Page 27 - Summer 2024

INTRODUCING

THE BIONIC BEE

Why join the Institution of Electronics?

• Corporate Members become • Members are invited to “Coffee
Festo’s Bionic Learning Network, which for over The autonomous behaviour of the bee swarm people of letters, able to display and Chat”, our regular virtual
fifteen years has been conducting research is maintained using an indoor locating system
post nominal letters, being a useful opportunity to chat with one
into the science behind flying objects, has with ultra-wideband (UWB) technology. Eight
announced for the first time the creation of UWB anchors are installed on two levels enabling accreditation to show employers another, regarding issues currently
an object that can fly in large numbers and an accurate time measurement such that the and others they are recognised for affecting them and “Networking”
completely autonomously in a swarm. bees can locate themselves in the space. These
their achievements. with like-minded, experienced,
anchors send signals to the individual bees which
Presented at Hannover Messe 2024, the BionicBee can then measure the distances independently people.
weighs 34 grams, is 220 millimetres long and has to the respective transmitting elements and • The Institution of Electronics is one
a wingspan of 240 millimetres. calculate their own position using the time of the oldest Institutions specifically • Members can provide copy for
stamps.
for electronics engineers both inclusion in Electron.
For the first time, the developers used the professional and amateur.
technique of regenerative design, that is entering For the swarming the bees follow paths • Student members can enter the
a set of parameters into a software application determined by a central computer that
that uses defined design principles to establish maintains collision-free flight through high • Members receive a copy of Electron National Electronics Competition.
the optimal structure - one that uses the least spatial and temporal accuracy, including published quarterly.
material possible while maintaining the most possible interaction through air turbulence, a
stable possible construction. phenomenon known as ‘downwash’.
• Members have access to historic
publications on electronics.
The body of the bee forms the compact An automatic calibration function is incorporated
housing for the beating wing mechanism, the to allow for the fact that each bee is hand
communication technology and the control assembled, meaning that even the smallest • Members can request on
components for the wing beats and adaptation manufacturing differences can affect flight email address in the form
of wing geometry. A brushless motor, three behaviour. you@institutionofelectronics.ac.uk
servo-motors, a battery, gear unit and various
PCBs are enclosed within this tight space. The In testing each bee determines its individually
intelligent interaction between the motors and optimised controller parameters, with an
the mechanics enables the frequency of the intelligent algorithm being deployed to calculate
wing beats to be adjusted precisely for various the hardware differences between the bees and
movements. Thus, if the bee is flying forward so allow the whole swarm to be controlled as if
the geometry will be made such that the lift in each bee were identical.
the rear wing position is greater than that in the
forward position so as to cause pitch. Similarly, Reference: ‘Autonomous Flying in a Swarm’, MEPCA Magazine, June
if the geometry is adjusted such that one wing 2024, p.46 Become a
generates more lift than the other, roll is created
enabling the bee to fly off to one side. member today...

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