2 Integrated platform: Model for lightweight construction, energy efficiency … … system capability and integrated communication technologies Bionic technology bearers for the water technology sector Jellyfish are fascinating creatures that consist of around 99 per cent water. Over the course of millions of years, they have efficiently adapted to the most varied of environments in both salt and fresh water. Artificial jellyfish based on biological role model So that the movements of the AquaJellies come as close as possible to their natural role model, the artificial jellyfish have an intelligent, adaptive mechanism and are equipped with an electric drive unit. The integrated communication and sensor technology plus the real-time diagnostics enable a coordinated, collective behaviour even in a limited space. The AquaJellies were developed as part of the Bionic Learning Network. In association with reputable universities, institutes and development firms, Festo is intensively occupied with transferring natural basic principles to the technical world of automation. The construction and further development of the artificial jellyfish is an attempt to get nearer to these fascinating creatures and to learn from them. Continuous development Festo presented the AquaJellies for the first time at the Hanover Fair in 2008. Since then the developers have been constantly working on improved communications technology and on the condition monitoring of the individual jellyfish on a smartphone. Real-time monitoring on a smartphone An app can be used to individually record and track the current condition of each AquaJelly. Thanks to real-time diagnostics, it is possible to make a parameter query about the current battery status, the temperature, the current power consumption and the depth of the jellyfish in the water. A movement profile also shows in which direction the jellyfish in question is swimming. Festo is using these bionic technology bearers to visualise potential and ideas of how efficient systems in the field of water technology may look in the future. Process monitoring and condition monitoring are important topics in all equipment used in the process industry and hence also in the water technology sector.
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