Biomimetics
Mimicking Natures Inventions
Biomimicry is used by many people, maybe without them even realizing it. Biomimicry has contributed to a lot of technologies that are used around the world, in everyday life and in more organized scientific ways.
Products of Biomimicry
Three products that come from biomimetics are the Shinkansen Bullet Train, a way to harvest water molecules from the air based on a beetle, and a paint that basically keeps itself clean, based on a plant that’s surface collects water droplets.
Self-Cleaning Paint
The technology for the first, the self-cleaning paint, was discovered by Wilhelm Barthlott. He called his discovery the Lotus Effect.(http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2010/03/18/lotus-leaf-demonstrates-business-case-bio-inspired-design) The plant that is the example for this product had leaves with a rough surface, but only on a microscopic scale. This roughness causes water to bead on the plant's surface, and these water droplets collect dirt. The German paint company Ispo took advantage of this technology to invent an easy clean paint. With water, all the dirt is collected in the droplets, and dirt is wiped off easily. This is used for both outdoor and indoor paint. This makes the care of the painted surfaces a lot more convenient.
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Because of its rough surface, water beads into droplets on the Lotus plant leaf. These droplets collect any dirt particules that are found on the leaf.
Biotech Innovators and Economic Impact
Efficient Water Collecting
The technology of the Stenocara beetle was discovered by the Turkish scientist Sehmus Ozden while he was studying at Rice University in Texas. (http://www.dailysabah.com/science/2014/06/23/turkish-scientist-inspired-by-stenocara-beetle) They created a way to collect water from the air very efficiently, making it run in between ridges, all flowing into a container. This is very helpful for dry communities or regions going through droughts, because they will be able to take advantage of early morning fog. This will help keep water available and less expensive, because this water does not have to be brought from somewhere else.
The Stenocara bettle lifts its body into the desert fog, collecting water as it runs down the ridges in its back, toward its head.
Shinkansen Bullet Train
The Shinkansen 500 bullet train is another very good example of biomimicry being used in today’s world. The shape of the train’s nose was developed by Eiji Nakatsu, an engineer for Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen Lines, operated by Japan Railway West. He got the idea from the beak of the kingfisher bird. The train that carries millions of passengers every day is now faster, quieter, more fuel efficient, and therefore much cheaper than it was before it was redesigned.
The Shinkansen 500 bullet train was designed after the shape of the Kingfisher's beak and head.