Photonics-based eReader

I just read that the AmazonKindle is getting competition ... in color:

[The new Qualcom eBook] borrows the same elements that allow a butterfly’s iridescent wings to shimmer, using tiny flexible membranes that react to electrical charges, overlaid onto a mirrored surface. Light reflected back out through those membranes is refracted so that interfering wavelengths create colors, and because the membranes used are bistable, once they have been set to display a certain color they require virtually no power to maintain it, only if it needs to be changed. The system also needs no color filters, no strong backlighting to be visible in direct sunlight and no polarizing lenses.

More here.

Bombardier Beetles inspire new nebulizers and fuel injection systems

µMist™ via [epsrc]

IMG via utep

Butterfly Ornithopter

A stable, rubber powered flying robot, with a wing beat of 10 flaps per second. AMAZING!

[via Smart-machines]

Dr. Peter Vukusic

Something else of interest from Dr. Vukusic.



From BBC:
Cyphochilus beetle, brilliant whiteness from thin scales

Science Article:
Vukusic et al. 2007

Harvard Robobees

Harvard Robo"bees" (link), sadly their robobees don't sting.

Dynamic Architecture

Mantis Shrimp Eyes

Mantis Shrimp Eyes Might Inspire New High-Def Devices

In the marvelously sensitive eyes of mantis shrimps, scientists have found cells that could inspire an overhaul of humanity’s comparatively clumsy communications hardware.
More here ...

DASH Hexapedal Cockroach-Inspired Robot

DASH Hexapedal Cockroach-Inspired Robot Survives Large Falls, Dashes Off



M's lecture embedded.

Biomimicry Lecture

Hi, my biomimicry lecture for Eng298 is now online (it is the same as the seminar I gave in Entomology last Spring).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wILtQXiwtVs

The auroleum of Mantophasmatodea

I looked up the little thing I read about this morning. It's on one of the craziest of insects: the heelwalkers. Apparently the article was published in May, so I apologize for the delay, but it's still kind of cool. Read more about how they walk and what kinds of glands they have in their feet here.

Sahara Forest Project

The Sahara Forest Project is a powerful system that could potentially produce enough energy for both Africa and Europe. It aims to provide renewable energy, food, and water to an arid region, creating an oasis in the largely uninhabitable region.

In their system, the sea water collected from the air/pumped in evaporates at the front of the greenhouse, and creates a suitable environment for growing crops in an otherwise desolate area. The collected water then condenses at the back of the greenhouse and is used to clean mirrors on the solar power array which uses them to concentrate the sun's rays to turn the water into steam, driving conventional turbines and generating electricity.


The insect inspiration. A namibian fog beetle tipping its cool bumpy abdomen up to drink the droplets of condensed water running down its back.
Image via flickr: Andrea Sosio

Sahara Forest Project

Insect Locomotion

With music. :-)

Swarming robots

Minute robots exhibiting social insect behaviors, cooperative foraging, and simple communication.

I-SWARM (via botjunkie)

Biorobotics Lab

http://micro.seas.harvard.edu/research.html

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid263777539?bctid=1118118784

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid263777539?bctid=1117748070


A lot of work done in this laboratory (Harvard Microrobotics Laboratory) was directly inspired by insects (flying, walking, climbing arthropod-like robots with decentralized control systems).

Communication in animals

Cellular Automata

For communication we use analog signals which are complex, but great. The advantages include sending numerous digital signals at one time (parallel computing) while utilizing a lot of computing power. Numerous problems arise from this approach such as signal degradation, noise, corrosion, phase delay, etc. If, on the other hand, we could transport signals over a digital network, rather than the analog one we use right now for digital media, we would eliminate a number of problems associated with the 'real' world.

• Paper: Digital wires

Motion generation mechanisms and dynamic adhesion capabilities utilized by worms are of great interest for the advancement of some novel MEMS technologies. These are 4 images of Swiss Horn Worm Schutzi, which can provide some inspiration for the MEMS community if studied systematically. Also the following link might be of specific interest:

http://www.sandia.gov/LabNews/LN02-20-04/labnews02-20-04.pdf

Microglider

A lab focused on learning how to design a glider from examples in nature, flying geckos, locusts, crickets, flying squirrels, gliding fish, to name a few. Combining the gliding with hopping mechanism, the robots can simulate short distance grasshopper 'flights', and creates a self-deploying glider.

Link:
Biomimetic Jumping Microglider

Also:
Big Brother is Watching. Harvard lab creates life sized robotic fly.
(credits to Jung-koo)