth – early twentieth century, there have found many interesting things. Developed irrigation system, providing the needs of agriculture, urban water supply and sanitation; public toilets, two-storey houses; powerful fortifications … This infrastructure has required a large amount of construction work, which at all times is inevitably associated with the movement of large masses and volumes of cargo.

And to facilitate the hoisting works Indus Valley residents went through the most original, unique for the great ancient civilizations, as well as for the present. There began to tame and train the work of Indian elephants (Elephas maximus), the sole survivor of the once-diverse species kind of Asian elephants (Elephas). The uniqueness of the elephant, among other animals is that he is not just transport, but also the handling agent at plantigrade platform which is placed quite universal manipulator – trunk.

Indian elephants (Elephas maximus) and now work for the benefit of man.

Elephant – that’s about as modern four-wheel drive truck with cargo boom, the beloved current collectors panel houses. Only better: he stopohodyasch, but it can take on the most rugged terrain. And capable as cellular automata von Neumann replicate. The Trucks something – do not multiply and regenerate itself, their factory produces. They need parts. And these elephants no restrictions: Indus civilization collapsed, covered with sediment field, dragged her city forests and elephants continued to serve the residents of forest villages.

And were so successful that it made an impression on even the Europeans first era of the industrial revolution and imperialism. Belgian King Leopold II, one of the most ruthless colonial rulers, whose activities are terrified contemporaries and admires current liberals tried to put to the case useless roaming African elephants (Loxodonta) and arranged for this purpose in 1899, the Centre Cyrus Woong-turned domestication of elephants. These works lasted until 1932, when imperialism began to give way to fascism – and was not up to the patriarchal fun.

Well, now for example elephants turning engineers (” Bringing bionics? “). Tell the audience again “Computerra” about plantigrade machines manufacturer which acquired Google, there is no need, we talked about it in detail (” Stopohody future, or why Google bought Boston Dynamics “). And “soft”, flexible plastic and pnevmopolostey manipulators we have described. (” Why soft robot needs a high IQ, a physical therapist to work? “) And now in sight designers got such a thing as an elephant’s trunk.

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Engaged in copying the working tool Hatha engineers from the German company Festo , well-known manufacturer of industrial (especially air) automation. They in the program Bionic Learning Network , aimed at cooperation with universities and familiarity with the methods of the future experts of bionics, and created a few years ago, the first prototype of a ‘robot hobotatogo “, which is widely demonstrated to the public , including hand harvesting kantslerin Frau Merkel in PR Germans strong ever since the gryunderstva!

Festo can energetically promoting, demonstrating their robostrekoz Summit.

But initial robot arm was only technology demonstrator, the evidence of concept. A practical obstacle to its use was the complexity of programming and management. We have been told that a multi-link design with lots of flexible units, having a large number of degrees of freedom requires a very large amount of computation to control it. (” Why soft robot needs a high IQ, a physical therapist to work? “) And it involves more complex programming.

But now the “trunk” from Festo intensively brought to the stage of practical use. Primarily due to the fact that used a new approach to its programming, which can be called self-learning . The fact that the robot is now not so much programmed in advance how many forms required for an array of data in the process of adaptation to the world. Approximately the same as the world adapts to this child.

Thus, the robot from Festo, which you can see in this video , is one of the most interesting experimental devices revolution “smart” machines. First of all – technology. It mostly consists of segments printed on the 3D-printer. This, of course, not yet self-reproduction, but then the 3D-printer to a large degree can now be printed at the 3D-printer … Not even life, of course, and not even kvazizhizn, but a small step to it in the field of technology.

In effect, this “trunk” provides pneumatic muscles – that, on the one hand, it provides unparalleled flexibility, and on the other – makes the task of managing them is much more complex than the current “hard” industrial robots, four shestishpindelnyh. So you need to control the trunk in a much more multi-dimensional function space than a firm hand. And so Johan Style (Jochen Steil) engineer quicly from University of Bielefeld in the German state of North Rhine – Westphalia, went the other way.

He teaches “trunk” about the same as learning to crawl and then walk the child, as it forms the motor skills. Process called target babble («goal babbling») – in imitation of that trial and error method, which is used by a child. Is in motion, he stumbles, falls, moving differently, remembers the position of the muscles in the successful motion. Similarly, “trunk” remembers the state of valves and air modes, actuating its pneumatic “muscles”.

Self-learning allows pnevmomyshts “trunk” to make the most accurate movement.

This is done first for the individual, relatively simple movements (like Lem in “Solaris” copied Ocean giant baby makes movements separate muscle groups). Then these movements memorized classified, summarized in the group. From them, you can choose what you need for precise movements commit greater and greater complexity. Say – screw a light bulb or torn with hazel hazelnut.