Topic
Biomimetics
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Soft robotic fish swims alongside real ones in coral reefs
Made of silicone rubber, CSAIL’s “SoFi” could enable a closer study of aquatic life.
March 21, 2018 -
Hairy tongues help bats drink up
New model predicts how hairs on a bat’s tongue draw up nectar.
February 7, 2018 -
Engineers identify key to albatross’ marathon flight
Flying in shallow arcs helps birds stay aloft with less effort.
October 10, 2017 -
“Superhero” robot wears different outfits for different tasks
Shape-shifting device from CSAIL can walk, roll, sail, and glide using recyclable exoskeletons.
September 27, 2017 -
Our hairy insides
Engineers predict how flowing fluid will bend tiny hairs that line blood vessels and intestines.
August 21, 2017 -
Beaver-inspired wetsuits in the works
Rubbery hair-lined wetsuits may help keep surfers warm.
October 5, 2016 -
Armor plating with built-in transparent ceramic eyes
Tiny sea creatures feature transparent optical systems as tough as their shells.
November 19, 2015 -
Biomimetic non-reflective coating for solar cells wins MADMEC
Team wins $10,000 at annual competition for invention inspired by butterfly wings.
September 29, 2015 -
Engineered proteins stick like glue — even in water
New adhesives based on mussel proteins could be useful for naval or medical applications.
September 21, 2014 -
Squishy robots
Phase-changing material could allow even low-cost robots to switch between hard and soft states.
July 14, 2014 -
A blueprint for reversible wrinkling in composite materials
A new model gives scientists guidelines to develop ‘smart’ composite materials with wrinkled microstructures.
April 24, 2013 -
Researchers engineer light-activated skeletal muscle
Technique may enable robotic animals that move with the strength and flexibility of their living counterparts.
August 30, 2012 -
Soft autonomous robot inches along like an earthworm
Flexible design enables body-morphing capability.
August 10, 2012 -
Here comes the sun
A new sunflower-inspired pattern increases concentrated solar efficiency.
January 11, 2012 -
A plane that lands like a bird
An innovative control system allows a foam glider to touch down on a perch or a wire like a pet parakeet.
July 20, 2010