We've seen some impressive nature-inspired flying bots from the creative minds at Festo's Bionic Learning Network over the years, but the autonomous B

Robot bee swarms fly collision-free in close formation

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2024-04-30 12:30:05

We've seen some impressive nature-inspired flying bots from the creative minds at Festo's Bionic Learning Network over the years, but the autonomous BionicBee is not only the smallest so far but also the first capable of swarming.

Around about this time every year, Festo heads to Hannover Messe to share its latest automation developments and innovations at the "world's leading industrial technology trade show." If we're lucky, the company also has some fun new bots to demonstrate that take design cues from nature.

We've previously been enthralled by majestic flying penguins, a hoptastic kangaroo, huge dragonflies, an ultralight herring gull, a flying fox, a pipe-inspecting cuttlefish, cooperative worker ants and gorgeous butterflies that flutter around without crashing into each other. And now we have a swarm of robo-bees.

Even though the BionicBee is Festo's smallest flying robot, you still wouldn't want one or more buzzing around you at a picnic as each measures 220 mm (8.6 in) in length, has a wingspan of 240 mm (9.5 in) and weighs in at 34 g (1.2 oz) – though the insectoid flyer does at least lack a sting in its tail.