Whales, Sharks, and Biomimicry
In the human-dominated world of our time, it’s important to recognize how much can be gained by learning from and mimicking nature in technology. When executed successfully, this process, known as biomimicry, is immensely valuable to society. Velcro, a ubiquitous technology, is a common example of biomimicry. Applications of the unique physical attributes of humpback whales and most fast-swimming sharks in renewable energy technology are more examples. In my talk, I will provide the necessary fluid mechanics principles to understand the hydrodynamic abilities of these species and how they enhance wind turbine performance. I will also address the unsuccessful mimicking of sharks’ electroreceptive gel as a source of thermoelectric power generation in order to illustrate limitations of the process. When applied appropriately, the idea of biomimicry is powerful and the benefits impressive.