Bionics

Talking to machines

"Siri, what will the weather be like today?" "OK, Google, turn the music down!" "Alexa, order the blue trainers for me again!" Voice assistants have already made technology that responds to words part of everyday life. For voice control to work smoothly, complex software processes are running in the background. The correct interpretation of spoken commands requires plenty of preparatory work, high computing power and, last but not least, artificial intelligence.

Bionics

Collision-free swimming with ultrasound

Dolphins and pilot whales can even find their way in murky and dark waters thanks to their natural echo sounder. Submarines also use ultrasound technology for locating purposes. Ultrasound sensors can calculate distances, even to transparent materials and underwater. The BionicFinWave uses these characteristics to its benefit. Thanks to ultrasound sensors, the bionic underwater robot swims collision-free through a pipe system made of acrylic glass.

Bionics

Taking a close look at wings in nature

The dream of being able to fly is one of the oldest human dreams. We have always been fascinated by the animal world, which shows in all sorts of ways how flying is done. In the Bionic Learning Network, too, flying is a recurring theme. For years, Festo, in association with universities, institutes and development companies, has been developing research platforms whose basic technical principles are based on nature.