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The high‐performance optimized design of industrial sensor has been a challenging point of breakthrough in high‐end equipment manufacturing technology since its invention. Highly sensitive detectors have emerged during a long evolutionary period and have shown to be essential tools for ensuring species survival and reproduction. As a result, bio‐sensors have served as a great source of inspiration for high‐sensitivity and high‐performance sensor. Mechanism of bio‐sensors in mechanical detection of three common arthropods, as well as the most recent research results in bio‐mimetic devices, have been discussed in this study. The structure of bio‐detectors and bio‐sensors has been creatively split into environmental information capture device and transduction unit from the standpoint of biological sensing mechanisms and engineering technology. And development of bio‐sensors will rely on design and exploitation of mechanical structures and functional materials with various couplings. Exploration of bionic mechanical sensors is in its early stages and further research is required. High‐performance research on biological detectors and multi‐level bionic design on industrial sensors have been enhanced by revealing mechanism of environmental information capture in environment capture device from basic science and synthesizing new multi‐functional materials of transduction unit with a combination of biological materials and production technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible sensors, as a kind of indispensable branch of flexible electronics, are garnering substantial in medical and industrial applications. Ever‐evolving advances in nanowires in their myriad forms have fueled many of the developments in this field. However, recent researches have extensively focused on the intrinsic properties of these nanomaterials, rationally designed structures, which are pivotal in sensing performance, to a large extent, are undervalued. Hereon, the latest advances in the structure design, together with controlled fabrication of nanowires for better sensing performance are highlighted. In specific, nanowires are classified according to morphologies and hybrid forms and their corresponding fabrication methodologies and influence on sensing properties are briefly discussed. Then, construction strategies for nanowire‐based sensors, including materials assembly and macroscopical design are systematically summarized. Subsequently, the characteristics and advantages of flexible sensors induced by various nanowires, including physical/physiological/multifunctional parameters sensing are reflected in the application examples. Finally, conclusions and challenges are presented for the development of nanowire‐based flexible sensors, as well as frontier strategies especially bionic design. This review is aimed at providing a valuable and systematic understanding of nanowires in sensing system and then serves as inspiration for intelligent designs in flexible future electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rotor plays a vital role in the dynamical system of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Prominent aerodynamic and acoustic performance are a long-term pursuit for the rotor. Inspired by excellent quiet flight characteristics of owls, this work adopted bionic edge design and rational material selection strategy to improve aerodynamic and acoustic performance of the rotor. A reference model of rotor prototype with streamlined edges was firstly generated by reverse engineering method. With inspiration from owl wings and feathers, bionic rotors with rational design on leading and trailing edges were obtained. Original and bionic rotors were fabricated with polyamide PA 12 and Resin 9400 by 3D printing technique. Aerodynamic and acoustic performance of the as-fabricated rotors were experimentally measured and analyzed in detail using a self-established test system. Comparative experimental results indicated that the aerodynamic and acoustic performance of the rotors was closely related to the bionic structures, material properties, and rotational speeds. At the same rotational speed, bionic rotor fabricated with Resin 9400 can produce a higher thrust than the prototype one and its power consumption was also reduced. The resulting noise of different bionic rotors and their directivities were comparatively investigated. The results verified the bionic edge design strategy can effectively control the turbulent flow field and smoothly decompose the airflow near the tailing edge, which resulting in enhancing the thrust and reducing the noise. This work could provide beneficial inspiration and strong clues for mechanical engineers and material scientists to design new abnormal rotors with promising aerodynamic and acoustic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mantis shrimp appendage, as an important weapon for hunting, have remarkable impact resistance due to their unique microstructure. In this study, the appendages were subjected to falling ball impact tests and their fracture surfaces were observed by scanning electron microscopy. It was observed that the outer layer was prone to brittle fracture, while the inner layer was more flexible and turned the brittle fracture into a ductile fracture. Our study supported the idea that the unique microstructures in the appendages act as barriers against crack growth and therefore play a leading role in the toughening of the entire appendage structure. Based on the bionic inspiration of the appendage microstructure, a bionic composite structure was designed, which consists of a rigid outer layer and a flexible inner layer. The fibers in the flexible layer show a longitudinal and sinusoidal arrangement to provide shielding to the crack tip when the fracture occurs. The toughening mechanism of the microstructure was further corroborated through finite element simulations, which demonstrated that the longitudinal arrangement of fibers played a pivotal role in spreading stress concentration and thereby delaying the fracture process. The sinusoidal arrangement of fibers was also found to be instrumental in not only bridging the rigid and flexible layers, but also in directing the deviation of the crack path. This work was enlightening for the structural design of impact-resistant composites. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Superhydrophobic and photothermal sensing function are achieved. • The sensor shows excellent linearity (0.992) within high tensile (100%). • Scalable manufacturing of sensors is achieved via a facile spray-coating strategy. • The sensor can be applied in underwater motion monitoring and weather condition monitoring. Sensors are widely used in various fields, among which, flexible strain sensors with multi-function and high performance have an attractive prospect in extending application scenarios and enhancing interaction experience. However, it is challenging for current flexible strain sensors to enhance sensing performance while integrating multiple functions. Here, inspired by the unique functions and structures of natural moths, we designed and prepared a light and flexible strain sensor with superhydrophobic and solar thermal harvesting function. The mechanical properties, surface wettability and sensing properties of the sensor are effectively balanced via a facile and controllable layer by layer spray-coating strategy and typical interface curing procedure of the elastomer. The sensor exhibits a hydrophobic angle of 153° and fast photothermal response (0.403 ℃/s). Meanwhile, it shows high tensile (100 %), excellent linearity (0.992), more than 30,000 cycles of durability, fast response times of 50 ms and low detection limit of 0.7 %. Applications of the sensor for underwater motion monitoring, smart physiotherapy and smart weather monitoring are further demonstrated to measure various motion signals, physiological signals and light intensity changes. Itdemonstrates that our bionic flexible strain sensor can significantly advance the next generation of flexible electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New bionic function surface inspired from desert scorpion was developed for erosion resistance application in this research. Three elements, bump, groove-shape and curvature, were applied on the surface. Using of Stereo Microscope, the micro-structures of the scorpion ( Androctonus australis ) were analyzed. According to information, bionic samples were manufactured. Solid particle erosion behavior is investigated using a blasting jet machine at particle impact angle (30°) and stress of air compressor is 0.5 MPa. The experimental results of bionic samples were compared with traditional smooth sample and each other, respectively. Results of erosion test and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) were selected as evaluation standard and explored anti-erosion mechanisms of these micro-structures which were on the bionic surface. The experimental results show that bionic samples have superior solid particle erosion resistance than traditional smooth sample, owing to the micro-structures on the surface. Referring to the analysis, both the bump and curvature can improve the anti-erosion performance by changing the relative impact angle which is compared to the surface of sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) positive replica templated twice from the excellent light trapping surface of butterfly Trogonoptera brookiana wing scales was fabricated by a simple and promising route. The exact SiO 2 negative replica was fabricated by using a synthesis method combining a sol–gel process and subsequent selective etching. Afterwards, a vacuum-aided process was introduced to make PDMS gel fill into the SiO 2 negative replica, and the PDMS gel was solidified in an oven. Then, the SiO 2 negative replica was used as secondary template and the structures in its surface was transcribed onto the surface of PDMS. At last, the PDMS positive replica was obtained. After comparing the PDMS positive replica and the original bio-template in terms of morphology, dimensions and reflectance spectra and so on, it is evident that the excellent light trapping structures of butterfly wing scales were inherited by the PDMS positive replica faithfully. This bio-inspired route could facilitate the preparation of complex light trapping nanostructure surfaces without any assistance from other power-wasting and expensive nanofabrication technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]