[Reading Science] What Was Created by Imitating Mountain Goats and Lizards?

A mountain goat on a cliff. It looks precarious, but the mountain goat has no problem moving on the cliff. What is the product made by mimicking the hooves of the mountain goat that freely climbs up and down the cliff?
[Photo by YouTube screen capture]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jonghwa] What products have been created by mimicking the mountain goat that freely climbs steep cliffs, the gecko lizard that can cling to walls or hang upside down from ceilings without falling, and the burdock seed with hook-shaped tips?

The secret to the mountain goat maintaining balance while moving on cliffs lies in its soft soles. The outer edge of the mountain goat's hoof is hard, but the inside is soft like rubber, allowing the hoof to adhere closely to rocks and prevent slipping. Hiking shoe soles have been designed by imitating these hooves, using soft rubber on the inside to increase grip and prevent slipping.

The gecko lizard has neither hook-like claws nor sticky soles, yet it can climb walls and cling upside down on ceilings without falling. Its soles have millions of very fine hairs called setae. Each seta branches into about a thousand spatula-shaped fibrils. While the force of a single seta is weak, millions combined produce strong adhesion.

This principle has been applied to create dry adhesive surfaces that can be easily attached and detached, robot hands that can grip glass bottles without slipping, and medical bandages. Additionally, the European Space Agency (ESA) is developing a mechanical gecko lizard capable of performing simple tasks in the vacuum of space.

Burdock seeds inspired the creation of Velcro, commonly called 'jjikjjiki' in Korean. The hook-shaped tips of burdock seeds cling firmly to clothes or animal fur and do not easily fall off. Using this property, Velcro was made with hooks on one side and loops on the other. Velcro has become an essential product used in everyday items such as sneakers and gloves, as well as in spacesuit manufacturing.

The technology that imitates the structures and functions of living organisms in nature and applies them to human life is called 'Biomimetics.' The term combines the Greek words 'bios' meaning life and 'mimesis' meaning imitation or mimicry. Biomimetic technology mimics features of almost all living organisms and is utilized in various practical fields.

Kitchen knives that do not require frequent sharpening are modeled after the front teeth of beavers, which can gnaw down a 30 cm diameter tree in 10 minutes. Aircraft propellers were inspired by the way maple seeds glide on the wind, and outdoor waterproof jackets were developed by referencing the microstructures on lotus leaves that repel water and prevent absorption.

The eyes of flies and dragonflies are compound eyes made up of many simple eyes, providing a wide field of view of 140 to 180 degrees without turning the head and allowing clear images even at a distance. Cameras with ultra-wide-angle lenses that provide a broad field of view for group photos in narrow rooms have been developed by mimicking this compound eye structure of flies and dragonflies.

A gecko lizard attached to the glass. Numerous setae on the gecko lizard's soles exert a strong adhesive force.
[Photo by YouTube screen capture]

Japan’s high-speed train Shinkansen reduced noise by mimicking the beak of a kingfisher, and the 'plane-guidance system' was devised based on the ability of honeybees to determine their position by observing the horizon during complex flight paths.

Although both are made of calcium carbide, chalk breaks easily while abalone shells are strong enough to resist being crushed underfoot. This is because abalone shells consist of thousands of layers of calcium carbide tiles stacked in an overlapping arrangement. Applying this layered structure, lightweight tank armor has been developed that minimizes damage from enemy attacks.

The patch-type injector that can deliver drugs into the body simply by attaching a patch was inspired by the fangs of venomous snakes that inject venom into prey’s skin. The painless patch-type injector contains about 100 fang-shaped structures embedded in a plastic plate, delivering medication within 5 seconds through the drug patch.

Biomimetic technology is thus a scientific solution found in nature. It evolves as humans discover accumulated know-how in nature and develop it into new technologies. We look forward to seeing what other technologies or products inspired by nature will be developed in the future.