Page 105 - Biomimetics: Technology Imitates Nature

very single animal possesses many astonishing
features given to it at creation. Some enjoy the
ideal hydrodynamic form to allow them to
move through water; others use rather out-
landish sensory devices. Most of these are de-
vices that mankind has encountered for the first time, or has
just begun to grasp. Thanks to the science of biomimicry, prod-
ucts emerging from the imitation of these ex-
traordinary discoveries will no doubt be
employed frequently in our future.

Surface Drag and Swimsuits
Inspired by Shark Skin

In Olympic swimming competi-
tions, 1/100th of a second can make the
difference between winning and losing.
Because the resistive drag opposing the mo-
tion of swimmers’ bodies is of great impor-
tance, many swimmers choose newly-de-
signed swimsuits that reduce the drag.
These tightly fitting suits, covering a rather
large area of the body, are made out of a fab-
ric which was designed to mimic the properties
of a shark's skin by superimposing vertical resin
stripes.
Scanning electron microscope studies
have revealed that tiny "teeth" (riblets) cover