Name: Festo BionicOpter
Brand: Festo Bionic Learning Network (Germany)

Festo Bionic Learning Network (Germany) Festo BionicOpter (1)

Festo Bionic Learning Network (Germany) Festo BionicOpter (2)

Not soldResearch demonstrator; never offered for sale.

Not for sale (research)Not programmableRobotic dragonfly4 independent wingsHover + glide

Not soldShipping: Not sold. Never sold.

Remote control: Not possible. A Festo demonstrator with no public interface.

German Wikipedia ↗Festo ↗

Overview

Shown by Festo in 2013, BionicOpter reproduces dragonfly flight with four wings whose frequency, amplitude and twist are each adjusted in flight, letting it hover, fly in any direction and glide. The on-board controller handles the stabilization so a pilot only steers. Like the rest of Festo's Bionic Learning Network projects, it served as a technology showcase rather than a product.

Specifications

Category	Flapping-wing fliers · Flapping-wing robots
Released	2013
Availability	Not for sale (research)
Programmability	No programmability
Best for	Professionals & labs
Vision sensors	No vision sensors
Actuators	Mixed
Audio	No audio
Compute type	Arduino / ESP32 / microcontroller
Remote control	Not programmable
Size	44 cm body, 63 cm wingspan, 175 g
Locomotion	Four independently controlled flapping wings (15–20 Hz); 13 degrees of freedom; brushless motor plus 8 servos
Compute	ARM microcontroller (on board)
Camera	None
Sensors	Inertial, acceleration and attitude sensors
Runtime	Not published (2-cell 7.6 V LiPo, 23 W)
Speed	Not published
SDK	None public; flown by smartphone or a Spektrum-type RC transmitter