Butterfly Flight Sparks Researchers to Seek Novel Approaches for Generating Force and Electricity
Scientists from the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) have successfully generated gripping force and electricity by drawing inspiration from a butterfly’s initial flight. The researchers explained that the butterfly’s wings, composed of chitin, undergo a process of dehydration while its veins are filled with blood during the unfolding stage of metamorphosis.
Fueling Associate Professor Javier G. Fernandez’s Research
In fact this results in forces that reorganize the chitinous material, providing the required strength and stiffness for flight. Associate Professor Javier G. Fernandez’s research is driven by this natural interplay of forces, water movement, and molecular organization, as stated in the press release published by the institution on Tuesday.
In their recent study, the research team investigated the adaptability and molecular transformations of chitinous materials in response to changes in the environment.
However, Assoc Prof Fernandez stated, “We have demonstrated that chitinous polymers, even after extraction from natural sources, retain their innate capacity to integrate various forces, molecular organization, and water content. This enables them to generate mechanical movement and produce electricity autonomously, eliminating the need for an external power source or control system.”
Unveiling Impressive Strength and Flexibility
To create their films, the researchers obtained chitinous polymers from discarded shrimp shells, forming films approximately 130.5 micrometers thick. However by stretching these chitinous films, they observed a similar phenomenon to the unfolding of butterfly wings, causing the crystalline structure to reorganize into a material capable of independent relaxation and contraction. As a result, the material displayed the ability to lift objects weighing over 4.5 kilograms.
The research team then constructed mechanical hands using these innovative films, which could be controlled by environmental changes and biochemical processes. The outcome was a gripping hand capable of exerting a force equivalent to 18 kilograms, surpassing half of an average adult’s grip strength.
Additionally, the team demonstrated that the material’s response to humidity changes could be harnessed to convert environmental energy into electricity.
Paving the Way for Ecologically Integrated Engineering
Assoc Prof Fernandez emphasized the significance of chitin in nature, serving diverse functions like forming insect wings and protective shells for molluscs. Understanding and utilizing chitin in its natural form is crucial for developing engineering applications that align with ecological integration and low energy consumption, as stated in the conclusion.
The study, published in Advanced Materials Technologies, explores passive actuation, a phenomenon garnering interest in engineering due to its potential in energy-efficient systems.
In fact, the research replicates the intricate interactions of the chitinous composition and manufacturing strategies found in arthropod exoskeletons, which integrate complex functionalities through external forces and water-driven molecular rearrangement.
To conclude, the proposed technology combines robust force generation with principles and materials inspired by biological organisms, paving the way for advancements in passive solutions integrated into biological systems. This breakthrough holds promise for applications in biorobotics, medical devices, and energy harvesting.
Read the original article on Interesting Enginering.
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