Poets derive inspirations from nature; science too wishes to gain best out of Mother’s lap. Critics that have stationed themselves on the other side of technology have always condemned it for the fatalities on nature. Yet, the unmoved stance of intelligent men has kept them flirting with innovative desires even more staunchly. Thus, to harmonize the cord and benefit from the abundance of nature’s creativity, most scientists and creators are taking a page from nature. Below, in no particular order are the biological and natural entities that have inspired real-life technology.
• Bumblebee-like flying bots, killer spies of the future
The flying robots are being developed to be disguised as insects in gravest of missions, with the purpose to minimize human causalities and risk the least. Dubbed the Micro Aerial Vehicles, unlike the already used UAVs, these Bumblebee-like flying bots shall fly into buildings and apartments, all unnoticed like a bumblebee itself, and photograph, record and even attack, unraveling the secrets of insurgents hiding. Read More.
• Robotic Bat: A Sneaky Spy
A palm-sized “robo-bat” with shape memory alloy jointed limbs and smart material alloy muscles are being built by North Carolina State University researchers. It’s the perfect micro air vehicle (MAV) for surveillance or other kinds of data gathering — Batman could fit this gadget easily onto his utility belt. The fully assembled robotic ‘bat’ skeleton rests easily in the palm of your hand and, at less than 6 grams, feels as light as a feather. Read More.
• A real-like Jellyfish robot swims like it as well
Jellyfish robot developed by engineers from Chonnam National University in the Republic of Korea is explained to be identically similar to the actual jellyfish. This robot draws its curved shape, unique locomotive and the biometric swimming traits of the jellyfish with the inclusion of advanced electro-active polymers artificial muscles. With the real life applications ranging from entertainment to biometrics, in the future artificial biomimetic jellyfish robots will be developed that unlike this one made now, will have self-powered actuators and sensors integrated. Read More.
• Life-size model of an unborn child for mother’s lap
This medical technology breakthrough using rapid prototyping method converts ultrasound and MRI imagery into life size living embryos of a child. Leaping beyond the ultrasound images this approach give an expecting mother a life-size model of her unborn child in her lap. Being a mother holding a newborn child in the arms is an experience out of this world and seeing the unborn in the ultra-sound images, an experience beyond words – then how would you explain holding that unborn child replica? Read More.
• Drones that fly and perch like birds
After the mini spy drones, the US Air Force could have spy aircrafts that’ll fly into almost all spaces and perch like birds to accumulate info in all conditions. UAV maker AeroVironment is developing the Stealthy, Persistent, Perch and Stare Air Vehicle System (SP2S). SP2S being built on one-pound, 29-inch wingspan battery-powered Wasp unmanned system, the drones would possess micro miniature EO cameras with auto capture and autonomous land and takeoff facilities, including the fly in and perch like a bird features of the aircraft. Read more.
• Sting Scorpion PC case mod
The super cool Sting Scorpion PC case mod is a work of ingenious brilliance by modder Frankie. The Scorpion PC mod features circuit boards, old hard drives and UV light to glow and achieve this insane creation of sorts. The mod along with the PCB boards also has a few cellphone motor bits drilled to fabricate this brilliant PC case mod based on a scorpion. Read More.
• Sperm-like nano-propeller for precise drug delivery in the body
These remote controlled nano-devices, which look like sperm and use the corkscrew motion of flagella, could come in handy to deliver drugs to precise places inside the body for patients during operations. A creation of Peer Fischer and Ambarish Ghosh, these nano propellers are made of glass with a spherical head 200 to 300 nanometers across a corkscrew-shaped tail measuring one to two meters in length. The overall structure is one-tenth the length of a human sperm. Read More.
• Self-powered flapping winged aircraft looks and flies like a hummingbird
NAV or the Nano Air Vehicle made its first successful flight. Being the world’s first self-powered, flapping, rudderless aircraft, it is designed to look and fly like a hummingbird. The NAV operates using its two flapping wings that function for its rudder, engine and the elevator. Using the flapping wings, which is a novel rarity and an achievement real, the self-powered NAV can hover perfectly both to and fore, and can also capably elevate, replicating the hummingbird to near perfection. Read More.
• Festo Robotic Penguins, all but alive
Festo has successfully developed robot AquaPenguins that do not just behave like submarines but even replicate the way living penguins communicate. Using 3D Sonar to communicate, these penguin robots are capable of autonomous navigation and real-like communication with one another. Read More.
• Miniature Spy-Bat flyers
The U.S Army has awarded the University of Michigan’s college of engineering a five year, grant of 10 million dollars to make a robotic spy plane. What is so special about this robotic plane is that it is modeled after a bat and measures just 6 inches. This Robotic spy plane takes micro engineering to new heights by running on a combination of solar, wind and guess what, even vibrations to recharge it’s lithium battery. Read more.
• Mermaid suit for an amputee
Nadya Vessey was unfortunate enough to get both her legs amputated as a child, but she always nourished a hope that someday she’d be able to swim like a mermaid. Now, thanks to Weta Digital – New Zealand’s special effects company she has got her mermaid’s tail. The tail and suit are made of wetsuit fabric and plastic molds with hand-painted scales. Vessey has tried her new prosthetic in a pool and is quite happy with it. Read more.
• Evergreen sky forests to cool the atmosphere
Instead of building expensive CCS systems to green the factories, architects have planned to build forests hundreds of feet in the air to capture and clean CO2 directly from the upper regions of the atmosphere. Dubbed the CO2 scraper, the skyscraper will hold up to 400 evergreen trees in different levels of the structure, which will capture polluted air and convert it into breathable oxygen. Water and other nutrients are supplied to the hanging trees with a wind-powered pumping station. Read more.
• World’s most therapeutic robot
The interactive healing robotic pet Paro with therapeutic possibilities inspired by a harp seal is being installed in various health care facilities back home in Japan and across the globe. Many counties around the globe have the “world’s most therapeutic robot” calming the nerves and healing the brains of their patients. Read more.
• Military Develops ‘Cybug’ Spies
Miniature robots could be good spies, but researchers now are experimenting with insect cyborgs or “cybugs” that could work even better. Scientists can already control the flight of real moths using implanted devices. The military and spy world no doubt would love tiny, live camera-wielding versions of Predator drones that could fly undetected into places where no human could ever go to snoop on the enemy. Read more.
• G-Dog- dog of a robotic future
The Japanese have a fad for dogs, more so for robots, and combining the two HPI’s four-legged robotic dog, the G-dog is a real make. Backed with 7.2V nickel metal hydride battery, the G-Dog does most stuff than a dog does. Built in aluminum, the 570g robotic dog features a set of nine servomotors all cramped in a size of 375×135×190mm. Controlled wirelessly with a portable controller, G-Dog can sit, crawl and roll over from side to side. Read more.
• Stickybot Robotic Lizard
Drawing inspiration from nature’s very own Gecko (garden lizard), the ‘bot can climb glass surfaces at the speed of a metre per second. The Stickybot is pretty useful and manages the fascinating climbing instincts with nano-scale hairs beneath its toes. Wanna own one? Read more.
