bhamlalab.bsky.social
Curiosity driven science in physics of life and frugal innovations for planetary scale challenges
https://bhamla.gatech.edu/
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I wanted to show support for these brave public servants and to allow others, including the scientific community, to join me. In partnership with @standupforscience.bsky.social, we have a way for you to do that... www.standupforscience.net/bethesda-dec...
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That's so great! 😍
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Check out this first page of our comic illustrated by @matteofarinella.bsky.social -- find the full comic and more here bhamla.gatech.edu/comics
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Learning from flamingos, we engineered a flamingo-inspired chattering particle filtration system that, in the future, can be applied to remove microplastics or harmful microorganisms from water. Or maybe filter clean food into our mouths, too!
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Third, we found that underwater chattering produces a directional flow. Flamingos' upside down beak creates vortices flowing towards the beak, entrapping critters and microorganisms. The flamingos food flows towards its mouth! Wouldn't that be a nice invention for humans?
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Second, by using flexible and rigid flamingo foot models, we discovered that feet stomping produces strong horizontal vortices, reinvigorated with each step, effectively trapping small and fast prey. The asymmetry in toe and web morphology pushes the vortices to where the beak filter feeds.
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First, we found that flamingo bobbing, happening at ~400 ms, produces strong tornado-like vortices, stirring particles at the bottom and upwelling them towards the surface. The bent shape of the bill upside down presents a flat surface primed for vortical interaction.
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If you watch flamingos feed, you'll notice three key behaviors: bobbing their heads, feet stomping, and beak chattering. We explain how all three behaviors serve to manipulate flow in the flamingos' favor!
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Second, by using flexible and rigid flamingo foot models, we discovered that feet stomping produces strong horizontal vortices, reinvigorated with each step, effectively trapping small and fast prey. The asymmetry in toe and web morphology pushes the vortices to where the beak filter feeds.
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First, we found that flamingo bobbing, happening at ~400 ms, produces strong tornado-like vortices, stirring particles at the bottom and upwelling them towards the surface. The bent shape of the bill upside down presents a flat surface primed for vortical interaction.
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We really enjoyed reading your paper and big fans of your clever and clean measurements. It was very inspiring for us.
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This is very cool! Stuff like this is why I live the type of work our of Georgia Tech!
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This work is the result of the hard work of an amazing team of researchers, especially @chemicalsunnyraj.bsky.social @itiwari93.bsky.social and Victor Ortega-Jimenez, who co-led this work and brought it to the finish line. #ScienceRoboticsResearch
scim.ag/4iDIa1i
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Page 2 of the comic. Find more about this research and more comics from the Bhamla lab here bhamla.gatech.edu/s/Unofficial...
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For a fun, illustrated journey following this work's discoveries, check out our comic book on this project by the amazing Eliza Wolfson (lizawolfson.co.uk), it packs all the science into a playful adventure! Page 1/2
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Imagine a soft robot clearing hoops, perching magnetically, hurdling obstacles, and even sailing over sand dunes, all inspired by a microscopic nematode. NASA’s already eyeing jumpers for Saturn's moon(shorturl.at/aAKeO). Our mechanism could one day help robots jump across alien worlds, too!
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Learning from these principles, he then spliced carbon-fiber backbones into a soft silicone shell and observed takeoff velocities climb to 13 m/s and jump height to 25 body lengths (3 m)! Even a basketball rim can’t hold it back. 🏀🚀 #SoftRobotics
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Inspired, @chemicalsunnyraj.bsky.social built Soft Jumping models (SoftJM) prototypes that mimic this kink instability: reversible kinks boost elastic energy storage 4–5× under a force ceiling, giving stronger, faster jumps without blowing “muscles.” 🤖 #BioinspiredDesign
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Zooming in, we saw that the worm bends its body so much that it can form a kink at the bend! Kinks are usually detrimental in structures. For example, Kinked straws are useless. But this nematode can reversibly kink its body and keep jumping!