Biomimetics

1 The Beginnings of Biomimetics 1

1.1 Early Attempts at Biomimicry: The Influence of Birds on the Development of Aircraft 3

1.2 The Fathers of Modern Biomimetics: Percy Shaw and George de Mestral 4

Relevant Innovations Described in Other Chapters 6

Note 6

Suggested Reading 7

2 Transport, Motion, and Energy 9

2.1 Birds and Bullet Trains 9

2.2 More Owl-Inspired Noise Reduction 13

2.3 Humpback Whales and Wind Turbines 14

2.4 Fish Shoals and Wind Farms 16

2.5 Liquid Movement in Nature: The Importance of Spirals 17

2.6 A Tree-Inspired Wind Turbine 20

2.7 More Fishy Developments 22

2.8 A Fishy Failure: The Boxfish Car 22

2.9 Fuel Efficiency Inspired by Sharks 24

2.10 Using Biology to Counteract Biofouling 25

2.11 The New Generation of Ornithopters 28

Relevant Innovations Described in Other Chapters 30

Note 30

Suggested Reading 30

3 Colour and Light 31

3.1 Photonic Biomimicry 36

3.2 Structure Can Influence Light Output 38

3.3 Cephalopods and Camouflage 39

3.4 Photonic Cooling 43

3.5 Biomimetic Antireflective Coatings 46

3.6 A Novel Glass Inspired by Spiders 47

Relevant Innovations Described in Other Chapters 49

Suggested Reading 49

4 The Built Environment 51

4.1 Cooling Buildings the Termite Way 51

4.2 Functional Structures Inspired by Nature 55

4.3 Self-Cleaning Surfaces 59

4.4 Self-Healing Concrete 63

4.5 New Building Materials 64

4.6 A Sunshade Modelled on Trees 65

4.7 Solar Ivy 66

4.8 The Future: Fully Responsive Buildings 67

Relevant Innovations Described in Other Chapters 68

Note 68

Suggested Reading 68

5 Smart Materials 71

5.1 Self-Cleaning Materials 71

5.1.1 Reducing Bacterial Growth Without Disinfectants 71

5.1.2 Pitcher Plants and Non-stick Surfaces 74

5.2 Novel Adhesives 76

5.2.1 Novel Glues Inspired by Marine Animals 76

5.2.2 Hierarchical Steels Modelled on Byssal Threads 78

5.2.3 Glues from Terrestrial Slugs 79

5.2.4 Gecko-Inspired Dry Adhesives 81

5.3 Self-Healing Materials 83

5.4 Novel Textiles 85

5.4.1 Smart Textiles that Respond to their Surroundings 85

5.4.2 A Polar Bear-Inspired Material for Heat Insulation 86

5.4.3 Safety Helmets Inspired by Woodpeckers 86

Relevant Material in Other Chapters 87

Note 87

Suggested Reading 88

6 Smart Devices 91

6.1 Burrowing Robots Based on Razor Clams 91

6.2 Novel Sensors 92

6.2.1 Bioinspired Underwater Pressure Sensors 92

6.2.2 Crack-Based Strain Sensors 93

6.2.3 Ice Plants and Actuators 94

6.3 Passive Water Collection 96

6.3.1 Inspiration from the Namib Desert Beetle 96

6.3.2 Collecting Water with Spiders’ Webs 98

6.3.3 Cactus-Inspired Water Collection 100

6.4 Insects and Origami 100

6.5 Mosquito Bites and Injection Needles 103

Suggested Reading 104

7 The Influence of Biology on Computer Science 107

7.1 Genetic Algorithms 108

7.2 Swarm Intelligence 110

7.3 Human Swarming 112

Suggested Reading 113

8 The Future of Biomimetics 115

Suggested Reading 116

Index 117