Festo_BionicFlyingFox_en

BionicFlyingFox Agile flying manoeuvres based on a natural role model Special features of flying foxes Flying foxes are closely related to bats, together with which they form the order Chiroptera. Unlike their relatives, however, they are not guided by ultrasound, but they are guided with the help of their big eyes. The animals owe their name to the shape of their heads, which look like that of a fox. Another characteristic is their fine elastic flying membrane that stretches from the extended metacarpal and finger bones down to the foot joints. During sleep or rest periods, the animals fold in their wings and hang upside down by their hind toes – an optimal escape position, allowing them to fly away quickly and agilely in case of pending danger. Technical benefits for Festo The BionicFlyingFox can also manage a tight flight ra- dius despite its large wingspan. This is made possible by its ingenious kinematics. It works according to the scissor principle. The primary folds in during the up- swing and spreads back out for the powerful down- swing. This effect is achieved by a sophisticated mech- anism: the angular and rack-and-pinion gear units implement the wing movement synchronously with the help of forced kinematics. By means of the inertial sensors on the on-board electronics, the flying man- oeuvres can be monitored and corrected with corres- ponding control signals if need be.