Bolmin Ophelia, Noell Philip J, Boyce Brad L
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America.
Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM 87185, United States of America.
Bioinspir Biomim. 2025 Feb 25;20(2). doi: 10.1088/1748-3190/adadbb.
Interlocking metasurfaces (ILMs) are patterned arrays of mating features that enable the joining of bodies by constraining motion and transmitting force. They offer an alternative to traditional joining solutions such as mechanical fasteners, welds, and adhesives. This study explores the development of bio-inspired ILMs using a problem-driven bioinspired design (BID) framework. We develop a taxonomy of attachment solutions that considers both biological and engineered systems and derive conventional design principles for ILM design. We conceptualize two engineering implementations to demonstrate concept development using the taxonomy and ILM conventional design principle through the BID framework: one for rapidly assembled bridge truss members and another for modular microrobots. These implementations highlight the potential of BID to enhance performance, functionality, and tunability in ILMs.
互锁超表面（ILM）是具有匹配特征的图案化阵列，通过限制运动和传递力来实现物体的连接。它们为传统的连接解决方案（如机械紧固件、焊接和粘合剂）提供了一种替代方案。本研究使用问题驱动的生物启发设计（BID）框架探索了受生物启发的ILM的开发。我们开发了一种连接解决方案分类法，该分类法同时考虑了生物和工程系统，并推导了ILM设计的传统设计原则。我们构思了两种工程实现方式，以通过BID框架使用分类法和ILM传统设计原则来展示概念开发：一种用于快速组装的桥梁桁架构件，另一种用于模块化微型机器人。这些实现突出了BID在增强ILM的性能、功能和可调性方面的潜力。
