Published each fall, the annual Guinness Book of Records has sold more than 130 million copies to date, making it one of the best-selling publications in history. For a while now, it has included a chapter dedicated to records in the world of robots and artificial intelligence. Newly awarded this year is the title of largest flying robotic insect, which goes to BionicOpter, developed by automation and bionics specialist FESTO - making this ultra-light dragonfly replica a brand-new official world record holder! "It's fascinating how much we can learn from nature. Curiosity and a burning desire for innovation drive us to keep on experimenting with new inventions. We are delighted to have made it into the Guinness Book of Records - it's fantastic to be recognized in this way," says Karoline von Häfen, head of corporate bionic projects.

Five years on from its official launch, BionicOpter has the same astonishing acrobatic skills as its natural role model, making it capable of performing the most complex maneuvers. The ability to move all four wings independently enables the robotic insect to abruptly chop and change direction, accelerate at great speed and even fly backward. This makes BionicOpter the first model aircraft to command all kinds of flight performed by helicopters, airplanes and even gliders. Despite its entire range of extremely complex flight patterns, the highly integrated system is designed to be easy and intuitive to operate via smartphone.

FESTO AG & Co. KG (73734 Esslingen, Germany)
Website: www.festo.com