Technophiles from all over the world are currently flocking to Lower Saxony’s capital. Festo AG presents a joint project involving Ulm University engineers at Hannover Messe (Hall 15, Stand D07): “robotic ants” that communicate with each other, enabling them to organise the transport of loads such as food. The sophisticated cybernetics underlying the BionicANTs is showcased by the automation specialist and Ulm researchers, enabling lessons to be drawn for applications in the context of Industry 4.0.In the home, all kinds of methods are applied to get rid of them, but outdoors we find them fascinating: ant trails, often hundreds strong, with ants transporting food to the anthill, perfectly attuned to each other. Equally well coordinated are the autonomous “robotic ants” (“BionicANTs”) that researchers from Festo AG are presenting at Hannover Messe in cooperation with Ulm University. Whereas their natural role models use scent marks, contact or vibrations to coordinate the transport of loads, bionic ants put their trust in technology from Ulm. The greatest cybernetic challenge for Prof Knut Graichen and his staff member Diplom-Ingenieur Sebastian Hentzelt was mutually linking several ants, which have to watch out for each other when carrying loads. “Our distributed control architecture is based on a so-called multi-agent approach where bionic ants continuously exchange information with each other. This way, they can carry loads to their destination together,” explains Graichen. All of the BionicANTs share the work equally, meaning that the number of ‘creatures’ can be changed arbitrarily. Nature as a role modelThe artificial ants were engineered by Festo AG in collaboration with biologists. In other words, their “design” resembles the natural role model, although the creatures are nearly 14 centimetres long. They consist of laser-sintered components with electronic circuits attached on the surface. Both legs and gripping jaws can be controlled quickly and precisely using piezoelectric bending actuators; orientation is achieved using 3D cameras located in the ants’ eyes, and an optical sensor. Incidentally, the BionicANTs constantly communicate with each other – a crucial element in cybernetics – via radio modules located in the torso. The ants are also capable of self-recharging via their feelers.There is certainly justification for the bionic ants, undoubtedly one of the most unusual exhibits, at the industrial fair: “We and Festo, the automation technology specialist, use the artificial insects to explore cooperative behaviour in distributed automation. This is an important issue, and not only in the context of Industry 4.0,” explains Graichen. In cooperation with Ulm researchers, Festo also exhibited a bionic kangaroo at last year’s Hannover Messe. These technological showpieces emerged from the “Bionic Learning Network”. Within this network, Festo AG cooperates with partners from science to learn from nature and to transfer the knowledge gained to technical applications.The keynote theme of this year’s Hannover Messe (13-17 April) is “Integrated Industry – Join the Network”. Ulm University is represented at the show with two more exhibits: researchers are showcasing corrosion protection with “self-healing properties” at the Baden-Württemberg International exhibition stand (Hall 2, Stand A18), as well as a novel pump that releases fluid without pulsation for use in hospital and lab settings.Hannover Messe is still considered to be the world’s biggest industrial fair. This year’s partner country is India.
Videoclip BionicANTs (Festo AG)