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Inspired by nature

Aircraft wings that take inspiration from birds and surgical instruments based on insects or octopuses. Not only does nature provide plenty of inspiration for innovation, it also features increasingly as part of the design itself.

‘I take inspiration from countless insects’

On their own, they often don’t amount to much. But when combined in swarms, drones can solve complex problems. Just like a group of ants searching around their environment looking for food.

A scarf made from algae

At the end of April, TU Delft researchers were successful in printing a living photosynthetic material in 3D.

Sponge wall saves energy

The closed structures in the middle of the photo are inspired by cellular structures, such as in sponges and bones. The air-filled hollows form an insulating layer between inside and outside.

Sand Motor ten years on

The North Sea cormorants and terns just love the Sand Motor, an artificial peninsula near Kijkduin made from 21.5 million cubic metres of sand.

Learning from an octopus

Paul Breedveld (3mE) has always been equally interested in nature, anatomy and technology. How does it work? Why does it work like that? Can it be improved?

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