Festo free motion handling is an autonomous flying gripping sphere. This indoor flying object can fly in any direction. It is capable of picking up and dropping off objects when required. The sphere consists of an ultra-light carbon ring with adaptive propellers. The gripping element is located at the center of the sphere. This technology is aimed to support humans working in hard to access areas. It can serve to serve as airborne assistance system for folks working at height.
It floats around like it has no weight and contains transparent sphere that is hull shaped. It is powered by eight adaptive rotors mounted on a carbon ring that allows for precise and yet fluid movement through an indoor environment. The sphere, on the other hand, is filled with helium with an integrated, high-tech gripping device.
It is pilot-less and leverages on indoor GPS to maneuver around, while a pair of onboard cameras aid in executing the gripping process and respond contextually to them with respect to its surrounding.
The cameras are also used for path planning, as well as object recognition so it knows exactly what it is handling. With the ultra-light Free Motion Handling indoor flying object, Festo has combined gripping and flying in a single future concept for the very first time.
