According to their web site, "Festo is a leading world-wide supplier of automation technology and the performance leader in industrial training and education programs" and having wowed the world last year with their remote controlled seagull, the company has exceeded themselves with this year's effort.

The dragonfly, a video of which is available here is more correctly named the BionicOpter and may be controlled by a smartphone app.

 

The BionicOpter is capable of hover and can also fly in any direction. The company's product statement describes the device, "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."

In a release, Heinrich Frontzek, Festo's Corporate Communication and Future Concepts chief said "This unique way of flying is made possible by lightweight construction and the integration of functions: components such as sensors, actuators and mechanical components, together with open- and closed-loop control systems, which are installed in a very tight space and matched accurately to one another."

The BionicOpter has a wingspan of 70cm and a body length of 48cm; weighing just 175 grams.

 

Images courtesy Festo

The company has not yet announced their thoughts for applications, but this platform might be a serious competitor for the current crop of helicopter-lofted platforms.

Or for scaring the daylights out of little brothers!