Tragopogon dubius, Considerations on a Possible Biomimetic Transfer

Pandolfi, Camilla; Casseau, Vincent; Fu, Terence; Jacques, Lionel; Izzo, Dario

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-31525-1_54

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…The seeds of trees fall from great heights to reach the bottom and have therefore developed multiple different protection mechanisms for the valuable payload of DNA contained within. The seeds of the plant Tragopogon dubius, for example, are attached to stalked parachutes, which have evolved to increase the aerodynamic drag of the seed and therefore slow its descent, which not only allows the seed to survive but also increase the distance travelled during its descent from the tree in order to propagate the species as far as possible (Pandolfi et al, 2012). While parachutes are the conventional solution for slowing the descent of space systems, velocity reduction may be optimized using parachutes of plants that have evolved over centuries.…”

Section: Vibration Dissipation Fracture Prevention and Self-healingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This mechanism is thought to have developed improving the seed dispersion process of the plant. Its fruits develop a seed with an elongated and spirally twisted tail that, once in contact with the ground, is humidity driven and causes the seed to autonomously bury itself into the material (Pandolfi et al, 2012;Mancuso et al, 2014). Developing such a passive drilling mechanism dependent on abiotic conditions in the surrounding environment could provide a very useful, resource-saving and energy efficient mechanism to allow probes to bury themselves into the surface material of planets.…”

Section: Planetary Exploration and Activitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These guidelines include provisions for incorporating removal systems such as drag sails into spacecraft design prior to launch for their eventual end-of-life (United Nations, 2010; Stokes et al, 2019). Especially drag sails have already been discussed within the scope of biomimetic design in terms of efficient folding and storage mechanisms, and several alternatives have been proposed, mimicking seeds and their dispersal mechanisms (Pandolfi et al, 2012;Pandolfi and Izzo, 2013) or tree and plant leaves (de Focatiis and Guest, 2002;Jasim and Taheri, 2018).…”

Section: Existing Bio-inspired Debris Removal Conceptsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biomimetics for innovative and future-oriented space applications - A review

Banken

Oeffner²

2023

Front. Space Technol.

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Nature benefits from a progressive evolution over millions of years, always adapting and finding individual solutions for common problems. Hence, a pool of diverse and efficient solutions exists that may be transferable to technical systems. Biomimetics or bio-inspiration has been used as a design approach for decades, revolutionizing products and processes throughout various industries. Thus, multiple examples can also be found in the space sector, since many characteristics found in biological organisms are also essential for space systems like response-stimuli adaptability, robustness and lightweight construction, autonomy and intelligence, energy efficiency, and self-repair or healing capabilities. This review focuses on biomimetics within the field of aerospace engineering and summarizes existing bio-inspired concepts such as drilling tools (wood wasp ovipositor drilling), telescopes (lobster eye optics), or gasping features (gecko feet adhesion capabilities) that have already been conceptualized, partially tested, and applied within the space sector. A multitude of biological models are introduced and how they may be applicable within the space environment. In particular, this review highlights potential bio-inspired concepts for dealing with the harsh environment of space as well as challenges encountered during rocket launches, space system operations and space exploration activities. Moreover, it covers well-known and new biomimetic concepts for space debris removal and on-orbit operations such as space-based energy production, servicing and repair, and manufacture and assembly. Afterwards, a summary of the challenges associated with biomimetic design is presented to transparently show the constraints and obstacles of transferring biological concepts to technical systems, which need to be overcome to achieve a successful application of a biomimetic design approach. Overall, the review highlights the benefits of a biomimetic design approach and stresses the advantage of biomimetics for technological development as it oftentimes offers an efficient and functional solution that does not sacrifice a system’s reliability or robustness. Nevertheless, it also underlines the difficulties of the biomimetic design approach and offers some suggestions in how to approach this method.

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Section: Vibration Dissipation Fracture Prevention and Self-healingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Planetary Exploration and Activitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Existing Bio-inspired Debris Removal Conceptsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biomimetics for innovative and future-oriented space applications - A review

Banken

Oeffner²

2023

Front. Space Technol.

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“…A current project of the European Space Agency is looking at the arrangement of the fibers of the parachuted seed of Tragopogon dubius, and how this contributes to the aerodynamic properties of the seed [40]. The study of this small parachute could reveal some interesting principles that determine its incredibly efficient dispersal method.…”

Section: Parachuted Seedsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biomimetics on seed dispersal: survey and insights for space exploration

Pandolfi

Izzo

2013

Bioinspir. Biomim.

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Seeds provide the vital genetic link and dispersal agent between successive generations of plants. Without seed dispersal as a means of reproduction, many plants would quickly die out. Because plants lack any sort of mobility and remain in the same spot for their entire lives, they rely on seed dispersal to transport their offspring throughout the environment. This can be accomplished either collectively or individually; in any case as seeds ultimately abdicate their movement, they are at the mercy of environmental factors. Thus, seed dispersal strategies are characterized by robustness, adaptability, intelligence (both behavioral and morphological), and mass and energy efficiency (including the ability to utilize environmental sources of energy available): all qualities that advanced engineering systems aim at in general, and in particular those that need to enable complex endeavors such as space exploration. Plants evolved and adapted their strategy according to their environment, and taken together, they enclose many desirable characteristics that a space mission needs to have. Understanding in detail how plants control the development of seeds, fabricate structural components for their dispersal, build molecular machineries to keep seeds dormant up to the right moment and monitor the environment to release them at the right time could provide several solutions impacting current space mission design practices. It can lead to miniaturization, higher integration and packing efficiency, energy efficiency and higher autonomy and robustness. Consequently, there would appear to be good reasons for considering biomimetic solutions from plant kingdom when designing space missions, especially to other celestial bodies, where solid and liquid surfaces, atmosphere, etc constitute and are obviously parallel with the terrestrial environment where plants evolved. In this paper, we review the current state of biomimetics on seed dispersal to improve space mission design.

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Thinking tomorrows' space – Research trends of the ESA advanced concepts team 2002–2012

Summerer

2014

Acta Astronautica

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Tragopogon dubius, Considerations on a Possible Biomimetic Transfer

Cited by 3 publications

References 3 publications

Biomimetics for innovative and future-oriented space applications - A review

Biomimetics for innovative and future-oriented space applications - A review

Biomimetics on seed dispersal: survey and insights for space exploration

Thinking tomorrows' space – Research trends of the ESA advanced concepts team 2002–2012

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