This Week’s Innovations in Biomimicry
This week at Marine Technology News…
One of the earliest documented examples of biomimicry is attributed to Leonardo da Vinci when he studied fish to help conceptualize a submarine. Fast forward to today, and researchers are still drawing inspiration from marine life to advance subsea technology.
The latest breakthrough comes from a team of researchers at North Carolina State University who have surpassed their own record for the fastest swimming soft robot. Drawing inspiration from the graceful movements of manta rays, the team has improved the robot’s ability to navigate through water with ease.
But the innovation doesn’t stop there. Scientists at the University of Oregon have uncovered the unique locomotion of salps, gelatinous sea creatures that swim in giant corkscrew shapes using jet propulsion. This discovery could lead to more efficient underwater vehicle designs.
Meanwhile, experts at the Max-Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems are working on jellyfish robots designed to clean up plastic pollution on the ocean floor without disrupting coral reef ecosystems.
Yale researchers have also made waves with their amphibious robot turtle, equipped with adaptable limbs that change shape and behavior based on whether they are on land or in water.
Not to be outdone, engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a squid-like robot capable of untethered swimming by generating jets of water for propulsion.
As da Vinci once said, “All our knowledge has its origins in our perceptions.” With over 20,000 marine species described each decade, there is no shortage of inspiration for future biomimetic designs.
From manta rays to jellyfish, the possibilities for innovation inspired by marine life are endless.