Moth eye: Would you like less reflection on your TV display? PhysOrg reported, “Drawing their inspiration from nature,” (in this case the eyes of moths), “researchers develop a brand new type of anti-reflective plastic.” The article began with a sermonette for biomimicry (but no mention of evolution):
Moth eye: Would you like less reflection on your TV display? PhysOrg reported, “Drawing their inspiration from nature,” (in this case the eyes of moths), “researchers develop a brand new type of anti-reflective plastic.” The article began with a sermonette for biomimicry (but no mention of evolution):
Nature has long been a source of inspiration for both scientists and artists alike. Some of the most ingeniously designed products and gadgets familiar to millions of people worldwide owe their origin to seemingly simple forms and patterns found in plants and wildlife. The ability to adapt these natural forms to develop ever more innovative products and processes has given rise to the field of biomimetics — literally meaning ‘imitation of life’.
Natural robots: A recent symposium at Harvard’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, reported by PhysOrg, described how biomimetics is inspiring a new generation of robots. Participants “heard about how advances in the field are improving artificial limbs, about how other devices are teaching injured people to walk, about manufacturing and control of small flying robots, and about advances in ‘swarm intelligence’ controlling bunches of machines.”
Natural robots: A recent symposium at Harvard’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, reported by PhysOrg, described how biomimetics is inspiring a new generation of robots. Participants “heard about how advances in the field are improving artificial limbs, about how other devices are teaching injured people to walk, about manufacturing and control of small flying robots, and about advances in ‘swarm intelligence’ controlling bunches of machines.”
Copying clumsiness: Ever wonder why insects bump against walls and windows? That apparently clumsiness is a way for them to learn about their environment. The light bulb went on in the heads of Swiss researchers who, according to Live Science, are creating flying robots that do just that: use bumps for exploring their air space. This allows them to operate in unstructured, cluttered environments without the high overhead of remote sensing software. “The ability to actively bump around unfamiliar environments means that AirBurr could navigate even with the loss of GPS indoors or underground,” the article ended. “Having cheap swarms of such robots may prove the path forward for making robots ready for the real world.”
Copying clumsiness: Ever wonder why insects bump against walls and windows? That apparently clumsiness is a way for them to learn about their environment. The light bulb went on in the heads of Swiss researchers who, according to Live Science, are creating flying robots that do just that: use bumps for exploring their air space. This allows them to operate in unstructured, cluttered environments without the high overhead of remote sensing software. “The ability to actively bump around unfamiliar environments means that AirBurr could navigate even with the loss of GPS indoors or underground,” the article ended. “Having cheap swarms of such robots may prove the path forward for making robots ready for the real world.”
If a robot can be natural, can nature be considered robotic? Maybe plants and animals use a kind of robotics technology that was bioengineered by an Intelligent Designer. No wonder we can learn from them.
If a robot can be natural, can nature be considered robotic? Maybe plants and animals use a kind of robotics technology that was bioengineered by an Intelligent Designer. No wonder we can learn from them.
The cochlea in the inner ear, where sound is transmitted to the brain, has a spiral shape resembling a snail shell. It’s not just to save space, researchers have found.
The cochlea in the inner ear, where sound is transmitted to the brain, has a spiral shape resembling a snail shell. It’s not just to save space, researchers have found.
For many years, physiologists assumed that the coiled shape of the cochlea simply saved space. Six years ago, though, scientists found that the coiling has an auditory enhancement function: it improves perception of low-frequency vibrations, like having a mega-bass booster in your head (see 2/28/2006). Now, another function has been found for the peculiar spiral shape: it helps you locate sound vertically.
PhysOrg reported on work in China that tentatively identifies the spiral shape as critical for detecting the vertical orientation of a sound source. Having two ears helps us locate the direction of sound horizontally; that’s because the sound waves arrive at each ear a tiny fraction of a second apart, and the brain can use that delay to help us perceive stereo sound. That’s fine and good for a concert hall or headphones, but what if the sound is at different distances overhead? Two ears don’t help in that case, because each ear hears the sound at the same time. Bats, in particular, need that critical information as they hunt insects in the dark.
PhysOrg reported on work in China that tentatively identifies the spiral shape as critical for detecting the vertical orientation of a sound source. Having two ears helps us locate the direction of sound horizontally; that’s because the sound waves arrive at each ear a tiny fraction of a second apart, and the brain can use that delay to help us perceive stereo sound. That’s fine and good for a concert hall or headphones, but what if the sound is at different distances overhead? Two ears don’t help in that case, because each ear hears the sound at the same time. Bats, in particular, need that critical information as they hunt insects in the dark.
