Page 67 - Biomimetics: Technology Imitates Nature

ound moves through air and water in the
form of waves, which bounce back if they
strike an object. If you possess the necessary
technology and knowledge, these rebounding
waves can provide a great deal of information
about the body they encountered, such as its distance from the
source, its size, and the direction and speed of its motion.
This technology to locate objects by means of sound and
pressure waves was developed in the 20 th century, actually for
military purposes. But today, it is also used to locate sunken
ships and for mapping the ocean floor. However, millions of
years ago, long before man discovered this technology, living
things in nature were using the sound waves they spread
around them in order to survive.
Dolphins, bats, fish and moths have all possessed this sys-
tem, known as sonar, ever since they were created. What is
more, their systems are much more sensitive and functional
than those employed by human beings today.

Bats’ Sonar Goes Far Beyond the Bounds of Human
Technology

The U.S. Defense Department set out to implement princi-
ples of bat sonar in its own system of sonar, an indispensable
method for locating submarines under the surface of the sea.
According to a report in Science, one of America’s best-known
magazines, the Defense Department set aside a special alloca-
tion to pay for this project.