Jellyfish Robots
What is it with watches and robots these days? I mean not a single day goes by without seeing some new watch model or gizmo robot. I figured you’ve seen enough watch concepts and turned my attention towards an interesting robotic design.
Festo is a company known for it Air Ray concept – an inflatable R/C controlled Manta Ray that flies around flapping its fins. The guys from Festo have recently developed yet another ocean-inspired robot – the mechanized jellyfish. In fact, they have developed two versions: the AquaJelly and the AirJelly. Festo claims that the AquaJelly is "an artificial autonomous jellyfish with an electric drive and an intelligent, adaptive mechanical system." The interesting part is that several of these robots can autonomously work together using a communication system comprised of Zigbee short-range radio on the surface and LEDs when underwater.
AirJelly takes on a different approach. This is a remote controlled device that can glide through the air using a helium-filled ballonet, a central electric drive and an intelligent, adaptive mechanical system.
In addition, AquaJelly is already prepared for an aquatic project involving the study of real-life jellyfish. I don’t know how practical these robots can get, but they sure are interesting to watch in action. Here’s the AirJelly in all its glory.
