Bioinspired compliant joints for passive-automatic adaptability

Abstract

Modern engineering requires structural components that adapt to continuously changing conditions. Adaptability leads to multi-functionality, enhanced durability, and functional efficiency of mechanical systems. That is why adaptive structures have received increasing attention, especially in robotics, aerospace, automotive, and biomedical engineering. Current adaptive structures require significant active actuations and controls, factors that add to their complexity, weight, and production costs. In contrast, most biological adaptive systems respond to external stimuli in a passive-automatic way. Here, inspired by a striking biological example, i.e. insect wings and specifically their vein-joints, we develop structures in which adaptability is determined by the presence of a network of bioinspired compliant joints. By systematically changing the key geometric parameters of the bioinspired joints, we show that they can be designed in a variety of patterns to passively control the adaptability of the structures under loading. We further test the performance of the bioinspired joints in practice. The simplicity, scalability, and adjustability are the features that facilitate the widespread community uptake of our designs.