Festo, a company that supplies pneumatic and electrical automation technology to 300,000 customers of factory and process automation in over 40 industries all across the globe, gave a strong showing at the AllPack 2017 exhibition, held from November 1-4, at JI Expo Kemayoran in Jakarta.
While there were numerous technologies and innovations demonstrated at Festo’s booth, the star of the show was BionicOpter and AirJelly, two technologies that showcases Festo’s vision of the future.
“This is essential for our long-term reputation as a competent partner with a high level of problem-solving skills,” emphasises Dr.-Ing. Heinrich Frontzek, Head of Corporate Communication and Future Concepts. “What we need to do is simplify the challenges involved in production sequences and guarantee intuitive control of machines and plants. The projects from Festo’s Bionic Learning Network provide visonary approaches on how to do this,” Mr. Frontzek added.
After bird flight had been deciphered with the SmartBird in 2011, the developers took on their next-biggest challenge: modelling the dragonfly at a technical level. The BionicOpter is an ultralight flying object. Just like its model in nature, the BionicOpter can fly in all directions and execute the most complicated flight manoeuvres. The principles of ultra-lightweight construction are applied throughout the flying object. With a wingspan of 63cm and a body length of 44cm, the model dragonfly weighs just 175 grams. The wings consist of a carbon-fibre frame and a thin foil covering. The intelligent kinematics correct any vibrations during flight and ensure flight stability.
Meanwhile, Air is the element of the AirJelly. Rather than swimming through water like the AquaJelly, it glides through the air with the aid of its central electric drive and an intelligent, adaptive mechanical system. The remote-controlled AirJelly is kept in the air by its helium-filled ballonet. The AirJelly’s only energy source is the two lithium-ion-polymer batteries, to which the central electric drive is attached. This transmits its power to a bevel gear and then to eight spur gears, which drive the eight tentacles of the jellyfish via their respective cranks. Using a peristaltic movement to drive a balloon was previously unknown in the history of aviation. The AirJelly is the first indoor flying object to use such a peristaltic propulsion system.
“This is where we demonstrate that, by learning from nature, we will be ready to apply more and more energy efficient, automation, solution for the industry,“ said Hartono Indra, Managing Director of PT Festo in Indonesia.
Aside from the BionicOpter and AirJelly, Festo also demonstrated various other products such as the pneumatic proportional media valve VZQ, The stainless-steel cylinder CRDSNU, the electric cylinder ESBF in Clean Look, and The Clean Design valve terminal MPA-C, all of which offers specific solutions for industries.
“It’s good to be here,“ Mr. Indra concluded. “To get together with the customers and also to introduce our new products, concept, spirit, passion. Festo, as a German company, is known for the quality. But we want to highlight that we don’t just bring quality, we also bring innovation. In terms of the product design that will be energy efficient, more simple mechanics, not only on the technical side, but also the control aspect with industry 4.0. So we are ready. We will grow with the industry and, with the innovation that we bring, we are ready to support [the industry].“