Like so many other scientists, Dr Chris Forman looks to nature to find answers for existing engineering and technological problems. Forman is researching manufacturing with biological materials at the University of Cambridge. The goal of his work is best stated in his own words, “Nature has found remarkable ways of using small amounts of energy to combine common elements such as carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen into fascinating and complex assemblies…” With this statement, he is directly referring to the intricate and complex manufacture of an insect’s eye.
Scientists, engineers and Nature are always working with the same materials to create and build, and Nature out does the man-made devices on complexity. Deciphering the information in Nature will lead to extremely effective and efficient manufacturing process. Modeling of systems after biological designs is called biomimesis. It is becoming a popular solution to tackle difficult problems of energy efficiency and resource renewability, as well as manufacturing at the micro scale.
Forman says applications for microscopic lenses that resemble those on the eye of an insect could be manufactured from biomaterials and used in smart phones. But the limitations for biomimesis go far beyond consumer electronics. He also adds that biomaterials could be applied to food production and general manufacturing to improve renewability and energy efficiency.
Take the fruit fly mentioned in the video. Its eye is around 300 micrometers across, with each individual lens being around 10 micrometers. As Dr Forman said, the entire eye is made up of biodegradable materials. The goal of all this? To re-create the tiny machines of Nature.
Despite what scientific or any other authority may know, Nature proves time and time again that it knows best… Even when it comes to micro-technology.
Cabe
