FESTO’S BIONIC ANTS MIMIC REAL ANTS’ TEAMWORK

Ants Make Individual Decisions That Contribute to Common Goal

German engineering firm Festo has captured the imagination of many with its cooperative hand-sized bionic ants. The robotic insects mimic real ant behavior by making autonomous decisions that contribute to common goals. Ants employ cooperative strategies, sometimes involving huge numbers of individuals, to accomplish complex tasks that they couldn’t normally complete on their own, such as moving large objects like they do in the video below. The bionic ants communicate wirelessly and each one is equipped with a stereo camera in their head that helps them ascertain their location and detect objects.

The robots plastic body is 3D printed with electronic circuits superimposed on top via a machine. Interestingly, the ants’ legs and grippers are constructed from ceramic actuators that can flex quickly and accurately, consuming little energy. Although these robots may appear like sophisticated toys, they are in fact part of a wider project that envisages a future where intelligent robotic agents cooperate together on the factory floor.

The bionic ants will be on show later this month at Hannover Messe, from 13 to 17 April. The DirectIndustry team will also be present at the trade show and will bring you further updates on the ants and all the other fascinating technologies that will on view, so stay tuned!