We'd explain this thing, but we're really having trouble taking our eyes off of it long enough to string some full sentences together. Suffice it to say Festo's AirJelly is powered by some magical jelly fish properties, a lithium-ion battery, an electric motor and a bit of helium. If that's not floaty enough for you, there's also a water version, AquaJelly. Videos of both are after the break.
It doesn't necessarily have to have a direct Real World Application. considering all the crap that we make that is unnecessary (ie. Hello Kitty laptops, Windows - Millenium Edition, et cetera), these make themselves worthwhile by the simple reality of being interesting.
I think the underwater version being able to have some Real World Application, even if they simply swim around tourist areas to entertain people.
Real world use? Here's one. If I end up with owning a huge company with a large atrium like that, I will fill it with a family of these things. They will be autonomous, entertain customers and double as a security force when I put freakin' lasers on them.
Reminds me a little bit of the Microdrones (http://www.microdrones.com/) that were making the rounds on the internet recently. Although this is admittedly cooler, given that 1. it's a jellyfish and 2. the concept of using helium in a microdrone-like design is quite novel. Not quite as useful for surveillance purposes as a Microdrone, but still quite a feat of engineering. Thumbs up.
It's not pointless. Look how nice adverts would look on that thing. Paint it red, a few white stripes, and Coke all over the place. Or get like 50, all different colours, and you make a rainbow! Ah, how very fun.
this completely squanders helium, which is running out, uses petroleum based plastics and serves no useful purpose. Sustainable, not. There is no sensible reason to replicate them.
Like Ethana2 said, a "Von Neumann air jellie". Just paint the tops silver... I can see the headlines in the year 2050 "Von Neumann air jellies save earth from global warming!! New ice age to begin in 30 min."
Errr... how do we get rid of them when there work is done. Hmmm. they are elctronic in nature maybe an EMP would wipe them out. But there's so many of them we'd need a realy beg EMP. Oh yea! We still have some of those old nuke's laying around from the dark ages of the cold war. Those would work!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
austin @ Apr 28th 2008 5:50PM
baller.
Stem $ell @ Apr 28th 2008 10:01PM
I think now it's pretty clear what the 'over' in 'overlord' is hinting at...
OneLove @ Apr 29th 2008 11:28AM
KYJelly!
Adam @ Apr 28th 2008 5:51PM
"Hi, is this the XYZ business? Can I please borrow your atrium to test-fly by giant jellyfish?"
adam @ Apr 28th 2008 7:45PM
xyz: yes you can use our atrium, but the air conditioning creates a wind speed of .5 mph inside the building.
abc: that might be an issue...
Low Ranked @ Apr 28th 2008 5:53PM
This is so very useful.
Jordan @ Apr 28th 2008 6:22PM
This is so very awesome.
Ian @ Apr 28th 2008 5:54PM
ummm wow that is crazy!
Dan Davis @ Apr 28th 2008 5:56PM
Mmmm, calamari...
David @ Apr 28th 2008 11:18PM
uh squid?
philly @ Apr 28th 2008 5:56PM
lets see spongebob catch that thing!!
Tarek Ajam @ Apr 28th 2008 5:57PM
wow
JMBridger @ Apr 28th 2008 5:58PM
Cool
Totalfixation @ Apr 28th 2008 6:01PM
Its probably filled with helium, after a while it will wear out and will likely not be able to float. I don't see any real world use for this.
Seoultrain @ Apr 28th 2008 6:07PM
Making a video and uploading it to youtube qualifies as a real-world use to me.
Low Ranked @ Apr 28th 2008 6:19PM
"..a lithium-ion battery, an electric motor and a bit of helium."
Ian @ Apr 28th 2008 6:24PM
isnt it possible to make something that doesnt let the helium atom out? so wouldnt that make it so the helium would stay inside of it forever?
macona @ Apr 28th 2008 6:37PM
Polyester (The plastic in mylar, mylar being metalized polyester) is pretty impermeable to helium.
Asha @ Apr 28th 2008 6:41PM
It doesn't necessarily have to have a direct Real World Application. considering all the crap that we make that is unnecessary (ie. Hello Kitty laptops, Windows - Millenium Edition, et cetera), these make themselves worthwhile by the simple reality of being interesting.
I think the underwater version being able to have some Real World Application, even if they simply swim around tourist areas to entertain people.
gt2378b @ Apr 28th 2008 9:38PM
Totalfixation is just bitter because he doesn't have a flying robot jellyfish.
Tomahawk @ Apr 28th 2008 10:27PM
@Asha - Don't forget Vista
sip @ Apr 29th 2008 3:14AM
Real world use? Here's one. If I end up with owning a huge company with a large atrium like that, I will fill it with a family of these things. They will be autonomous, entertain customers and double as a security force when I put freakin' lasers on them.
Ethan @ Apr 29th 2008 6:23AM
I agree. Carrying humans would make it useful.
Blackstar @ Apr 29th 2008 8:30AM
I think dropping humans from a great height would be even more useful.
mongchacha @ Apr 30th 2008 11:16AM
congratulations on the dumbest comment of this entry! :D
john @ Apr 28th 2008 6:01PM
wow...when can i buy one....i wanna use it to commute to work.. :)
McFly @ Apr 28th 2008 7:45PM
i'll second that
PenisBoy @ Apr 28th 2008 6:02PM
Reminds me a little bit of the Microdrones (http://www.microdrones.com/) that were making the rounds on the internet recently. Although this is admittedly cooler, given that 1. it's a jellyfish and 2. the concept of using helium in a microdrone-like design is quite novel. Not quite as useful for surveillance purposes as a Microdrone, but still quite a feat of engineering. Thumbs up.
Allen @ Apr 28th 2008 6:06PM
My god. Its completely useless, but awe inspiring all the same. This is the kind of stuff that,well, inspires people to get into engineering.
And I want one! Pointless crap that it is, I want one!
cough @ Apr 28th 2008 6:19PM
It's not pointless. Look how nice adverts would look on that thing. Paint it red, a few white stripes, and Coke all over the place.
Or get like 50, all different colours, and you make a rainbow! Ah, how very fun.
Jordan @ Apr 28th 2008 6:24PM
Aesthetics are not without use.
Todd @ Apr 28th 2008 6:07PM
Are Half Life Striders the AirJelly's inspiration? Or inevitable evolution?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=mrxCOMofhUU
Dan Davis @ Apr 28th 2008 6:19PM
Trouble Bubbles!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZF4DV7K7NQo
Mike @ Apr 28th 2008 6:28PM
I think maybe the inspiration was a jellyfish. I just get the feeling that's what they were going after....
Bohemian @ Apr 28th 2008 7:35PM
Try Dark Crystal Landstriders http://youtube.com/watch?v=-DBkjvXHgj4
fireball87 @ Apr 28th 2008 6:12PM
AirJelly... tastes like real jelly.
John @ Apr 28th 2008 6:26PM
All of the great flavor, none of the calories.
ethana2 @ Apr 28th 2008 7:38PM
It's a bit... crunchy.
Fly Straight @ Apr 28th 2008 6:15PM
Wow that is SO neato!
Now as long as all you want to do it go up straight you're all set!
What!!!?
You want to come DOWN!?
You want to...to...to...to TURN!?
Sheesh.
Brad @ Apr 28th 2008 6:41PM
Use your eyes and look at the video. Does it look to you like it doesn't move left and right? Is it impossible to land? (end of video)
Woolover Youreyes @ Apr 28th 2008 7:38PM
Lol!
Yes, those damn air conditioner ducts do tend to blow air around, huh?
There's a reason the "demo" was done indoors, ya know.
And why the demo did not include a takeoff, cruise, landing uncut.
ethana2 @ Apr 28th 2008 7:38PM
Turning is actually one of the cooler looking things it could do.. Just angle the fins, and watch it rotate...
Can you say 'awesome desktop background animation'?
Mike10010100 @ Apr 28th 2008 9:06PM
All i have to say is, Hot Air Balloon.
It has the same problems as this, not being able to turn, but they're still around and they led to other interesting inventions.
Trond @ Apr 28th 2008 6:29PM
Give them solar panels and let them populate the skies and seas!
ethana2 @ Apr 28th 2008 7:29PM
Von Neumann air jellies?! HECK YES.
..they have to be able to collect building materials though, and that may not be easy..
Ayman @ Apr 28th 2008 7:36PM
yes i can see that......
Pilot 1 :"Hey Bob look at that cloud..."
Pilot 2 : "THATS NO CLOUD... ITS KILLER AIRJELLY........"
ScooterDe @ Apr 29th 2008 2:27AM
this completely squanders helium, which is running out, uses petroleum based plastics and serves no useful purpose. Sustainable, not. There is no sensible reason to replicate them.
Caleb @ Apr 29th 2008 10:45AM
Like Ethana2 said, a "Von Neumann air jellie". Just paint the tops silver... I can see the headlines in the year 2050 "Von Neumann air jellies save earth from global warming!! New ice age to begin in 30 min."
Errr... how do we get rid of them when there work is done. Hmmm. they are elctronic in nature maybe an EMP would wipe them out. But there's so many of them we'd need a realy beg EMP. Oh yea! We still have some of those old nuke's laying around from the dark ages of the cold war. Those would work!
HunterXI @ Apr 28th 2008 6:40PM
Y'know, a dirigible UAV would probably be a better design than the helicopter-style ones they're making today. Well, unless someone shoots it down.
Still, if this thing could carry solar panels, like Trond mentioned... fill a city and see what happens :)
Stallone @ Apr 28th 2008 6:53PM
Add a deathray and hook it up to skynet!
I keep thinking this is how the sentinels from the matrix might've started off as...