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Journal of Bionic Engineering

ISSN 1672-6529

CN 22-1355/TB

Editor-in-Chief : Luquan Ren Published by Science Press and Springer

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30 December 2006, Volume 3 Issue 4
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article
Numerical Simulation of Electroosmotic Flow near Earthworm Surface
Y.Q. Zu, Y.Y. Yan
J4. 2006, 3 (4):  179-186.  DOI:
Abstract ( 1394 )   PDF  
The electroosmotic flow near an earthworm surface is simulated numerically to further understand the anti soil adhesion mechanism of earthworm. A lattice Poisson method is employed to solve electric potential and charge distributions in the electric double layer along the earthworm surface. The external electric field is obtained by solving a Laplace equation. The electroosmotic flow controlled by the Navier-Stokes equations with external body force is simulated by the lattice Boltzmann method. A benchmark test shows that accurate electric potential distributions can be obtained by the LPM. The simulation shows that the moving vortices, which probably contribute to anti soil adhesion, are formed near earthworm body surface by the nonuniform and variational electrical force.
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A Bionic Neural Network for Fish-Robot Locomotion
Dai-bing Zhang, De-wen Hu, Lin-cheng Shen, Hai-bin Xie
J4. 2006, 3 (4):  187-194.  DOI:
Abstract ( 1404 )   PDF  
A bionic neural network for fish-robot locomotion is presented. The bionic neural network inspired from fish neural net-work consists of one high level controller and one chain of central pattern generators (CPGs). Each CPG contains a nonlinear neural Zhang oscillator which shows properties similar to sine-cosine model. Simulation results show that the bionic neural network presents a good performance in controlling the fish-robot to execute various motions such as startup, stop, forward swimming, backward swimming, turn right and turn left.
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Rolling in Nature and Robotics: A Review
Rhodri H. Armour, Julian F. V. Vincent
J4. 2006, 3 (4):  195-208.  DOI:
Abstract ( 1343 )   PDF  
This paper presents a review of recent rolling robots including Rollo from Helsinki University of Technology, Spherical Mobile Robot from the Politecnico of Bari, Sphericle from the University of Pisa, Spherobot from Michigan State University, August from Azad University of Qazvin and the University of Tehran, Deformable Robot from Ritsumeijan University, Kickbot from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Gravitational Wheeled Robot from Kinki University, Gyrover from Carnegie Mellon University, Roball from the Université de Sherbrooke, and Rotundus from the Ångström Space Technology Center.
Seven rolling robot design principles are presented and discussed (Sprung central member, Car driven, Mobile masses, Hemispherical wheels, Gyroscopic stabilisation, Ballast mass – fixed axis, and Ballast mass – moving axis). Robots based on each of the design principles are shown and the performances of the robots are tabulated. An attempt is made to grade the design principles based on their suitability for movement over an unknown and varied but relatively smooth terrain. The result of this comparison suggests that a rolling robot based on a mobile masses principle would be best suited to this specific application.
Some wonderful rolling organisms are introduced and defined as “active” or “passive” depending on whether they generate their own rolling motion or external forces cause their rolling.
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Numerical Analysis of the Adhesive Forces in Nano-Scale Structure
Young-Sam Cho, Houkseop Han, Wan-Doo Kim
J4. 2006, 3 (4):  209-216.  DOI:
Abstract ( 1567 )   PDF  
Nanohairs, which can be found on the epidermis of Tokay gecko’s toes, contribute to the adhesion by means of van der Waals force, capillary force, etc. This structure has inspired many researchers to fabricate the attachable nano-scale structures. However, the efficiency of artificial nano-scale structures is not reliable sufficiently. Moreover, the mechanical parameters related to the nano-hair attachment are not yet revealed qualitatively. The mechanical parameters which have influence on the ability of adhesive nano-hairs were investigated through numerical simulation in which only van der Waals force was consid-ered. For the numerical analysis, finite element method was utilized and van der Waals force, assumed as 12-6 Lennard-Jones potential, was implemented as the body force term in the finite element formulation.
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The Materials Revolution
Julian F. V. Vincent
J4. 2006, 3 (4):  217-234.  DOI:
Abstract ( 1191 )   PDF  
In the final essay of this series the gaps between biology and engineering are examined, and methods are suggested for crossing them. Creativity is seen as the essential, and TRIZ (the Russian Theory of Inventive Problem Solving) is recommended as the best set of methods both for stimulating creativity and for solving technical problems. When the catalogue of Inventive Principles of TRIZ is used to bring biology and technology to the same level of detail, the comparison shows that the similarity is only about 12%. The differences largely reside in the reliance of energy as a controlling parameter in conventional technology and the replacement of energy by information in biological systems. Although we might be moving slowly in this direction, a numerically based comparison such as this should provide more impetus.
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