Research line
Bioinspired design
(PI: Guillermo Amador) - Over the course of 3.8 billion years, nature has evolved versatile solutions for survival. By taking inspiration from nature, many engineers and designers have translated such solutions to human-made devices, structures, and technologies.
However, many times this translation lacks input and knowledge from biologists. In this research track, we aim to fill this gap by investigating the functional morphology and locomotion of animals using a quantitative approach to reveal underlying physical principles that can be translated to bioinspired designs.
Our approach is mostly experimental with mathematical modeling and numerical simulations to support our experiments. The experimental techniques we typically use are: three-dimensional high-speed videography, indentation measurements for characterizing materials and adhesives, morphological measurements using various techniques (e.g., tissue staining, computerized tomography, epi-fluorescent microscopy, and magnetic resonance imaging), particle image velocimetry (to visualize and quantify fluid flows), and building robotic and physical models to represent the biological organism.
In order to translate our findings to bioinspired designs, we collaborate with engineers and roboticists from the four technical universities in the Netherlands (4TU.Federation) through a consortium on Bioinspired Soft Robotics. These collaborators develop designs for medical devices, additive manufacturing, haptic feedback systems, and agricultural robots. A short video describing the consortium is provided here:
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The organisms that we are currently studying include cuttlefish, stick insects, earthworms, mosquitoes, and flies. However, we are always open to study other animals that may have potential for bioinspired designs.
In addition to research, we are also involved in teaching through a course titled Biomimetics (EZO-32806). In this course, we teach students about biomimetics and bioinspired design, especially how to use some of the established tools in the field. The goal of the course is to help students learn how to design quantitative experiments for biological organisms and how to use the knowledge obtained through such experiments in a design. It is primarily a practical course, with a strong focus on hands-on learning via a course project where students develop and test their own biomimetic designs.
In short, this research track aims to answer the question: how can we learn from nature and translate this knowledge to our own designs and technologies?
Current projects:
| * | Biological models for soft robotics (PostDoc project J.K.A. Langowski) |
| * | Biomechanics of adhesion in wet and structured environments (PostDoc project of G.J. Amador) |
| * | Ultra-thin steerable needle for solid-organ interventions (S.W.S. Gussekloo) |
| * | Cuttlefish fin and suction cup biomechanics (PostDoc project of B. Klaassen van Oorschot) |