3D printed bio-inspired adhesives, friction force generation by modulating stiffness

For over a decade the use of bio inspired adhesives have been explored to achieve high reversable attachment on a wide range of surfaces. Based on the fibrillar adhesive toepads of geckos, many patterned adhesives have been produced that are able to form and preserve contact with rigid and smooth substrates. But on other types of surfaces, such...

The effect of nodal topology on cellular solid mechanics: A preliminary diagnostic experimental investigation

Additive manufacturing allows material structuring, supporting the fabrication of multiple-level structures or metamaterials. Through the lens of classical stress reduction, nature’s cellular solid structures feature stress-homogenizing nodal topologies. Avian long bones are an example. Research into the mechanics of open cell cellular solids...

The Hybrid Finger: Combining Nature with Technology into a 3D Printed Finger for a Hand Prosthesis with Minimized Assembly

Access to prosthetics is very limited to many potential<br/>users, while the need is high. There are two main reasons<br/>for this that both are related to the production of prosthetics: the lack of skilled people and high costs. Minimized<br/>assembly production using 3D printing could be a solution: no training is required, assembly takes only...

Evolving Asteroid Starships: A bio-inspired approach for interstellar space systems

The hostile and unpredictable environment of deep space requires a new conceptual approach for interstellar flight, one that differs radically from any current design in aerospace. A design solution is proposed in which the starship is attached to a C-type asteroid and whose architecture evolves over time. The starship gradually mines...