Researcher Looks to Venus Flytraps to Develop Artificial Muscles

Not for the first time, researchers are turning to Mother Nature to develop new technologies to solve age-old health problems. As reported in Nanowerk, a scientist in the mechanical engineering department at the University of Maine is investigating the Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) in an effort to develop artificial muscles for bionic enhancements or replacements.

A carnivorous plant that catches and digests small insects, the Venus flytrap consists of a trapping mechanism with a series of tiny hairs at the opening where the plant's two leaves meet. When an insect contacts two or more of these hairs in succession, the leaves close within hundreds of milliseconds, preventing the insect's escape. Inspired by this plant, Mohsen Shahinpoor has created a robotic replica that contains nanosensors, nanoactuators, and a thin, pliable ionic polymeric metal composite (IPMC) material he uses in his artificial-muscle research.

To design his biomimetic Venus flytrap, Shahinpoor attached IPMCs onto larger leaves of IPMC material. The two leaves forming the trap are attached to a central spine consisting of a conductive copper electrode. This configuration enables the signals from the trigger-hair IPMCs to activate a solid-state relay that then activates a small dynamic voltage generator, actuating the lobes to close.

After testing his device, Shahinpoor proclaimed the experiment successful.