Wild engineers

How autumn, hibernation, and sleep reveal that rest is a designed cycle of renewal that protects future function. Function: Maintain function through cycles of rest andrenewal Biological models: Deciduous trees in autumn, hibernating mammals, human sleep Engineering translation: Planned shutdowns, project pauses, team resets, systems maintenance, and renewal cycles Sources / further reading • Care...

How Humpback whales inspired a revolution in wind turbine design when we learned from their pectoral flippers. Function: Maintain stable, efficient flow in dynamic conditions Biological model: Humpback whale pectoral flippers Engineering translation: Whale-inspired wind turbine blades Sources / further reading • Hamilton T. Whale-Inspired Wind Turbines. MIT Technology Review. 2008. https://share.g...

How economists in Ho Chi Minh city changed how we think about alerts in critical infrastructure after studying the Madagascan hissing cockroach. Function: Prevent systems from being ignored over time Biological model: Madagascan hissing cockroach and adaptive signalling Engineering translation: Adaptive hospital nurse-call alarm design Sources / further reading • Cobus V, Heuten W. To beep or not...

How the US Department of Energy reduced power outage restoration time by about 50% by applying lessons from leaves. Function: Distribute energy reliably during disturbances Biological model: Leaf vein networks Engineering translation: Self-healing electrical networks / FLISR Sources / further reading • Brodribb TJ, Bienaime D, Marmottant P. Revealing catastrophic failure of leaf networks under str...

Discover the secret to the Swiss Re Building (nicknamed the Gherkin) in London of how to significantly reduce wind drag by learning from ocean sponges. Function: Move air passively Biological model: Venus’ flower basket sponge Engineering translation: 30 St Mary Axe / the Gherkin Sources / further reading • Adrian, B. 2001. Shape and Structure, From Engineering to Nature. Entropy. International an...

How cow’s stomachs inspired the design of a zero power, zero odour and zero chemical sewage treatment plant in India. Function: Manage waste Biological model: Cow stomach compartments and rumen microbiota Engineering translation: ECOSTP sewage treatment system Sources / further reading • Appels,L., Baeyens, J, Degrève,J,, & Dewil,R. 2008. Principles and potential of the anaerobic digestion of...

How a city in California stabilised chlorine levels in water 87% faster than conventional methods, inspired by seashells. Function: Move fluids Biological model: Logarithmic spirals and vortices in nature Engineering translation: Pax Impeller® and the Thousand Oaks water case study Sources / further reading • Bejan A. The Physics of Life: The Evolution of Everything. 2016. https://share.google/OjF...

How Airbus cut 1,000 kilos of weight from each A380 airplane, making them stronger in the process, by learning from bone structures. Function: Maximise strength with minimal material Biological model: Trabecular bone Engineering translation: Topology optimisation in aircraft structures Sources / further reading • Elelwi M, Botez RM, Dao TM. Structural Sizing and Topology Optimization Based on Weig...

How Banksia shrubs inspired researchers to develop a solution where pine wood resists ignition even at 1008C. Function: Protect from fire Biological model: Oldman Banksia (Banksia serrata) follicles Engineering translation: Heat-activated self-sealing material concepts tested at the Max Planck Institute Sources / further reading • Australian Plants Society. Banksia serrata. https://share.google/qA...

How Kingfisher’s beaks changed the way we design fast trains cutting noise by up to 15 decibels. Function: Reduce acoustic impact Biological model: Kingfisher beak Engineering translation: Shinkansen bullet train nose redesign Sources / further reading • Biomimicry Institute. Kingfisher-inspired Shinkansen design. https://share.google/mzcDAhsClBNQKl8pV • Crandell KE, Howe RO, Falkingham PL. Repeat...

Discover how termites inspired an 82% drop in electricity use in the Australian-based CH2 building by designing smart chimneys just like termites. Function: Regulate temperature Biological model: African termite mounds Engineering translation: CH2 (Council House 2), Melbourne Sources / further reading • Arup. Biomimicry and the Built Environment. 2013. https://share.google/kBObCUIJzVvhhv95N • City...