As reported by Engadget, a team of scientists at Harvard have been inspired by jumping spiders. Depth sensors map out details of an object, and then compute this data to perform an action. This technology is used in smart phones in functions such as facial recognition.

Studying the layers of the eyes of jumping spiders has enabled the team to develop a new type of lens called a metalens. This imitates the same process. The lens produces simultaneous images with different levels of blurring in order to create a highly performing depth sensor which requires less battery power and uses less memory.

Power grids – or beehives?

Regen Energy looked at the way bees swarm around a hive, and how their instinct directs each bee to carry out their function. This logic was applied to the Regen Energy grids.

Replacing central systems with local controllers with remote wireless communication enabled the grid to redirect power more efficiently, with the functionality to direct power according to need. This replicates the hive mentality where each bee knows what it needs to do in accordance with its location in the hive, and what the other bees are doing.

How a dog helped to develop Velcro

Another example of an innovation inspired by nature is Velcro. Now a common material in the clothing industry, Velcro was inspired by burdock burrs. This was developed by an engineer in the 1940’s, who recognised how effective the burrs were at sticking to his dogs coat.

Microscopic images helped to visualise how the spurs cling on with hooks, and this was then turned into an artificial material.

Robotic arms; inspired by elephants

As explained by Aranca, robotic arms were revolutionised when they become remodelled on the functionality of an elephants trunk. Using a series of discs and compressed air enabled robotic arms to function in a far more dexterous way.

This was an innovation on the original robotics, which were designed to mimic a human arm. These had restricted movement and were bulkier and less agile.