Humpback Whales and Sharks: An Exploration of Biomimicry

• Main Author: Childs-Walker, Julian Ray
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: Carleton Digital Commons 2013
• Subjects: Fluid mechanics; airfoil; biomimicry; wind turbines; electroreception; Humpback Whale
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.carleton.edu/comps/1292

Humpback whale flippers, sharkskin, and the electroreceptive gel of sharks are three examples of unique biological systems that have inspired innovative modifications to and development of human technology. Both humpback flippers and sharkskin exhibit impressive hydro- and aerodynamic abilities that are being mimicked in wind turbine technology at both the research and market level. While sharks' electroreceptive gel exhibits properties similar to thermoelectric materials, this unsuccessful example offers insight into the limitations of biomimetics. In light of these three case studies, it seems that biomimicry is most successful when the scale is consistent between inspiration and innovation, the material reproducible, and the underlying physics soundly understood.