BIOINSPIRATION
BIOINSPIRATION
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Summary
Bioinspiration is the emulation of the models, systems, and elements of nature for the purpose of solving complex human problems. Nature has gone through evolution over the 3.8 billion years. Organisms that are more adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and pass on the genes that aided their success. This process causes species to have high performance using commonly found materials. An extensive research on bioinspiration therefore makes us leverage insights into how Mother Nature builds, controls and manufactures and furthermore develop a new class of disruptive technology solutions for mechanical engineering development. In short, the widespread adoption of nature-inspired solutions will catalyze a new era in mechanical engineering that benefits both people and the planet. Our laboratory is committed to the development of biologically inspired engineering (i.e., bioinspiration). Some key projects of research are as follows.
Muscle-inspired nanocomposites with controllable mechanoelectrical properties
A functional polymer-matrix composite (PMC) with controllable material properties is emerging as a promising material for the smart sensors in structural health monitoring (SHM). A GnF/PDMS composite is developed as a new functional PMC by blending graphite nanoflakes (GnFs) with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) where GnF and PDMS are used as a reinforcing/conductive filler and an elastic host matrix, respectively. We characterize the mechanoelectrical property-controllable GnF/PDMS composite, mainly focusing on the following issues: (i) determination of the best solvent for the preparation of a GnF/PDMS composite solution, (ii) exploration of changes in the mechanoelectrical properties of the functional PMC induced by variations in the aspect ratio (AR) and concentration of GnF. The empirical models for predicting the mechanoelectrical properties of the functional PMC are also intensively studied.
Researcher funders and partners
National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), Agency for Defense Development (ADD), Hanwha Aerospace, University of Hawaii at Manoa (UH Manoa)
Mosquito-inspired microneedle insertion
A mosquito is known to precisely and easily insert its proboscis to the human skin by pressing down a labium and vibrating a fascicle bundle. Its advanced skin-piercing mechanisms indicate that skin resistance to the insertion of needle-like objects can be changed by the application of mechanophysical stimuli. Here, we characterize the effect of the application of mechanophysical stimuli on skin resistance to microneedle insertion to find clues for inserting a microneedle in a deep and precise fashion with low force. The static mechanophysical stimulus (i.e., uniaxial/equibiaxial stretch) applied to the skin mainly affects the precision of microneedle insertion; the application of dynamic mechanophysical stimulus (i.e., vibration) controls the value and deviation of skin resistance to microneedle insertion. The application of mechanophysical stimuli therefore allows a microneedle to be deeply and easily inserted to the skin in a controlled way.
Researcher funders and partners
National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF)
Wearable biosensor arrays for human emotion recognition
Monitoring for the physiological state of a solider is essential to the realization of individual combat system. Despite all efforts over the last decades, there is no report to point out the optimal location of the wearable biosensors considering both monitoring accuracy and operational robustness. In response, we quantitatively measure body temperature and heartrate from 34 body parts using 2 kinds of biosensor arrays, each of which consists of a thermocouple (TC) sensor and either a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor or an electrocardiography (ECG) sensor. The optimal location is determined by scoring each body part in terms of signal intensity, convenience in use, placement durability, and activity impedance. The measurement leads to finding the optimal location of wearable biosensor arrays. Thumb and chest are identified as best body parts for TC/PPG sensors and TC/ECG sensors, respectively.
Researcher funders and partners
LIG Nex1, National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF)
Woodpecker-inspired shock absorption
A woodpecker drums the hard woody surface of a tree at a rate of 18 to 22 times per second with a deceleration of 1200 g, yet with no sign of blackout or brain damage. As a model in nature, a woodpecker is studied to find clues to develop a shock-absorbing system for micromachined devices. Its advanced shock-absorbing mechanism, which cannot be explained merely by allometric scaling, is analyzed in terms of endoskeletal structures. Based on these analyses, a new shock-absorbing system is designed to protect commercial micromachined devices from unwanted high-g and high-frequency mechanical excitations. The new shock-absorbing system consists of close-packed microglasses within two metal enclosures and a viscoelastic layer fastened by steel bolts, which are biologically inspired from a spongy bone contained within a skull bone encompassed with the hyoid of a woodpecker.
Researcher funders and partners
Agency for Defense Development (ADD), University of California at Berkeley (UC Berkeley), Harvard University
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