Name: AquaPenguins
Brand: Festo Bionic Learning Network, Germany

Festo Bionic Learning Network, Germany AquaPenguins (1)

Not soldCorporate technology demonstrator

Not for sale (research)Not programmableFesto bionicsWing drive3D sonarFin Ray hull

Not soldShipping: Not sold. Trade-show demonstrator; Festo does not sell it.

Remote control: Not possible. Autonomous exhibition demonstrator with no public interface.

Festo: AquaPenguins ↗

Overview

Festo's AquaPenguins copied the streamlined body of penguins and navigate autonomously in a group, using a 3D sonar system and a pressure sensor. The hull extends Festo's Fin Ray structure into three dimensions for the first time, which Festo pitched as a flexible parallel-kinematic idea for automation. They were shown swimming in a pool at the Hannover Messe in April 2009.

Specifications

Category	Swimming robots · Robot fish & biomimetic swimmers
Released	2009
Availability	Not for sale (research)
Programmability	No programmability
Best for	Professionals & labs
Vision sensors	Sonar / ultrasonic
Actuators	Unknown
Audio	No audio
Compute type	Proprietary / undisclosed
Remote control	Not programmable
Size	0.77 m long, 0.19 m max torso diameter, 9.6 kg in air
Propulsion	Flapping wing drives plus a flexible Fin Ray structure in the hull; can turn on the spot and swim backwards
Depth rating	Tank use (not published)
Tether / comms	Untethered (autonomous)
Camera	None
Sensors	3D sonar using broadband ultrasound (dolphin-style) for position and collision avoidance; separate pressure sensor for depth
Runtime	6–7 h
Speed	Up to 5 km/h (2.7 kn)
Compute	Onboard controller (not published)
SDK	None public