How can fragile technology quickly glide through water without sustaining damage? How can you create structures that are extremely lightweight and as strong as possible at the same time? These are questions that researchers and companies in the BIOKON research network are looking to answer. Among these are three universities, three companies, and two research institutes, including the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the Bremen University of Applied Sciences. The latter are optimizing underwater robots by focusing on the robust shells of turtles and mimicking the fins of trout fish to improve propulsion.

The Alfred Wegener Institute is concentrating on the exoskeletons of single-cell sea algae or diatoms. The structures they possess are ten times as strong as construction steel. Together with the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres, the Alfred Wegener Institute was able to use x-ray holography to visualize the algae into the nanometer range. These findings are being used to develop environmentally friendly and extremely durable materials.

One exhibitor stand is a must-see for anyone interested in bionics at HANNOVER MESSE: the automation specialist, FESTO. The company from Esslingen am Neckar, Germany, is investing heavily into the development of innovative drive concepts and motion sequences. The results produce a spectacular showcase: Robotic flying foxes flap through the air, artificial spiders scuttle around in glass boxes, and fish-like creatures swim in aquariums.

FESTO’s innovations are accessible for students in a special way. The company produces construction kits for schools to get children excited about technology. The basis of these are actually former bionics projects from the company. Using a fish, a chameleon, and an elephant trunk, the kits teach students how movement and gripping work in terms of technology. “Typically, students are not so enthusiastic about microcontrollers and servomotors. But when they recognize the link to nature in these mechanisms, it acts as a gateway into the technical subjects,” says Simone Schmid, corporate communications specialist at FESTO.

Another area of bionics is the development of active and passive exoskeletons. German Bionic has developed a system that harnesses Industrie 4.0 to help people life heavy loads. Sensors installed in its CRAY X system detects the angle of inclination of the upper body and transmits signals to motors and drive gears. This automatically adjusts compression pressure to relieve the lower-back area of the wearer in real time.

The exoskeleton is easy to put on, can be fine-tuned using a smartwatch on the user’s wrist, and provides support of up to 100 newton meters. An electromyography bracelet measures tension in the arm to immediately recognize when the wearer wants to move an object. This makes sure it does not hinder movement.