Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
Acta Biomater. 2013 Jun;9(6):6763-70. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2013.02.045. Epub 2013 Mar 5.
Multifunctional materials and devices found in nature serve as inspiration for advanced synthetic materials, structures and robotics. Here, we elucidate the architecture and unusual deformation mechanisms of seahorse tails that provide prehension as well as protection against predators. The seahorse tail is composed of subdermal bony plates arranged in articulating ring-like segments that overlap for controlled ventral bending and twisting. The bony plates are highly deformable materials designed to slide past one another and buckle when compressed. This complex plate and segment motion, along with the unique hardness distribution and structural hierarchy of each plate, provide seahorses with joint flexibility while shielding them against impact and crushing. Mimicking seahorse armor may lead to novel bio-inspired technologies, such as flexible armor, fracture-resistant structures or prehensile robotics.
自然界中的多功能材料和器件为先进的合成材料、结构和机器人技术提供了灵感。在这里，我们阐明了海马尾巴的结构和不寻常的变形机制，这些机制既能提供抓握力，又能防止捕食者的侵害。海马尾巴由真皮下的骨板组成，这些骨板排列成关节状的环状节段，相互重叠，以实现受控的腹侧弯曲和扭曲。骨板是高度可变形的材料，设计为相互滑动并在受压时弯曲。这种复杂的板和节段运动，以及每个板独特的硬度分布和结构层次，为海马提供了关节灵活性，同时保护它们免受冲击和压碎。模仿海马盔甲可能会导致新型仿生技术的出现，例如灵活的盔甲、抗断裂结构或抓握机器人。
