13 groundbreaking scientific inventions that people borrow from nature

The robot runs 38 km / h, the winged robot such as hummingbirds, wall-seeing devices, Qualcomms screen technology, . are just a few of the many scientific and technological inventions that humans inspired by nature. The article below will list 13 more breakthrough inventions borrowed from nature - "endless creative inspiration" for scientists.

13 scientific and technological inventions inspired by nature

Natural simulation technology (Biomimicry) is a scientific field, conducting nature-based research and development activities to find solutions and products that help people. Until now, countless human technological advances have been made possible thanks to nature's inspiration.

1. Robot jaguar

If you regularly watch news about robots, perhaps the name Boston Dynamics is not so strange to you. This is a robot technology firm known for robotics and animal robotics . One of their curved products is BigDog 4-legged robot . Maybe you think that standing by 4 feet is too easy, walking is not very attractive but wait, BigDog's success point is the running speed.

Its ability to walk is borrowed from jaguar (one of the fastest-running animals on the planet), making it possible to record a record speed of 38 km / h in the 2012 test. Since then, researchers have continually improved to enhance its running speed, while also being able to jump over obstacles while running.

2. Robot beetle 6 feet

Takram Design Engineering has developed a robot called Phasma inspired by 6-foot insects. Not long after that, Stanford University also developed a similar, 6-foot, but named iSpaw robot . To help the robot move with six feet, engineers applied a technique called alternating tripod gate.

As you can see in the introduction video, Phasma can walk with 6 feet, can rotate, change direction easily like a true bug. The structure is also quite simple, an engine that provides kinetic energy for all six legs below.

3. Fly like a bee

From the old days, the concept of flying in the sky of humans was formed from flying animals. Recently, Harvard scientists started the RoboBee project to study the mechanisms and behaviors of flying bees gently. The ultimate goal of the project is to create small-sized drone robots that can be moved in a gentle, stable manner in order not to perform special tasks.

4. Robot hummingbird

AeroVironment (a contractor of the DARPA Department of Advanced Defense Projects, USA) developed the ultra-small aircraft called the Nano Air Vehcle (NAV) inspired by hummingbirds. Wearing the shape of a true hummingbird, NAV also flew in the sky with its mechanical wings. Take a look at the video, you will see how great it is to be able to simulate the movements like real birds: beating wings, stabilizing between air, flying at different speeds from fast to slow and, of course, recording transmission to the operator during flight.

5. Camera angle 180 degrees inspired by insect eyes

Insects are favored by nature for a unique design. And researchers at Illinios University, USA, have relied on it to develop completely new digital camera technology. Like the bee or mantis visual system, this camera system is made up of a series of optical diodes, each of which serves as a microlens lens arranged on a hemisphere to record images with an angle of view. 180 degrees and depth of field is almost infinity.

6. Handheld scanner inspired by lobster eyes

Lobster eye- inspired X - ray control device (LEXID) is another product borrowed from nature by scientists. This system applies the ability to observe the surroundings in the dark conditions under the ocean of lobsters. To do that, lobsters use a large amount of cells to form a spherical array to capture the maximum amount of light. After that, the light will be converged into an image.

Likewise, LEXID also includes a hemispherical x-ray system that incorporates many smart sensors . In this way, LEXID can capture images through the solid surface. Although the project was only in the prototype stage, it received a grant of 750,000 thousand dollars in 2005 from the US Department of the Interior to develop this technology completely, promising to be applied in many Different fields, especially in the military, help soldiers with the ability to see through walls to detect targets or as a device to illuminate luggage in airports.

7. Methods of treating cancer from jellyfish

Researchers at Harvard University 's Brigham Women's Hospital are studying ways to identify and capture specific molecules inspired by jellyfish . By using a tiny chip in a semi-liquid state and a network of 3D DNA strands, the team was able to trace and capture cancer cells in the patient's blood. This promises to be an effective cancer treatment in the future.

8. Material surface resists from shark skin

In the process of seeking solutions to prevent seaweed from attaching to the US Navy warship's body, Dr. Anthony Brennan applied the skin structure of the shark. Finally, he successfully developed a material surface called Sharklet SafeTouch , made up of a multitude of floating blocks of different sizes arranged into a diamond shape. This type of surface material not only helps warships without algae, algae cling, but also applies in medicine, to create devices to prevent bacteria from accumulating.

9. Robot goes on water

Some small insects have the ability to move easily on the water. Since 2007 researchers at Harvard University's Biomedical Engineering Institute have begun studying the mechanism of this ability and finding ways to apply it. Recently, they developed a small rod- sized robot with the ability to flick people on the water. This robot can create a force 16 times its weight to jump on water without sinking.

10. Fiber optic cable inspired by sponges

Sponge is not only one of the most unique animals in the ocean, but it also inspires many technological advances. When applied in materials science, scientists use biological silicate to create fiber-optic bundles with smaller size than human hair but extremely durable. The design of this optical fiber has a similar structure to the sponge so it ensures extremely durable, anti-twisting properties, promising to be used in many materials synthesis processes or construction in the future. .

11. Butterfly screen technology

Did you know Qualcomm was inspired by butterfly wings to create Mirasol display technology . This technology uses screen technology with an interfering modulator (IMOD) with very low power consumption, then combined with electromechanical microscope (MEMS) to display images by counter light radiation rather than emitting as many other screen technologies. This approach is not only for bright images, high contrast, . but also significantly reduces power consumption.

12. Techniques of stealth camouflage

Squid is a creature with a unique ability: self-altering texture, adjusting pigments on skin and external appearance to camouflage into the surrounding environment. Based on that, Illinois scientists used optical sensors, actuators and light-sensitive pigments to create camouflage equipment. This technique is being further refined to apply in the US Navy.

Similarly, MIT researchers have created a screen that is only 1 micrometer thick from 2 poly-vinyl layers that can change color thanks to the charge.

13. Gecko's adhesion ability

You remember not long ago that NASA and MIT worked together to develop a technique of adhesion inspired by the gecko leg structure, which helps astronauts stay in the zero gravity environment. Space. This technology has many different applications, such as for capturing waste pieces in orbit, helping soldiers to climb flexible climbing walls on different surfaces.