Biomimetics
0199001-19
[DEFINITION]
Creating functions that imitate the motions or the mechanisms of
organisms.
[DESCRIPTION]
In devising microscopic mechanisms suitable for the micromachines,
the mechanisms and structures of organisms that have survived severe natural selection may serve as
good examples to imitate. One example is the microscopic three-dimensional structures that were
modeled after the exoskeletons and elastic coupling systems of insects. In exoskeletons, hard
epidermis is coupled with an elastic body, and all movable parts use the deformation of the elastic
body to move. The use of elastic deformation would be advantageous in the microscopic world to
avoid the friction. Also, the exoskeleton structure equates to a closed link mechanism in
kinematics and has the characteristic that some actuator movement can be transmitted to multiple
links.
[References]
(6)(13)
[Related Terms]
Microdynamics