The Natural Robotics Contest: crowdsourced biomimetic design

Area of Science:

• Robotics and Biomimetic Design
• Science Communication
• Environmental Engineering

Background:

• Biomimetic and bioinspired design offers accessible entry points into science and technology.
• Public intuition about nature can be leveraged for engineering innovation.
• The Natural Robotics Contest bridges public interest in nature with robotics development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore public perceptions of nature and pressing engineering challenges through contest submissions.
• To present a case study of biomimetic robot design, from concept to functional prototype.
• To foster interest in nature-inspired design and enhance the connection between nature and engineering.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of submissions to the Natural Robotics Contest to gauge public ideas and priorities.
• Detailed documentation of the design and fabrication process for the winning biomimetic robot concept.
• Development of an open-source robotic fish prototype featuring novel 3D-printed gill structures.

Main Results:

• Contest submissions revealed public perspectives on nature and identified key engineering problems.
• A robotic fish prototype was successfully engineered, inspired by natural gill structures.
• The winning design utilized novel 3D-printed gill structures for microplastic filtration.

Conclusions:

• Biomimetic design competitions serve as effective platforms for science communication and innovation.
• The developed robotic fish demonstrates a practical application of bioinspired engineering for environmental remediation.
• Further integration of natural principles into engineering can address significant societal challenges.