Biomimicry allows us to learn from the enhanced systems of living beings, which through natural selection exhibit the best biological mechanisms for the environment in which they are found. Biomimicry essentially consists of learning from nature, observing its models, systems, processes, and elements to inspire solutions to the challenges of our daily lives.
In addition to architecture inspired by biological systems, today we can count on various other projects inspired by nature. For instance, saving energy from electronic devices by observing the energy efficiency of living organisms.
Recently published in the Revista Pesquisa FAPESP, designer Rainer Mugrauer introduced the SmartBird, a robotic bird inspired by seagulls, which flew for the first time in April 2011. This robot uses a battery slightly larger than that of a cellphone. According to the magazine, it was the first time that the flight of a bird was decoded and a prototype took off with such autonomy, not only moving up and down but also performing acrobatics at specific angles.
The mechanical bird is made of carbon fiber and weighs approximately 450 grams. In addition to the skills mentioned above, it features sensors that alert to nearby objects. During its first flight, this flying robot even attracted the attention of nearby birds. This was reported by journalist Carlos Fioravanti from Pesquisa FAPESP, who witnessed this unparalleled moment.
Frontzek, a representative of Festo AG & Co. KG, one of the companies involved in this project, told the magazine that they want to learn from nature, which does not waste energy, and their goal seems to be precisely what has been stated: to save energy. It was by learning from nature that projects like Eastgate Centre in Harare, Zimbabwe, were created. This building consumes 10% less energy than conventional buildings of the same size.
The very creators of the SmartBird project report that there is still much work to be done and that they rely on the collaboration of various scientists in the field, so that the challenge of producing machines capable of saving energy is not a competition for a more evident level of society that aims for sustainability, but rather a collaborative effort that leads to better living conditions for us and for those we draw inspiration from.
References and suggested readings:
http://revistapesquisa.fapesp.br/?art=4581&bd=1&pg=1&lg=
PETERSON, K. et al. A wing assisted running robot and implications for avian flight evolution. Bioinspiration and Biomimetics. out. 2011.
