Moreover, among many other inventions, nature has been the biggest source of inspiration. Take Velcro, for example, which was invented by its Swiss inventor when he took his dog for a walk in the countryside and got thistle barbs on his pants and the animal's fur. NASA later used it in space travel. Now, with the help of 3D printing, bionics has taken on even more of his role, as it is able to produce complex geometric shapes.
Bionics in 3D printing
The role of 3D printing in bionics
As mentioned earlier, bionics and 3D printing have been increasingly combined, especially with the development of new, more natural materials and the invocation of new patterns or structures in the design of parts. It is this ability to mimic nature that allows 3D printing to play an important role, and this applies to a wide range of industries such as architecture, consumer goods and fashion.
One such example is a 3D printed bionic shoe made using SLS technology and flexible TPE, a material that offers great comfort and flexibility. This original design is reminiscent of "roots and life", as shown in the image below. Another project is a salamander robot that can swim or crawl underwater just like a real salamander. Called Pleurobot, it was developed by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL). The robot was created with a 3D printed skeleton and motorized joints that mimic the movement of a salamander.
△Earth Moc, 3D printed bionic shoe & Pleurobot, fire lizard machine
Lattice structure in 3D printing
The lattice structures used extensively in 3D printing are inspired by nature. You may have seen this shape in many products, similar to a honeycomb structure, which has cushioning properties when applied to different items. For example, the famous sports brand Adidas uses it in its 4DFWD shoe, which is 3D printed with Carbon technology and 40% bio-based 3D printing material. You may also see it in items such as cyclist helmets or backpacks with shock-absorbing mesh to provide greater comfort while hiking. In addition to providing more comfort, this approach uses less material and optimizes the overall weight of the object.
△ One of the safest bike helmets & backpack with shock absorbing mesh & Adidas 4DFWD shoes.
Finally, let's look at a building that is called the "Tower of Life". It is located in Senegal and mimics a baobab tree. The tower has an autonomous ecosystem in which it generates more energy than it has in itself thanks to its external structure that creates a microclimate, photovoltaic glass for electricity generation, a reservoir in the foundation and a bioreactor capable of converting organic waste into energy, note that the whole tower is 3D printed with local soil.
So, bionics is everywhere, and 3D printing is a technology that allows us to make it happen. I believe that in the future the combination of 3D printing and bionics can bring greater benefits to human life.
