UNIT 4- BIOINSPIRED DESIGNS

Businesses throughout the world are looking to nature for ideas when creating new goods;
this is a trend that is indicative of the bio-innovation industry's explosive expansion. Product
creation has benefited greatly from the so-called "biomimicry," or the mimicking of ancient
biological and ecological patterns and principles. Biomimetics or biomimicry is the
emulation of the models, systems, and elements of nature for the purpose of solving
complex human problems In too distant future, technology will not only mimic nature but
also stand side by side. ‘Bio’ in future will serve as an additional descriptor for human
creativity. Such creativity has to create more customer-friendly novel products keeping the
mind environmentally suitable may be made according to the trend of bio-inspiration. Days
are not far to witness the level of creativity beyond our wild imagination. Businesses are
learning more about and figuring out how the biological systems operating at the moment
may invent the wildest and crazy bio-inspired products. Nowadays customers are more
mindful and conscious of the environment, and paying attention to innovation for
sustainability. The evolution is not exactly to produce better products, but products fit
according to nature for a sustainable world. Given this backdrop of nature-inspired revolution,
examination is required especially how industry, technology, and the environment are related
to one another.
 Human Eye and Camera
Human Eye and a camera have many similarities that allow both to capture daily life
moments, though in different ways. While the human eye is a sensitive sense organ, a camera
appears to be a robotic eye with a cornea-like lens and retina-like film. Both aim to focus on
the image that is real and inverted.
Differences between the Human Eye and Camera

Differences based on Human eye Camera

Human eye is a visual

Camera is a optical equipment
Type organ that consists of
used to record the image.
living cells.

Human eye uses live cells Camera uses a diaphragm to

Image capture
to detect light and objects. detect and capture the image.

​ Human eye sees the Camera visualizes the object in 2

Image visualization
object in 3 dimensions. dimensions.

Pupil controls the focus in The lens controls the focus in the
Control of focus
the human eye. camera.

The blind spot is present in A blind spot is absent in the

Blind spot
the human eye. human eye.

An object is focused by An object is focused by changing

Focusing of object changing the focal length the distance between the lens and
of the eye lens. the film.

Image cannot be recorded The image can be recorded by the

Recording of image
by human eye. camera.

The focal length of the

convex lens can be The focal length of the convex
Focal length
changed by the action of lens can be fixed
the ciliary muscle.
Human Eye
The human eye is a spherical ball with a diameter of approximately 2.3 cm. The outer
covering of the eye is called the sclera. Light enters the eye through the cornea, which forms
a transparent bulge on the front surface of the eyeball. The function of the cornea is to refract
the light rays entering the eye and to adjust the focal length. Behind the cornea, there is a
muscular diaphragm that controls the size of the pupil, known as the iris. The amount of light
entering the eye is regulated by the pupil. The retina consists of a large number of light-
sensitive cells that get activated upon illumination and generate electric signals. The optic
nerve sends these signals to the brain, which interprets and processes the information so that
we perceive the objects the way they are. The eye lens forms the real and inverted image on
the retina. Optic nerves are of two types:
 Cones: These cells are more sensitive to bright light. They help in central and color
vision.
 Rods: These cells are more sensitive to dim light. They help in peripheral vision.
Camera
A camera is an optical device that is used to capture the image. It is a closed box with a small
opening called an aperture through which the light passes. It captures an image on
photographic film. The lens focuses the light, and the shutter adjusts the amount of light
entering the camera.
 Kingfisher and Bullet train

 Japan is well known for the efficiency and speed of its train system, the Shinkansen, and
its 700 series design was directly inspired by the kingfisher.
 The highest-speed Japanese trains can reach 375 mph (603 km/h). This high speed is a
problem when a train passes through a tunnel where the compressed air pressure causes a
big ‘boom’ sound. This was due to changes in air resistance when the trains entered
tunnels creating low-frequency atmospheric pressure waves. To address this problem,
engineers examined the kingfisher, a bird that hunts by diving beak first at speeds of up
to 25 mph but makes almost no sound when entering the water.
 Engineers scratched their heads to find a solution. Slowing down the trains or avoiding
tunnels was not an option, but, as it turned out, nature might have already solved their
dilemma. Over millions of years, nature has tried out many different ways for animals
to use their bodies to solve problems. The bird’s wing, the human eye, and the plant’s
leaf are all examples of life “finding a way.”
 And, in the case of the “tunnel boom,” nature was, once again, leagues ahead of human
beings. Enter the mighty kingfisher. A small fish-eating bird, the kingfisher hunts its
prey by turning itself into a high-speed fishing spear. From a raised perch, this little
bird can leap, fall, and penetrate a water body at whim to catch its prey entirely by
surprise with little or no splashing.
 By studying the bird in detail, one Japanese bird-watching engineer, Eiji Nakatsu,
modified the trains to give them their characteristically shaped noses. And, incredibly,
it worked. After the changes were made, the Shinkansen’s “tunnel boom” problem
evaporated, enabling locals and tourists alike to enjoy the majestic beauty of Japan in
peace. It also had other benefits, such as reduced drag, improved fuel efficiency, and
increased speed.
 And all thanks to a little bird. Nature, it turns out, might be the greatest engineer of all
time!
 Bird and Aircraft
 For over a thousand years, man has wanted to fly and to move from one point to another.
 Flying is the fastest mode of transportation, and people can move from city to city to
country to country to carry out their business.
 Before the invention of airplanes, people relied on ships that would require many days on
the voyage. Airplanes made the travel faster and more convenient to do business.
 Birds fly so effortlessly because of the adaptations that they have. Birds have streamlined
shapes so that when they are in flight the air can flow on their surface smoothly.
 Engineers used the shape of the birds as inspiration to model the planes. Most airplanes
have a streamlined shape so that they do not face air resistance when they are in motion.
 Birds have smooth and sometimes glossy surface. Birds groom their feathers with their
beaks to makes sure that their body is smooth as they fly. Airplanes also have polished
surfaces, and this prevents air resistance.
 Birds use a concept where they fly in a V shape when they are in a flock. This mode of
flying has enabled birds to travel greater distances. The V formation aids in collaboration,
because as each bird flies, it adds more energy to the group, and they can keep up many
miles in flight.
 The birds keep changing positions and rotate their place in the stack, and this helps them
go for long distances without tiring. Some researchers from Stanford University who
utilized this trait and concluded that if jets use the same trait, they can save on fuel. They
purported that if jets fly in a V-shape and alternate their positions, they would manage to
save their fuel up to 15%.

From Feathered Wings to Fixed Wings

 Birds possess a variety of wing shapes, each adapted for specific flight styles. This
diversity has served as a foundation for the development of different aircraft designs. For
instance, the sweeping and elongated wings of soaring birds like eagles and albatrosses
have influenced the design of gliders and long-range airplanes. These wing shapes
optimize lift and endurance, enabling airplanes to cover vast distances with minimal
effort.
 In contrast, the short and pointed wings of birds like falcons and hawks have inspired
fighter jet designs. These wings allow for quick maneuverability and high-speed flight,
 essential for aerial combat and evasive maneuvers. The avian example has guided
engineers in optimizing the balance between lift and agility, leading to advancements in
both military and commercial aviation.
Lifting like a Balloon
 While fixed-wing aircrafts took inspiration from bird wings, blimps and airships were
inspired by the concept of buoyancy observed in birds like the helium-filled bladder of
the swift, which enables it to remain airborne for extended periods. Early airships
incorporated the principle of buoyancy and utilized lightweight materials to achieve lift.
 Furthermore, the streamlined bodies of birds like penguins and cormorants diving into
the water have influenced the design of airships. These bird species are adapted for
minimizing water resistance, just as airships are designed to reduce air resistance. As a
result, airship designs prioritize aerodynamic shapes that enable smoother movement
through the air.
Rotary Wings
 Birds aren’t limited to gliding and soaring; they can also hover and fly in confined spaces.
This unique ability has inspired the development of helicopters and drones, which utilize
rotary wings for vertical takeoff and landing. The anatomy of birds, like hummingbirds,
with their rapid figure-eight-shaped wing beats and ability to hover in place as well as fly
backward and sideways, served as a model for achieving similar capabilities in
helicopters.
 Additionally, birds’ flexible wing movements, achieved through the articulation of their
wing joints, have guided the design of rotor systems in helicopters. Engineers have
replicated this adaptability to create rotor systems that can change angles and orientations
rapidly, allowing helicopters to maneuver in tight spaces and perform complex aerial
tasks.
Shark Skin and Swim Suits

 Sharks are relatively large mammals; they can swim up to 43 miles per hour in short
bursts. This speed comes from 3 billion years of evolution and natural selection, allowing
them to capture prey efficiently and achieve an image of dominance in the underwater
ecosystem.
 Though human places high value on speed for different reasons – convenience, efficiency,
and productivity – scientists are looking to this underwater powerhouse for inspiration
behind new designs and technology.
 Biomimicry is this process of studying and replicating systems in the natural world, and it
ranges from watching birds to achieve flight to imitating gecko feet to create adhesives.
 The science behind shark skin speed is simple: When an object is moving underwater,
water flowing at the surface of the object moves more slowly than water moving away
from that object.
 On smooth surfaces, this contrast of water speed surrounding the object causes the fast-
moving water to break up into many turbulent vortices, which slows down the overall
speed of an object moving underwater.
 Shark skin reduces this speed discrepancy, which in turn reduces turbulence, and allows
greater speed

 Under a microscope, shark skin is composed of many tiny, overlapping scales called
dermal denticles or “little skin teeth”. Each dermal denticle has microscopic grooves
running along it longitudinally, in alignment with water flow when the shark swims
forward.

 These little grooves speed up slower water by pulling faster water around the shark onto
the shark’s skin and mixes it with the slower water, bringing up the average speed of
water on the shark’s skin.
 Denticles also channel the flow of water and cut up sheets of water traveling over a
shark’s skin and breaking it up into smaller, less turbulent vortices.
 Ultimately, the dermal denticles on shark skin averages out the speed of water
surrounding it, causing less turbulence, so that the shark can glide through water at a
greater overall speed.
 The Lotus Leaf Effect

 The lotus effect is a self-cleaning mechanism that occurs when water droplets roll off a
lotus leaf's surface, taking dirt and other particles with them.
 This effect is due to the leaf's microscopic bumps and hairs, which prevent water from
sticking to the surface, and its waxy coating, which makes surface interactions less
favorable. The result is a super hydrophobic surface that repels water droplets and
reduces moisture penetration.
 The term "lotus effect" was first used in 1977 to describe this special characteristic of
lotus leaves. Dr. Wilhelm Barthlott, a German botanist, was one of the researchers who
studied this effect.
 They discovered that lotus petals have a unique structure with tiny wax-coated bumps,
creating a rough surface. When water comes into contact with this surface, it forms round
droplets that quickly roll off, taking away any dust or contaminants. This is why lotus
plants always look clean.
 The discovery of the lotus effect had a significant impact on the fields of surface
engineering and nanotechnology. It provided a natural inspiration for developing surfaces
that repel water, and researchers have been able to recreate this effect in various
applications.

 Scientists have used the lotus effect to create biomimetic materials that mimic the leaf's
structure:
 Clothing Waterproof and stain-resistant clothing can be made by treating fabric with
ultrahydrophobic technology.
 Metal Treatments can be applied to metal to prevent corrosion by keeping the surface dry.
Solar panels Self-cleaning solar panels could help combat climate change by requiring
less maintenance.
 Paints, tiles, and glass These materials can be made to reduce the amount of chemicals
used in cleaning, which is good for the environment.
 Electronics Coatings can be developed to waterproof smartphones and other electronics.
Infrastructures Superhydrophobic surfaces can reduce the penetration of moisture, which
can help prevent deterioration caused by steel corrosion, freezing and thawing, and other
mechanisms.
 This could reduce maintenance and rehabilitation costs, especially in cold regions where
frost damage is a concern.
Photosynthesis and Photovoltaic cells
Photosynthesis :

 Photosynthesis is the process by which plants, algae and some bacteria convert light
energy from the sun into chemical energy stored in organic molecules. This process is
critical for life on earth, as it provides the primary source of energy for all living
organisms.

 In plants, photosynthesis take place in the chloroplasts of the cells located in the leaves.
The process starts with the absorption of light energy by pigments such as chlorophyll,
which then excites electrons.

 These excited electrons are used to power the transfer of CO2 into organic molecules,
such as sugars and starches, through a series of chemical reactions. The end product of
photosynthesis in plants is stored chemical energy in the form of organic molecules
Photovoltaic cells :

 The connection between photosynthesis and photovoltaic cells lies in the conversion of
light energy into usable forms of energy. In photovoltaics, light energy is converted into
electrical energy.

 In photosynthesis, the end product is stored chemical energy, while in photovoltaics, the
end product is electrical energy. However, the similarities between photosynthesis and
photovoltaics go beyond just the conversion of light energy.

 Both the process also involves the use of specialized components and materials, such as
chloroplast in photosynthesis and silicon in photovoltaics, to absorb and convert light
energy into usable forms of energy.

 The development of photovoltaics has been heavily influences by natural process of

photosynthesis and many researchers have sought to mimic and improve upon the
efficiency and effectiveness of photosynthesis to develop more advanced and efficient
photovoltaic systems.

Ants and Swarm robots

 Swarm robotics is a new approach that coordinates multi robot systems which consist of
large numbers of robots.
 A swarm sometimes seems to behave as an individual organism. Ants or wasps on a
hunt for food, or on the attack, behave as if with a single mind, co-ordinating different
actions with different parts of the swarm.
 A swarm, of ants/bees/locusts/etc often exhibits behaviors that seem clearly more
intelligent than any of the individual members of it. The way in which swarms in some
 species change direction is astoundingly well co-ordinated and avoid obstacles seems to
be extremely well choreographed

 One ant is not very smart, but put a bunch of them together and they can achieve some
remarkable things. Inspired by this emergent cooperative behavior, Harvard researchers
have built robots that can work together to escape from a “prison,” without needing a
specific plan.
 In a sense, an ant colony runs on algorithms – individual ants don’t specifically think
about a task, but they follow a set of instinctual rules that guide them towards complex
feats of engineering, like digging tunnel networks or building bridges. They
communicate with each other using their antennae and pheromone trails.
 The Harvard team started by conducting an experiment with a small group of ants placed
inside a corral, a circular trap surrounded by a soft sandy wall, to see how they worked
together to escape. At first, the ants all wandered around randomly, but soon some began
digging at the walls in scattered spots. Over time, the team found that the ants gave up
their solitary digging and would instead group together to work on one tunnel more
efficiently, until they eventually managed to break out.
 Based on their observations, the researchers built mathematical models. As the ants
bumped into each other they would communicate via their antennae. Over the time, they
would start to favor areas where they’d interacted more often, creating a feedback loop
where they would then gather in those places more and more. This would lead them to
focus their efforts on digging in one spot until they break through, rather than every ant
digging their own tunnels.
 With this model in place, the team then set out to build robots that followed similar rules.
Their robotic ants, which they called RAnts, didn’t give off chemical pheromones but left
behind light fields, or “photoromones,” that grew brighter the more times the robots
passed by.
 The RAnts were programmed to follow three simple rules: they had to follow the
gradient of the photoromone field, avoid other robots where the field density was high,
and pick up obstacles where the density was high and move them to areas with low
density.
 And sure enough, these rules allowed the RAnts to cooperate in much the same way as
the ant experiment. When placed in their own corral, surrounded by several rings of
small obstacles, the robots soon figured out the best escape plan was to work together to
focus on one spot.
 This technique could be vital for designing swarms of simple robots that can complete
complex tasks by working together, and there are plenty of other examples of ant-
inspired robots out there.