BIOMIMICRY –BIOMIMICRY –THE NATURE THE NATURE BORROWEDBORROWED

Scientific group Scientific group of young reseachers,of young reseachers,

The 10The 10thth grade students: grade students:Nechaev Trofim,Nechaev Trofim,

Abramova Marina,Abramova Marina,Knyazeva Svetlana,Knyazeva Svetlana,Goudeyev VladimirGoudeyev Vladimir

Lyceum #17, VladimirLyceum #17, Vladimir

What is Biomimicry?What is Biomimicry?

Biomimicry (from Biomimicry (from biosbios, meaning life, , meaning life, and and mimesismimesis, meaning to imitate) is , meaning to imitate) is a new science that studies nature’s a new science that studies nature’s best ideas and then imitates these best ideas and then imitates these

designs and processes to solve designs and processes to solve human problems. Studying a leaf to human problems. Studying a leaf to

invent a better solar cell is an invent a better solar cell is an example of this “innovation example of this “innovation

inspired by nature.” inspired by nature.”

The History of BiomimicryThe History of BiomimicryFascinated by the phenomenon of Fascinated by the phenomenon of flight, flight, Leonardo Leonardo da Vincida Vinci produced produced detailed studies of the flight of birds, detailed studies of the flight of birds, and plans for several flying machines, and plans for several flying machines, including a helicopter powered by including a helicopter powered by four men (which would not have four men (which would not have worked since the body of the craft worked since the body of the craft would have rotated) and a light hang would have rotated) and a light hang glider which could have flown. On glider which could have flown. On January 3, 1496 he unsuccessfully January 3, 1496 he unsuccessfully tested a flying machine he had tested a flying machine he had constructed.constructed.

Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo’s Flying Machine

Biomimicry SamplesBiomimicry Samples

The The Tokay gecko'sTokay gecko's unique unique toe pads enable it to climb toe pads enable it to climb vertical surfaces. vertical surfaces.

Gecko toes are covered with Gecko toes are covered with millions of fine, keratinous millions of fine, keratinous filaments called setae. Each filaments called setae. Each seta, just 30-130 nanometers seta, just 30-130 nanometers long, branches into about long, branches into about 1000 spatula-shaped tips 1000 spatula-shaped tips about 0.2-0.5 nanometers about 0.2-0.5 nanometers long. long.

The Tokay gecko is easily

climbing up and down the vertical surfaces

Gecko Like Adhisive InterfaceGecko Like Adhisive Interface

Setae are particularly Setae are particularly effective at creating and effective at creating and maintaining adhesive maintaining adhesive interfaces. The millions of interfaces. The millions of setae essentially form a setae essentially form a "carpet" of fibrils. When "carpet" of fibrils. When compressed, the individual compressed, the individual fibrils buckle--much like a fibrils buckle--much like a plastic solid under plastic solid under compressioncompression. . Molecules in Molecules in these spatular tips are these spatular tips are attracted to molecules in the attracted to molecules in the surfacesurface..

Gecko Like Artifact Setae

Gecko Based Technologies in ActionGecko Based Technologies in Action

Gecko toes and spider filament Gecko toes and spider filament might inspire innovation in glue might inspire innovation in glue and and adhesives manufacturingadhesives manufacturing, as , as well as well as in the constructionin the construction and and textiles industriestextiles industries..

Sticking with gecko glue.