Design and Feasibility Tests of a Gas-driven Bionic Flytrap Soft Robot

The research of bionic soft robot is a complex system engineering, including soft matrix material, soft actuator, soft sensor and bionic control system. Unlike most animals, plants cannot move in whole voluntarily. However, for the purpose of energy and nutrition, various parts of the plant body also carry out various movements, which vary from millisecond to hour on a large time scale. As a result, Plants are considered a source of inspiration for innovative engineering solutions, and a growing number of researchers are investigating the mechanisms of plant movement and biomimetic research. In this paper, the biological morphology, microstructure and movement mechanism of Venus flytrap leaf were studied and analyzed, and a bionic flytrap grassland machine with chamber design was designed and manufactured. Firstly, according to the research report on the biological morphology, microstructure and movement mechanism of Venus flytrap, the idea of chamber design was determined. Based on this observation, we reconstructed the leaf model and bionic structure of Venus flytrap by reverse modeling. Based on the principle of turgor pressure deformation, the chamber design rules of bionic Venus flytrap blade were formulated and optimized with silica gel as the bulk material. The flow channel design of Venus flytrap blade was studied and explored. Finally, the bionic Venus flytrap leaf was made by 3D printing technology and silica gel casting process, and the two bionic leaves were clamped at a certain opening Angle. The bending performance of bionic flytrap blade and the flytrap closure experiment were studied by air pressure excitation. The experimental results show that the bionic Venus flytrap blade can complete bending and closing experiments, and the bionic Venus flytrap can complete the whole capturing process within 5s. The leaf opening Angle of the bionic Venus flytrap reaches 80 degrees, which fits well with the real Venus flytrap blade and meets the design requirements and bionic goals. Apparently, this study is the first to design the chamber of the bionic flytrap leaf, formulate rules, and study the possibility of its deformation. It provides a new idea for the study of the movement and deformation of plant leaves, and expands the application of bionic robots, especially the robot solutions for plant types.

Firmly planted

A response to the feature “Replicating how plants move”, which explores the motion of various fastmoving plants, such as the Venus flytrap, “from a physics point of view”.

Aerodynamic Performance of a Nanostructure-Induced Multistable Shell

Multistable shells that have the ability to hold more than one stable configuration are promising for adaptive structures, especially for airfoil. In contrast to existing studies on bistable shells, which are well demonstrated by the Venus flytrap plant with the ability to feed itself, this work experimentally studies the aerodynamic response of various stable configurations of a nanostructure-induced multistable shell. This multistable shell is manufactured by using nanotechnology and surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT) to locally process nine circular zones in an original flat plate. The aerodynamic responses of eight stable configurations of the developed multistable shell, including four twisted configurations and four untwisted configurations with different cambers, are visually captured and quantitively measured in a wind tunnel. The results clearly demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing different controllable configurations to adjust the aerodynamic performance of the multistable shell.

SELECTION OF THE CONSTRICTION FACTOR FOR VENUS FLYTRAP OPTIMIZATION

This paper proposes venus flytrap optimization (VFO) with constriction factor (VFO-CF) for improving the convergence of the algorithm. The constriction factor has a significant impact on the performance of VFO-CF; its impact was inspected based on benchmark functions. Herein, the property of the constriction factor and the guidelines for determining the optimal parameter values are defined. The proposed method is tested on benchmark functions, and the obtained results are compared with existing VFO results. The water supply rate is tested in the range [4.1, 4.2], which is generally reasonable for the benchmark functions.

Ether Anesthetics Obstructs Touch-Induced Trigger Hair Calcium-Electrical Signals Preventing Excitation of The Venus Flytrap

Plants do not have neurons. Instead they operate transmembrane ion channels and can be electrically excited by physical and chemical clues. The Venus flytrap with its distinctive hapto-electric signaling is a prime example. When an insect collides with the trigger hairs emerging from the inner surface of the trap, the mechanical stimulus in the mechanosensory organ is translated into a calcium signal and an action potential (AP). Here we asked how a Ca 2+ wave and AP are initiated in the trigger hair and how these are fed into the systemic trap calcium-electric network. When the Dionaea muscipula trigger hair matures and develops hapto-electric excitability, the mechanosensitive anion channel DmMSL10 and voltage dependent SKOR type Shaker K + channel are expressed in the shear stress-sensitive podium, which interfaces with the flytrap’s prey capture and processing networks. In the excitable state, touch stimulation of the trigger hair first evokes a rise in the podium Ca 2+ , then the calcium signal together with an action potential, travel over the entire trap surface. Seeking the mechanisms that mediate touch-induced Ca 2+ transients in the mature trigger hairs, we show that OSCA1.7 and GLR3.6 type Ca 2+ channels and ACA2/10 Ca 2+ pumps are specifically expressed in the podium. In addition, we found that direct glutamate application to the trap evoked a propagating Ca 2+ and electrical event. Given that anesthetics affect K + channels and glutamate receptors in animal systems, we exposed flytraps to ether. An ether atmosphere suppressed the propagation of touch and glutamate-induced Ca 2+ and AP long-distance signaling, a response that was completely recovered when ether was replaced by fresh air. In line with ether targeting a calcium channel, so triggering a Ca 2+ activated anion channel, the AP amplitude declined before the electrical signal ceased completely. Ether in the mechanosensory organ neither prevented the touch induction of a calcium signal nor its post stimulus decay. This finding indicates that ether prevents the touch activated GLR3.6-expressing base of the trigger hair so exciting the capture organ.

Ether anesthetics prevents touch-induced trigger hair calcium-electrical signals excite the Venus flytrap

Plants do not have neurons but operate transmembrane ion channels and can get electrical excited by physical and chemical clues. Among them the Venus flytrap is characterized by its peculiar hapto-electric signaling. When insects collide with trigger hairs emerging the trap inner surface, the mechanical stimulus within the mechanosensory organ is translated into a calcium signal and an action potential (AP). Here we asked how the Ca2+ wave and AP is initiated in the trigger hair and how it is feed into systemic trap calcium-electrical networks. When Dionaea muscipula trigger hairs matures and develop hapto-electric excitability the mechanosensitive anion channel DmMSL10/FLYC1 and voltage dependent SKOR type Shaker K+ channel are expressed in the sheering stress sensitive podium. The podium of the trigger hair is interface to the flytrap`s prey capture and processing networks. In the excitable state touch stimulation of the trigger hair evokes a rise in the podium Ca2+ first and before the calcium signal together with an action potential travel all over the trap surface. In search for podium ion channels and pumps mediating touch induced Ca2+ transients, we, in mature trigger hairs firing fast Ca2+ signals and APs, found OSCA1.7 and GLR3.6 type Ca2+ channels and ACA2/10 Ca2+ pumps specifically expressed in the podium. Like trigger hair stimulation, glutamate application to the trap directly evoked a propagating Ca2+ and electrical event. Given that anesthetics affect K+ channels and glutamate receptors in the animal system we exposed flytraps to an ether atmosphere. As result propagation of touch and glutamate induced Ca2+ and AP long-distance signaling got suppressed, while the trap completely recovered excitability when ether was replaced by fresh air. In line with ether targeting a calcium channel addressing a Ca2+ activated anion channel the AP amplitude declined before the electrical signal ceased completely. Ether in the mechanosensory organ did neither prevent the touch induction of a calcium signal nor this post stimulus decay. This finding indicates that ether prevents the touch activated, glr3.6 expressing base of the trigger hair to excite the capture organ.

Bio-inspired and computer-supported design of modulated shape changes in polymer materials

The Venus flytrap is a fascinating plant with a finely tuned mechanical bi-stable system, which can switch between mono- and bi-stability. Here, we combine geometrical design of compliant mechanics and the function of shape-memory polymers to enable switching between bi- and mono-stable states. Digital design and modelling using the Chained Beam Constraint Model forecasted two geometries, which were experimentally realized as structured films of cross-linked poly[ethylene-co-(vinyl acetate)] supported by digital manufacturing. Mechanical evaluation confirmed our predicted features. We demonstrated that a shape-memory effect could switch between bi- and mono-stability for the same construct, effectively imitating the Venus flytrap. Graphic Abstract

Structural Insights into the Venus flytrap Mechanosensitive Ion Channel Flycatcher1

Flycatcher1 (FLYC1), a MscS homolog, has recently been identified as a candidate mechanosensitive (MS) ion channel involved in Venus flytrap prey recognition. FLYC1 is larger and its sequence diverges from previously studied MscS homologs, suggesting it has unique structural features that contribute to its function. Here, we characterized FLYC1 by cryo-electron microscopy, molecular dynamics simulations, and electrophysiology. Akin to bacterial MscS and plant MSL1 channels, we find that FLYC1 central core includes side portals in the cytoplasmic cage that regulate ion conduction, by identifying critical residues that modulate channel conductance. Topologically unique cytoplasmic flanking regions can adopt 'up' or 'down' conformations, making the channel asymmetric. Disruption of an up conformation-specific interaction severely delays channel deactivation by 40-fold likely due to stabilization of the channel open state. Our results illustrate novel structural features and likely conformational transitions that regulate mechano-gating of FLYC1.