Inspired by the sensory precision of these animals, researchers have created bio-inspired sensors to detect currents and vibrations, providing safety for offshore wind farms.
Nature never ceases to amaze us. Human ingenuity based on nature even less so. A research team led by Dr. Yaqing Jin, an assistant professor at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), has developed a sensor inspired by seal whiskers that promises to improve the safety of offshore wind turbines . These sensors, capable of detecting vibrations and changes in water flow , have been designed to protect turbines from severe ocean conditions, such as storms and strong winds, that can damage their structures. This breakthrough could mark a milestone in the expansion of offshore wind energy, a sector with great potential but exposed to significant environmental risks.
The project, funded by the Gulf Research Program of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, arose from observations of how seals use their whiskers to sense the marine environment. “The geometry of seal whiskers is not circular; they’re shaped like twisted cylinders ,” Jin explains. This design allows seals to detect subtle changes in the water, and sensors that mimic this sensitivity have been created in the lab, potentially warning turbine operators of adverse conditions.
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Nature as inspiration: seal whiskers
Seal whiskers (commonly called vibrissae) have evolved to be incredibly sensitive flow detectors . As a seal moves through the ocean , its wavy, twisted vibrissae pick up tiny movements and vibrations that guide it toward prey. Inspired by this ability, Dr. Jin designed a sensor that mimics the spiral structure of these whiskers to monitor ocean currents. “These twisted cylinder shapes allow seals to detect changes in the marine environment,” he says .
Jin’s bioinspired sensors were designed and tested in UTD’s Fluids, Turbulence Control and Renewable Energy lab. To simulate the ocean environment, the team built a water channel about two meters wide in which water flows at different speeds, emulating real ocean conditions. This allowed them to analyze how the sensors react to changing flow, a key aspect for predicting dangerous storms or currents that could affect offshore turbines.
Safety for offshore wind energy
Using sensors inspired by seal whiskers offers a key advantage over traditional methods based on sound waves, which can negatively impact marine life. The vibration sensors developed by Jin detect flow changes without emitting noise, minimising their environmental impact. “Vibration-sensitive sensors have advantages over underwater sensing technology that uses sound waves, which can disturb marine life ,” explains Jin.
But there is more. These sensors can help turbine operators anticipate dangerous conditions , such as high waves or strong currents – meaning they don’t have to wait for trouble to strike. Offshore turbines are complex structures that require anchoring to the seabed and are exposed to constant wave motion. An early warning system provided by these sensors could allow technical teams to act quickly and prevent further damage to the turbines, safeguarding both workers and offshore infrastructure.
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Juan Diego Polo
Biomimicry: technological solutions inspired by nature
Biomimicry , or the art of imitating nature, has been a source of innovation for centuries. This approach seeks to understand how living organisms solve problems and apply those principles to technological solutions. One of the best-known historical examples is Leonardo da Vinci , who looked at the wings of birds and bats in his attempt to design flying machines in the 15th century. Although he was not completely successful, his work laid the groundwork for future inventors. Biomimicry is based on the form, functions, and mechanisms that nature has perfected over millions of years in a masterful display of evolution.
A prominent example is the work of Juan de la Cierva , the Spanish inventor of the autogyro, a precursor to the modern helicopter. In the 1920s, de la Cierva sought to solve the stability problem that aircraft presented when landing. Inspired by the flight of sycamore seeds, which spin in order to descend slowly, he designed a system of rotary wings that stabilized the aircraft when it made contact with the ground.
Biomimicry remains a key tool in modern science, with examples in all disciplines. In robotics, the flexibility of octopus tentacles has been a source of robotic arms that can delicately grasp objects, while the structure of insect eyes has been used in the design of panoramic cameras. Another famous case is the Japanese bullet train , whose nose design is inspired by the kingfisher’s beak, reducing noise when entering and exiting tunnels.
