Fran Scott takes a unique look into some of the latest biomimetics technology and talks to some of the pioneers working on ways to interpret nature's biological mechanisms.
This series features demonstrations on how to experiment with biomimetics in the lab.
This series is suitable for GCSE Design and Technology and touches upon topics that appear in AQA, OCR A, EDEXCEL, EDUQAS, WJEC GCSE in England and Wales, and CCEA GCSE in Northern Ireland and SQA National 5 in Scotland.
Introduction to Biomimetics - Inspiration from nature. video
An overview of biomimetics - the study of copying nature's mechanisms to solve design problems in a resource suitable for Key Stage 3/4 and GCSE.
Smart fabric inspired by pinecones. video
Scientist Veronika Kapsali presents her research into pinecones, and how it is helping her design a fabric that automatically cools the wearer if they get too hot.
Auxetic materials used in protective wear. video
An explanation of the auxetic material found in the inner layer of a mussel shell and how it absorbs impact by becoming denser when stretched.
Technology based on biology. video
Designer Amy Congdon is using living materials like bone tissue and bacteria to grow new products in this design and technology resource for Key Stage 3, 4 and GCSE.
The development of robot design inspired by nature. video
We see how by looking at worms, elephants' trunks and octopuses' tentacles, engineers are developing robots with softer, more natural limbs, rather than the traditional stiff skeletal ones.
