Articles in the ‘Bionics‘ Category
Bionics, Tech »
Biomimicry of iron-plated snail could lead to better armor
Tiny snails sitting on the ocean floor might seem defenseless against a large, determined predator such as a crab. But evolution has provided one species of sea snail with a unique iron-plated armored shell that resists such attacks. The snail has evolved a tri-layered shell structure consisting of an outer… »
Bionics, Robotics »
Lockheed Martin HULC robotic exoskeleton will operate longer
After writing about Japanese HAL-5 robotic exoskeleton, in this article we’re going to write about Human Universal Load Carrier (HULC) robotic exoskeleton. Developed by Lockheed Martin and Berkeley Bionics, the HULC robotic exoskeleton doesn’t boost the arm strength as some of the other robotic exoskeletons (including HAL-5) but it rather… »
Bionics, Robotics »
SCRATCHbot robot mimics rats and navigates with whiskers
After their work on Whiskerbot, a group of researchers from the University of Sheffield and the Bristol Robotics Lab has created the SCRATCHBot (Spatial Cognition and Representation through Active TouCh), which uses its plastic whiskers in a sweeping back and forth motion to find its way round, much like a… »
Bionics, Lists »
Top 5 articles regarding biomimicry of flora and fauna in 2009
One of the major themes our website covers is bionics. Bionics (also known as biomimetics, bio-inspiration, biognosis, biomimicry, or bionical creativity engineering) is the application of biological methods and systems found in nature to the study and design of engineering systems and modern technology. Some dictionaries, however, explain the word… »
Bionics, Robotics »
For a fast walking robot combine a guinea hen with a cockroach
After writing about biomimicry of penguins, sharks, butterflies and bats, we’re going to write about cockroach biomimicry. Although the sight of a crawling cockroach dashing for cover may be repulsive, the insect is also a biological and engineering marvel. Cockroaches and guinea hens serve as bioinspiration to the researchers at… »
Bionics, Tech »
Hydrogel lenses could alert the diabetics to eat or take insulin
Diabetics are encountering the unenviable task of checking their blood sugar levels constantly, usually through a repeated ritual of pin-pricks and blood drawing. But a new non-invasive technology developed by a biochemical engineer at the University of Western Ontario lets diabetics check on their glucose levels with contact lenses that… »
Bionics, Gadgets, Tech »
ANDREA – an air purifier which uses indoor plants to filter air
It is said that the air we breathe in the places where we live and work can often be 5 to 10 times more noxious than walking on the street, along with the dangerous chemicals found in commonly used household products. Designed by Mathieu Lehanneur and David Edwards of Harvard… »
Bionics, Gadgets, Tech »
Qualcomm Mirasol display for color e-readers inspired by butterflies
Qualcomm MEMS Technologies new Mirasol display is the first full color, video-capable display on a prototype e-reader, built on the concept of the iridescence of butterfly’s wings. The inspiration for Mirasol’s engineering came from nature’s most vividly colored creatures: the cerulean wing of a butterfly, the ruby throat of a… »
Bionics, Tech »
Glowing bacterias present a cheap solution for landmines detection
It is estimated that there are between 15,000 and 20,000 annual casualties caused by landmines and unexploded explosive devices, according to the charity Handicap International. Some 87 countries contain minefields including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Somalia, Mozambique, Cambodia, Iraq and Afghanistan. Scientists have developed a simple, cheap, and yet accurate… »
Bionics, Tech »
147000 CPUs are “as smart as a cat” – IBM Research simulates cat’s brain
At SC 09, the supercomputing conference, IBM announced significant progress toward creating a computer system that simulates and emulates the brain’s abilities for sensation, perception, action, interaction and cognition, while rivaling the brain’s low power and energy consumption and compact size. The cognitive computing team, led by IBM Research, in… »