For the first time in South Africa two revolutionary bionic innovations were on display in Cape Town during 19^th World Congress of the International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC).

The Festo SmartBird and BionicOpter innovations form part of the Bionic Learning Network, led by Festo, to take inspiration from nature and create engineered replicas. Dr Heinrich Frontzek, head of Corporate Communication, from Festo AG & Co. KG was in Cape Town to present at the IFAC congress on the reasoning behind the Bionic Learning Network.

“The goal of the network is to motivate, inspire and to kick-start innovation” explains Frontzek. Through his presentation Frontzek demonstrated how using nature as inspiration lead them to more sustainable automation solutions and ways to make it more people-friendly.

“Animals have efficient designs for energy and exchange information on where to find food for the advantage of all,” says Frontzek.

Dr Frontzek showed the strides made through various bionic innovations from the Bionic Learning Network, including the two on display at the Congress. With the SmartBird, Festo has managed to replicate the wing motion of a Herring Gull in a robotic form, showing the possibilities for energy efficiency through automated robotics. Taking this initial breakthrough further, in 2013 the Bionic Learning Network presented the BionicOpter, another flying robot based on the dragonfly. Each wing moves independently, allowing it to slow down, accelerate quickly, make sharp turns and fly backwards. The BionicOpter’s motion has been automated to the point that it can be controlled via a smartphone app.