JELLY robots

In an effort to improve the bionic technology,   Festo's Bionic Learning Network has produced several robots concepts. Two of these robots are AquaJelly and AirJelly. 

The structure and kinematics of these projects are based on their biological model: the jellyfish.The results are rather elegant. Festo Jellyfish are fluid and graceful.AquaJelly is an artificial autonomous jellyfish with an electrical conductor and a mechanical system adaptive and intelligent. AquaJelly is formed of a translucent hemisphere and eight tentacles used for propulsion.

AquaJelly is capable of controlling its energy reserves by means of communication between the AquaJelly and its charging station. Whenever the AquaJelly went to a charger located in the basin of water, it is   recharged by electricity. It can also communicate with other robotjellies and with the charger using a short wave radio called ZigBee.The primary means of communication under water is, however light. The AquaJelly has 11 diodes emitting infrared light with which it can communicate over distances of about 80cm. The emitted infrared signals are sent in an almost spherical structure around the AquaJelly. Receiving a position signal of a jellyfish that approach, AquaJelly can develop a plan to avoid obstacles. In addition to environment sensors, the AquaJelly also has internal sensors that monitor its energy level and a pressure sensor that allows it to determine its depth in the basin with an accuracy of few millimeters.

Each jellyfish decides autonomously which action carried out in the basin. If many AquaJellies were equipped with such communication skills, they could act as a swarm with the behavior of a system much more developed.   If someone applied this principle of automatic, so many intelligent autonomous or semi-autonomous to be able to work together.Instead of swimming in water as AquaJelly the AirJelly floats in the air. The AirJelly, Remote, is held in the air with balloons filled with helium.Its 2 servomotors are located in the "north pole" of the jellyfish and controlled proportionally. If the pendulum leans in one direction, the center of gravity of the AirJelly then moves in that direction. The AirJelly is then able to float in all directions.

We hope to be able to discover the applications associated with these "RobotJellies".