ACT - Biomimetics

Biomimetics

Past Projects

The concluded biomimetics activities of the Advanced Concepts Team are listed here. On a separate page you find projects that are currently ongoing.

Roots - more than the sum of its apexes?

How are roots formed? Where is the brain that tells each single root-branch where to grow? Or are roots just connected cells where everyone does what feel right?

Integrated sensing of movement and forces in a technical limb

Navigation is an important part of exploring new uncharted areas. For rovers moving on legs instead of wheels this task is more complex. In this project we are looking for a way to navigate by mimicking the ants' way of proprioceptive sensing.

Neuromorphic computation of optic flow data

Neuronal systems are nothing else that animal controlers. Although the same physics apply, computation is performed funamentally different to known controlers. Here we investigate neuromorphic sensors and controlers.

Quantifying the landing reaction of cockroaches

Cockroaches fly only during escape reactions and specific adaption to that lifestyle are expected. Landing strategies and transitional phases during aerial descent are examined to drawn inspiration for the design of robust controlers for planetary landing.

Passive oscillation damping

In the race for light some plants have slender and long stems. Although stiff building material is (energy) expensive, they must avoid critical oscillations by all means. We examine the plants' approach towards structural efficiency.

Dry adhesion

Space conditions prohibit the use of fluids for e.g. means of adhesion. Hence reversible adhesion is acquired by (bio inspired) Velcro. For adhesion on various surfaces we intent do mimic the 'dry' adhesion principle employed by spiders and geckos.

Ground Anchoring

Safe anchoring is crucial for landing vehicles and even larger planetary outposts. Plants use a different approach than technical devices do. However, their anchoring is scalable, adaptive and does not require heavy machinery

Integrated sensoring

Insects and spiders have embedded strain sensors in their exoskeleton. These sensors are realized by bell- or slit shaped holes in the surface.

Bionics and Space System Design

The potential of a systematic approach to biomimetics for space engineering was evaluated in an extensive study. It contains surveys on relevant research groups and biomimetic concepts as well as several detailed case studies.

Artificial muscles

Electro Active Polymers (EAPs) may provide a solution to the technical problems of implementing and integrating actuation and sensing functions. Mimicking muscles EAPs could employ rather simple transmission systems and hence drastically reduce mechanical complexity.

Biologically inspired joints

To date, there are many tasks in which machine competence is inferior to that of the
biological counterparts, i.e. live beings.

Coupled mobility

The application of biomimetic locomotion to the Martian surface offers the possibility of
increased robustness and failure tolerance. Robotic tumbleweed would imitate its natural analog and travel driven by wind or by it’s internal motor, or rolling down the slopes.

Insect inspired drills

The biological analog to technical drilling systems do not require an application of high external forces or a massive machinery. We examine the feasibility of such novel drilling systems for probing of e.g. the mars subsurface.

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