Three eMotionButterflies flying, dark background

Close up view of the eMotionButterflies and its electronics

Image/s credit: FESTO.

eMotionButterflies - Butterfly Ballet in the Digital Age

company logo for FESTO FESTO

Country: Germany

Year: 2015

– Summary
– Whimsical Intro
– Videos
– Learn More
– Brief History
– Top 5+ Qualities
– Technical Specs
– Comment by addoobot
– References
– Rating & Comments

Summary

These winged wonders, FESTO's eMotionButterflies, are engineered with elegance and ultralight design for coordinated and collective flight behavior.

Status: Research

Operation: Autonomous

Robot Type / Domain: Research

Tasks: Coordination and Collision-Avoidance in 3D, Transport, Inspection, ...

Whimsical Intro (by addoobot)

Our skies are often graced by the gentle flutter of butterfly wings, a marvel of nature that seems effortless yet is intricately complex. These delicate creatures dance through the air, weaving between branches and petals with agility and grace. But what if we could capture this elegance in machines? Imagine a world where robotics could mimic the lightness, precision, and autonomy of butterfly flight. Join us as we uncover the remarkable technology behind Festo’s eMotionButterflies—a glimpse into the future of agile, responsive robotics.

Learn More

Nature-Inspired Innovation Meets High-Tech Design

Festo’s eMotionButterflies showcase an impressive feat within the Bionic Learning Network, blending the delicate nuances of butterfly flight with sophisticated robotics. Each butterfly spans 500mm in wingspan and is constructed from carbon rods and a flexible capacitor film to keep the design as lightweight as possible. Weighing just 32 grams, these butterflies achieve both speed and stability, making them nimble enough to navigate complex spaces and small enough to do so with minimal energy use.

Seamless and Synchronized

The core piece of architecture that makes the eMotionButterflies work is a high-tech indoor GPS system that ensures synchronized and collision-free flight. A network of ten infrared cameras captures the butterflies’ exact positions at an impressive 160 frames per second, transmitting data to a central master computer that adjusts each butterfly’s flight path in real time. The computer processes 3.7 billion pixels per second, mapping each butterfly’s trajectory to within millimeters. There are two infrared LEDs on each butterfly that act as active markers to emit a signal that the cameras detect and use to distinguish the individual butterflies, even when they are moving close to one another. This GPS system’s responsiveness allows the eMotionButterflies to perform synchronized, autonomous maneuvers without risk of collision.

Worry-Free Wings for Autonomous Collision Avoidance

Festo has designed the eMotionButterflies as a concept system for navigating shared spaces safely and efficiently. To avoid collisions, the system gathers data from a network of 10 infrared cameras. The cameras update at 160 frames per second and are used to continually map and update the butterflies' position. The data is fed through a central computer to calculate the optimal flight paths and reroute butterflies in real time. This eliminates the need for protective barriers or close monitoring to increase safety in collaborative environments, and as a result, the eMotionButterflies show how robots could one day move fluidly alongside humans, giving an insight into future production settings that demand high adaptability, real-time responsiveness and autonomous operation.

Mastering Minimal Design for Reduced Complexity

All aspects of the eMotionButterflies have been engineered for lightweight, high-performance flight. The core structure weighs only 32 grams, but inside the laser-sintered torso, there are essential electronics, servomotors, and an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). This minimal use of material not only keeps each butterfly incredibly light but also highlights Festo’s commitment to functional simplicity. The aim of these butterflies was to counter the complexity typically associated with high-tech robotics by using minimal materials to achieve a streamlined design without sacrificing sophistication.

The Engineering Behind Butterfly Flight

The wings of each eMotionButterfly are controlled by two miniaturized servomotors that adjust the wing beat frequency to between 1 - 2 Hz and adapt flight speeds to range from 1 - 2.5 m/s. Each wing is attached at a specialized “wing root” fixed to the servo to allow for precise movement and agility. The IMU works together with these motors to provide stable, responsive flight, while the lightweight carbon and capacitor film wings reduce drag. With a maximum flight time of 3 – 4 minutes and a rapid 15-minute recharge cycle, these butterflies demonstrate a balance of durability, precision, and energy efficiency.

DO NOT COPY

Brief History

Since the early 2000s, Festo Robotics has been pioneering the blend of biological inspiration with engineering to push the boundaries of what automation can achieve. In 2011, they launched the SmartBird, an incredibly lifelike robotic bird that mimicked the flight mechanics of seagulls, marking a breakthrough in flight-inspired robotics. This success set the stage for further advancements in airborne designs.

In 2015, Festo introduced the eMotionButterflies, a leap forward in precision, agility, and autonomy. These ultralight robotic butterflies, equipped with advanced indoor GPS, bring the elegance of butterfly flight to life, allowing for synchronized and collision-free movement in shared spaces. With the eMotionButterflies, Festo continues to showcase how robotics can echo nature’s beauty, illustrating their vision for adaptable, intelligent systems in the future of automation.

Top 5+ Qualities (by addoobot)

What we find to be the top qualities of eMotionButterfly by Festo:

Advanced GPS and Sensor Integration for Precision: Each butterfly is coordinated with a high-tech indoor GPS system for real-time adjustments and collision-free flight.
Ultralight, Aerodynamic Design for Agile Flight: With a 50 cm wingspan and a weight of just 32 grams, the butterfly design ensures minimal drag.
Compact, Energy-Efficient Power System: Each butterfly operates on a quick-recharge lithium battery, providing 3–4 minutes of continuous flight and requiring only 15 minutes to recharge.
Real-Time Flight Adjustment for Stability: The central master computer processes 3.7 billion pixels per second to monitor and adjust each butterfly's flight path for reliable operation, even in complex environments.
Lightweight Structure with High Durability: The lightweight, sturdy structure withstands repeated flight cycles, making these butterflies a robust choice for exploring agile, lightweight design in robotics.
Efficient and Adaptive Collective Behavior: With pre-programmed flight patterns and adaptive navigation capabilities, the eMotionButterflies move autonomously within a shared space.

Technical Specifications

Size: 500W (mm)

Size: 19.685W (in)

Max. Payload: N/A

Weight: 0.03 kg

Weight: 0.066 lbs

Max. Altitude: N/A

Max. Horizontal Speed: 2.5 m/s

Max. Horizontal Speed: 8.202 ft/s

Max. Flight Time: 4 min

Max. Hovering Time: N/A

Max. Flight Distance: N/A

Battery Recharge Time: 15 hr(s)

Flying Type: Wings

Manipulation: none

IP Rating: N/A

Operating Temperature: N/A

Max. Title Angle: N/A

Max. Wind Speed Resistance: N/A

Open-source? N/A

Price: N/A

Show more specs

Analysed Pixels: 3.7 Billion Pixels per Second

Wing Beat Frequency: Approx. 1–2 Hz

Sensors: 10 Infrared Cameras - Frame rate: 160 images per second; Exposure time: 50 μs, 1 inertial sensor (inertial measurement unit, IMU) MPU-9150 with gyroscope, accelerometer and compass, 2 radio modules, 2 infrared LEDs

Controller & Computing: 1 Central Master Computer; 1 ATxmega32E5 Microcontroller, 1 ATmega328 Microcontroller,

Actuators: 2 Servo Motors

Battery: 2 LiPo cells 7.4 V 90 mAh

No more specs to show.

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Comment by addoobot - Our Perspective

We believe the eMotionButterflies are more than just robotic butterflies—they’re a glimpse into a new era of technology inspired by nature. By mimicking the delicate flight of real butterflies, they open up exciting possibilities for autonomous, coordinated movement in robotics. Imagine the potential applications in industries requiring precision, agility, and safe human-robot interaction. How far could this innovation take us, and what might it mean for future robotics? Only time will tell, but the possibilities are as vast as they are inspiring. What do you think of these remarkable robotic butterflies? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

addoorable score:

9.40/10

The eMotionButterflies don’t just fly like real butterflies; they look stunning while doing it. Their elegant, lightweight frames and gracefully moving wings capture the ethereal beauty of nature, all while showcasing cutting-edge engineering.

References

FESTO's eMotionButterflies

Explore and learn about Festo's Bionic Learning Network

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