Bionic Model Research Articles

Bionic structural design and model calculation for high toughness Si3N4f/BNi fibrous monolithic ceramic: A strategy from the fibrous cell and interface

Preeminent mechanical and dielectric performances are demonstrated by covalently bonded Si3N4 ceramics, yet their application range is still challenged because of limited toughness and sintering density. In this work, the Si3N4f/BNi fibrous monolithic ceramic with uniaxially arranged Si3N4 fibers cells separated by BN interfaces were successfully synthesized via hot-pressed sintering based on bionic structural design. The Si3N4f/BNi fibrous monolithic ceramics with bionic structure exhibited flexural strength, fracture toughness, and density of up to 501 MPa, 10.99 MPa m1/2, and 3.43 g/cm3, respectively. The results revealed that bionic structural design enables to significantly increase the toughness of the ceramic without sacrificing its strength. Furthermore, an original model for determining the flexural strength of fibrous monolithic ceramics was proposed, which can account for various shapes of fibrous cells. The findings of this research open up new prospects for achieving competitive mechanical performance of ceramics.

Fuzzy based Energy Efficient Rider Remora Routing protocol for secured communication in WSN network

Due to the resource constraint nature of WSN, ensuring secured communication in WSN is a challenging problem. Moreover, enhancing the network lifetime is one of the major issues faced by the existing studies. So, in order to secure the communication between WSNs and achieve improved network lifetime, a novel trust enabled routing protocol is proposed in this study. Initially, the clusters are constructed using Direct, Indirect, and Total Trust evaluations, which helps to identify the faulty nodes. After, an Improved Fuzzy-based Balanced Cost Cluster Head Selection (IFBECS) method is used to choose the cluster head (CH). Finally, to determine the best path from source to destination, a hybrid bionic energy-efficient routing model known as an Energy Efficient Rider Remora Routing (EERRR) protocol is introduced. To improve the network lifetime and throughput, the parameters like remaining energy of the CH, sensor node space, CH, etc., are considered by the utilized protocol. The proposed mechanism is implemented in NS-2 programming tool. The simulation results show that the proposed routing protocol has attained improved PDR of 97.92 % at the time period of 50 ms, reduced energy consumption of 3.336 at the time period of 100 ms, higher throughput of 86262.7 at the time period of 250 ms, and enhanced network lifetime of 1028.08 rounds in 200 nodes. Therefore, by attaining better results as compared with other existing protocols, it is clearly revealed that the proposed routing protocol is highly suitable for secured energy efficient WSN communication.

An anti-erosion cylindrical surface incorporating two bionic elements

Abstract Erosive is an inevitable and persistent form of wear, which predominantly occurs on curved surfaces within the realm of fluid machinery. To address this issue, we have developed a novel model incorporating two bionic elements, namely bionic arrangement and bionic morphology, and applied it to explore the erosion resistance of cylindrical surfaces. Specifically, the bionic arrangement is inspired by the phyllotaxis arrangement observed in plants, while the bionic morphology involves the incorporation of convex unit morphology found in desert organisms. Employing a comprehensive approach encompassing erosion testing and numerical analysis, we established two comparative test groups that differed in terms of arrangement and distribution density. This comprehensive analysis sheds light on the erosion resistance mechanism inherent in the combined bionic model. The findings of this study hold significant theoretical implications for the advancement of bionic anti-erosion technology and its practical applications in engineering.

Bionic Design of High-Performance Joints: Differences in Failure Mechanisms Caused by the Different Structures of Beetle Femur-Tibial Joints.

Beetle femur-tibial joints can bear large loads, and the joint structure plays a crucial role. Differences in living habits will lead to differences in femur-tibial joint structure, resulting in different mechanical properties. Here, we determined the structural characteristics of the femur-tibial joints of three species of beetles with different living habits. The tibia of Scarabaeidae Protaetia brevitarsis and Cetoniidae Torynorrhina fulvopilosa slide through cashew-shaped bumps on both sides of the femur in a guide rail consisting of a ring and a cone bump. The femur-tibial joint of Buprestidae Chrysodema radians is composed of a conical convex tibia and a circular concave femur. A bionic structure design was developed out based on the characteristics of the structure of the femur-tibial joints. Differences in the failure of different joint models were obtained through experiments and finite element analysis. The experimental results show that although the spherical connection model can bear low loads, it can maintain partial integrity of the structure and avoid complete failure. The cuboid connection model shows a higher load-bearing capacity, but its failure mode is irreversible deformation. As key parts of rotatable mechanisms, the bionic models have the potential for wide application in the high-load engineering field.

Bionic cell wall models: Utilizing TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers for fucoxanthin delivery systems

Fucoxanthin (FX) has various excellent biological properties but suffers from poor bioavailability. In this work, we build a bionic cell wall model using TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy)-oxidized cellulose. The bionic cell wall enhances the environmental stability of the liposomes and serves as a pH-responsive mechanism. The coating processes protect the structure of liposomes and fucoxanthin under the acidic conditions of the stomach. The bionic cell wall dispersed and released the fucoxanthin in simulated intestinal fluid. Overall, the protective and release capabilities highlight the potential of cellulose in a bionic cell wall model and provide diversity for the structural design of carriers for delivering functional bioactive components.

Versatile and Tunable Performance of PVA/PAM Tridimensional Hydrogel Models for Tissues and Organs: Augmenting Realism in Advanced Surgical Training.

The increasing complexity and difficulty of surgical procedures have led to a rise in medical errors within clinical settings in recent years. Gastrointestinal diseases, in particular, present significant medical challenges and impose substantial economic burdens, underscoring the urgent need for experiential, high-fidelity gastrointestinal surgical training tools. This study leverages patient-specific computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, combined with 3D printed manufacturing, to develop hydrogel organ models with tunable performance and tissue-mimicking softness. These properties are achieved by regulating the freeze-thaw cycles, cross-linking agents, and the concentration of incorporated antibacterial nanoparticles in DN hydrogels. Through the application of indirect 3D printing and the "sacrificial material method", we successfully fabricate organ tissues such as the stomach, intestines, and blood vessels with high precision. In ex vivo surgical training demonstrations, these tissue-like soft hydrogels provide an effective platform for preoperative simulation and surgical training in digestive surgery, accommodating various surgical procedures and accurately simulating intraoperative bleeding. The development of advanced bionic organ models with specific and tunable characteristics based on DN hydrogels is poised to significantly advance surgical training, medical device testing, and the reform of medical education.

Research on Dual-Phase Composite Forming Process and Platform Construction of Radial Gradient Long Bone Scaffold.

The structure and composition of natural bone show gradient changes. Most bone scaffolds prepared by bone tissue engineering with single materials and structures present difficulties in meeting the needs of bone defect repair. Based on the structure and composition of natural long bones, this study proposed a new bone scaffold preparation technology, the dual-phase composite forming process. Based on the composite use of multiple biomaterials, a bionic natural long bone structure bone scaffold model with bone scaffold pore structure gradient and material concentration gradient changes along the radial direction was designed. Different from the traditional method of using multiple nozzles to achieve material concentration gradient in the scaffold, the dual-phase composite forming process in this study achieved continuous 3D printing preparation of bone scaffolds with gradual material concentration gradient by controlling the speed of extruding materials from two feed barrels into a closed mixing chamber with one nozzle. Through morphological characterization and mechanical property analysis, the results showed that BS-G (radial gradient long bone scaffolds prepared by the dual-phase composite forming process) had obvious pore structure gradient changes and material concentration gradient changes, while BS-T (radial gradient long bone scaffolds prepared by printing three concentrations of material in separate regions) had a discontinuous gradient with obvious boundaries between the parts. The compressive strength of BS-G was 1.00 ± 0.19 MPa, which was higher than the compressive strength of BS-T, and the compressive strength of BS-G also met the needs of bone defect repair. The results of in vitro cell culture tests showed that BS-G had no cytotoxicity. In a Sprague-Dawley rat experimental model, blood tests and key organ sections showed no significant difference between the experimental group and the control group. The prepared BS-G was verified to have good biocompatibility and lays a foundation for the subsequent study of the bone repair effect of radial gradient long bone scaffolds in large animals.

HTEC foot: A novel foot structure for humanoid robots combining static stability and dynamic adaptability

Passive bionic feet, known for their human-like compliance, have garnered attention for their potential to achieve notable environmental adaptability. In this paper, a method was proposed to unifying passive bionic feet static supporting stability and dynamic terrain adaptability through the utilization of the Rigid-Elastic Hybrid (REH) dynamics model. First, a bionic foot model, named the Hinge Tension Elastic Complex (HTEC) model, was developed by extracting key features from human feet. Furthermore, the kinematics and REH dynamics of the HTEC model were established. Based on the foot dynamics, a nonlinear optimization method for stiffness matching (NOSM) was designed. Finally, the HTEC-based foot was constructed and applied onto BHR-B2 humanoid robot. The foot static stability is achieved. The enhanced adaptability is observed as the robot traverses square steel, lawn, and cobblestone terrains. Through proposed design method and structure, the mobility of the humanoid robot is improved.

A Novel Electronic Nose Using Biomimetic Spiking Neural Network for Mixed Gas Recognition

Odors existing in natural environment are typically mixtures of a large variety of chemical compounds in specific proportions. It is a challenging task for an electronic nose to recognize the gas mixtures. Most current research is based on the overall response of sensors and uses relatively simple datasets, which cannot be used for complex mixtures or rapid monitoring scenarios. In this study, a novel electronic nose (E-nose) using a spiking neural network (SNN) model was proposed for the detection and recognition of gas mixtures. The electronic nose integrates six commercial metal oxide sensors for automated gas acquisition. SNN with a simple three-layer structure was introduced to extract transient dynamic information and estimate concentration rapidly. Then, a dataset of mixed gases with different orders of magnitude was established by the E-nose to verify the model’s performance. Additionally, random forests and the decision tree regression model were used for comparison with the SNN-based model. Results show that the model utilizes the dynamic characteristics of the sensors, achieving smaller mean squared error (MSE < 0.01) and mean absolute error (MAE) with less data compared to random forest and decision tree algorithms. In conclusion, the electronic nose system combined with the bionic model shows a high performance in identifying gas mixtures, which has a great potential to be used for indoor air quality monitoring in practical applications.

Combining BioTRIZ and Multi-Factor Coupling for Bionic Mechatronic System Design

To realize the design process of bionic mechatronic systems, involving mapping from engineering to biology and inversion from biology to engineering, a novel design paradigm is introduced that integrates BioTRIZ with multi-factor coupling bionics. In the mapping stage from engineering to biology, BioTRIZ is employed to frame the concrete engineering issue as a general conflicting problem. The biological solution is refined by amalgamating the BioTRIZ solution derived from the contradiction matrix with biological instances. In the inversion stage of biology to engineering, a novel approach is proposed for constructing a bionic multi-factor coupling model, drawing inspiration from the establishment of biological multi-factor coupling model. This allows for a seamless correspondence between biological elements, such as morphology and behavior, and their respective engineering counterparts, including structure and algorithms. This correspondence ultimately achieves the engineering conceptual model that is rooted in biological principles. The practical application of this methodology is exemplified through a multi-biometric fusion bionic active vision system, underscoring its feasibility and efficacy.

Effect of bionic texture on the lubrication efficiency and mechanical efficiency loss for rotating gears

In order to enhance lubrication effectiveness and transmission efficiency in gear transmission, it is imperative to minimize mechanical efficiency losses and frictional wear of the gears during the lubrication process. This paper proposes a bionic design scheme for the tooth surface structure of gears based on the surface texture of bay scallop shells, considering the operational conditions within the gearbox. Firstly, the microstructure of the bay scallop shell surface is analyzed, and a bionic gear mapping model based on the bay scallop shell surface is established. Meanwhile, the oil coverage rate and convective heat transfer coefficient of gear surfaces with different textures was analyzed using finite element analysis. The results showed that the oil coverage rate of gear tooth surfaces with bionic fringes surpassed that of conventional gear lubrication. Thirdly, based on the jet lubrication test calculation, it is proposed that the bionic gear exhibits a lower mechanical efficiency loss and wear mass compared to conventional gears, while the mechanical efficiency loss and wear mass of arc groove gear type lower than that of vertical groove gears. Finally, the optimal structure of the arc groove gear was predicted through orthogonal data analysis, and the validity of the data prediction was verified through experiments and simulations. The optimal combination of texture parameters for the arc groove gear is as follows: a texture depth of 225 μm, a texture width of 275 μm, a texture interval of 275 μm, and a texture length of 1600 μm. As a result, compared with the conventional gear, the lubrication efficiency of the optimized gear is increased by 41.98%, heat dissipation efficiency increased by 32.21%, and mechanical efficiency loss is decreased by 89.39%, the wear mass is reduced by 74.33%.

Investigating the Mechanical Performance of Bionic Wings Based on the Flapping Kinematics of Beetle Hindwings.

The beetle, of the order Coleoptera, possesses outstanding flight capabilities. After completing flight, they can fold their hindwings under the elytra and swiftly unfold them again when they take off. This sophisticated hindwing structure is a result of biological evolution, showcasing the strong environmental adaptability of this species. The beetle's hindwings can provide biomimetic inspiration for the design of flapping-wing micro air vehicles (FWMAVs). In this study, the Asian ladybird (Harmonia axyridis Pallas) was chosen as the bionic research object. Various kinematic parameters of its flapping flight were analyzed, including the flight characteristics of the hindwings, wing tip motion trajectories, and aerodynamic characteristics. Based on these results, a flapping kinematic model of the Asian ladybird was established. Then, three bionic deployable wing models were designed and their structural mechanical properties were analyzed. The results show that the structure of wing vein bars determined the mechanical properties of the bionic wing. This study can provide a theoretical basis and technical reference for further bionic wing design.

Spatially Resolved Defect Characterization and Fidelity Assessment for Complex and Arbitrary Irregular 3D Printing Based on 3D P-OCT and GCode.

To address the challenges associated with achieving high-fidelity printing of complex 3D bionic models, this paper proposes a method for spatially resolved defect characterization and fidelity assessment. This approach is based on 3D printer-associated optical coherence tomography (3D P-OCT) and GCode information. This method generates a defect characterization map by comparing and analyzing the target model map from GCode information and the reconstructed model map from 3D P-OCT. The defect characterization map enables the detection of defects such as material accumulation, filament breakage and under-extrusion within the print path, as well as stringing outside the print path. The defect characterization map is also used for defect visualization, fidelity assessment and filament breakage repair during secondary printing. Finally, the proposed method is validated on different bionic models, printing paths and materials. The fidelity of the multilayer HAP scaffold with gradient spacing increased from 0.8398 to 0.9048 after the repair of filament breakage defects. At the same time, the over-extrusion defects on the nostril and along the high-curvature contours of the nose model were effectively detected. In addition, the finite element analysis results verified that the 60-degree filling model is superior to the 90-degree filling model in terms of mechanical strength, which is consistent with the defect detection results. The results confirm that the proposed method based on 3D P-OCT and GCode can achieve spatially resolved defect characterization and fidelity assessment in situ, facilitating defect visualization and filament breakage repair. Ultimately, this enables high-fidelity printing, encompassing both shape and function.

Advancements in Visual Prosthetics: The Visionary Bionic Model

Abstract: The Visionary Bionic Model represents a paradigm shift in the field of visual prosthetics, offering new hope to individuals afflicted by retinal degenerative diseases. This journal paper provides a comprehensive overview of the foundational framework, operational mechanics, and advancements associated with the Visionary Bionic Model. Beginning with a historical context, the paper traces the evolution of bionic eyes from early conceptualizations to contemporary innovations. It explores the technological underpinnings of the Visionary Bionic Model, including microelectrode arrays, image acquisition systems, and signal processing algorithms. Clinical trials and case studies are examined to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Visionary Bionic Model in restoring sight to individuals with visual impairments. The paper also discusses challenges and limitations inherent in current bionic vision systems, such ` resolution and compatibility issues, and proposes avenues for future research and development. Ethical considerations surrounding accessibility, affordability, and informed consent are addressed, emphasizing the importance of responsible innovation. Ultimately, the Visionary Bionic Model holds promise as a transformative solution for individuals living with retinal degenerative diseases, offering renewed possibilities for enhanced vision and quality of life.

Enhanced Stability and Solidification of Volatile Eugenol by Cyclodextrin-Metal Organic Framework for Nasal Powder Delivery.

Eugenol (Eug) holds potential as a treatment for bacterial rhinosinusitis by nasal powder drug delivery. To stabilization and solidification of volatile Eug, herein, nasal inhalable γ-cyclodextrin metal-organic framework (γ-CD-MOF) was investigated as a carrier by gas-solid adsorption method. The results showed that the particle size of Eug loaded by γ-CD-MOF (Eug@γ-CD-MOF) distributed in the range of 10-150μm well. In comparison to γ-CD and β-CD-MOF, γ-CD-MOF has higher thermal stability to Eug. And the intermolecular interactions between Eug and the carriers were verified by characterizations and molecular docking. Based on the bionic human nasal cavity model, Eug@γ-CD-MOF had a high deposition distribution (90.07 ± 1.58%). Compared with free Eug, the retention time Eug@γ-CD-MOF in the nasal cavity was prolonged from 5min to 60min. In addition, the cell viability showed that Eug@γ-CD-MOF (Eug content range 3.125-200µg/mL) was non-cytotoxic. And the encapsulation of γ-CD-MOF could not reduce the bacteriostatic effect of Eug. Therefore, the biocompatible γ-CD-MOF could be a potential and valuable carrier for nasal drug delivery to realize solidification and nasal therapeutic effects of volatile oils.

Revealing the inherent running mechanism of quadruped mammals based on a novel bionic stiffness model

In this paper, the limb of a goat is chosen as the research object, and according to mammalian anatomy, a bionic model called the quasi inverted pendulum with “J” curve spring (QIPJCS) model with nonlinear stiffness is built, and the equations of motion are derived. Based on these equations, the advantages of the QIPJCS model are illustrated from the aspect of the stable motion region by the SFA (step-to-fall analysis) numerical simulation method. These results are compared with the traditional SLIP model. Furthermore, the ARM (Apex-Return-Map) of this model is built, and the fixed points are analyzed. Finally, according to the locomotion law of goats running with gallop gaits and the analysis of the dead-point support effect, the dynamic motion mechanism of goat limbs is elucidated, and the equivalent mechanism model is built. Based on the mechanism, the dynamic mechanical analysis indicates that the joint driving torque can be minimized to conserve energy by optimizing the landing angle. The running mechanism research of quadruped mammals, which is based on the novel bionic stiffness model, provides theoretical support for the design of high-performance mechanical legs and the motion control of bionic robots.

Numerical Simulation Study on the Effect of Resistance Microstructure on Blood Flow Resistance

The use of bionic drag-reducing microstructures in artificial blood vessels can effectively reduce their resistance to blood flow. The characteristics of the blood vessel are analysed and simplified, and the resistance reduction effects of three bionic microstructure models, namely V-shaped, rectangular and semi-circular, are compared and analysed by numerical simulations, and the resistance reduction effects of the three groove structures in the tubular model are verified. The results show that the V-shaped groove structure occupies a smaller volume compared to the rectangular and semi-circular structures of the same size, has a significant drag reduction effect, is highly achievable and stable, and is the best choice as a drag reduction microstructure for artificial blood vessels. In addition, the wall shear stresses of the V-groove structure were further analysed to verify the shear effect of this microstructure in artificial blood vessels and to reveal the shear mechanism of the V-groove microstructure.

Non-invasive FBG-based contact lens for continuous intraocular pressure monitoring

The intraocular pressure (IOP), or pressure inside the eye, is one of the key indicator for glaucoma diagnosis and treatment. The present work shows the design and fabrication of a non-invasive Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) based contact lens for continuous IOP monitoring. By employing wet etching to reduce the FBG diameter, FBG based contact lens sensitivity and mechanical flexibility are enhanced. The contact lens is made of an optical fiber with a small core diameter that has an inscribed FBG of length 3 mm and is etched for a length of 40 mm to facilitate coiling the eFBG during fabrication. The soft contact lens was fabricated using flexible thin film technology with a transparent and flexible etched Fiber Bragg Grating (eFBG) integrated within flexible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) for sensing corneal deformations brought about by IOP variations. Experimental studies on the bionic eyeball model show that the Bragg wavelength shift is highly linear (r2 = 0.9694), with a very good sensitivity of 49.243 pm/mmHg in the IOP pressure range of 0 to 50 mmHg. Due to its ease of fabricating, simplicity of design, and ability to continuously measure pressure with good repeatability and stability, the proposed sensor thus offers a potential solution for IOP monitoring.

Affective product form bionic design based on functional analysis

To address the challenge of the absence of automated design and evaluation methods encompassing both functional and emotional analysis in product form bionic design (PFBD), this study introduces a novel affective PFBD method based on functional analysis. Firstly, the target product, target emotion and target creature are identified through questionnaire surveys and statistical analysis. Elliptical Fourier analysis and principal component analysis are employed to parameterize the shape outlines of the target products and creature, yielding principal component score data capturing their shape features. Secondly, product form and biological shape are fused by utilizing a proposed fusion generation operator to generate diverse PFBD conceptual schemes. Finally, a comprehensive multi-dimensional evaluation method, incorporating the functional analysis model, bionic evaluation model and emotional evaluation model, is formulated to assess the conceptual schemes and identify the optimal scheme. To validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method, it is applied to the automated generative design and evaluation of water cup shapes. The outcome reveals the identification of an optimal solution that not only satisfies the functional requirements of the product but also addresses user emotional needs. The results underscore the method's outstanding performance in PFBD involving both functional and emotional analysis, establishing it as an effective tool for designers to efficiently generate a variety of solutions, thereby ensuring the rationality and scientific foundation of product design.

Design, construction and solid-liquid separation performance of a human colon inspired soft-elastic reactor (CSER): Breakage, emptying, and solid-liquid separation of the agar gel particles

A novel colon soft-elastic reactor (CSER), inspired by the human ascending colon and cecum, has been developed and investigated using a model product system. This CSER replicates the behavior of the ascending colon in humans, achieving both peristalsis and segmental propulsion. The design of the bionic colon model is based on silicone and adopts a bag-like structure resembling colon anatomy. Peristalsis and segmental propulsion are simulated using a unique mechano-electric setup. Varying the depth of rolling motion resulted in different breakages of agar gel particles. Increasing the squeezing depth of the rollers against the silicone wall from 70 % to 100 % led to an increase in small-sized particles (< 3.5 mm) from 6.5 % to 66.7 % of the total particle mass. Moreover, increasing the frequency of segmental propulsion from 3.3 to 38.6 times/h reduced the half-life (t1/2) of agar gel particles from 137.9 to 0.4 min. The t1/2 was significantly higher for the 3.0 wt% agar gel (207.4 min) compared to the 1.0 wt% agar gel (113.5 min). During CSER squeezing, solid agar gel particles move upward while liquid flows downward along the wall due to gravity. These findings demonstrate the CSER effectively simulates bottom-to-top chyme transport in the ascending colon.