A 7.2 Emulating Strategies

Gabe Pyle | A 7.2 | July 2015

Emulating Strategies

Project Summary
The Biospire Insect Catcher is a bug catcher for kids that allows kids to take part in observing and participating nature without encouraging them to disrupt it. It will help them capture, study, and release bugs safely and in a way that doesn’t harm the insects.

Report Purpose:
This report serves as an update on the biomimetic development of the Biospire Insect Catcher kit. The third phase of development resulted in initial application of the mechanical components involved in a critical function the product of the product. The results of this third phase of product development are outlined below.

Function Addressed:
One of the critical functions the Biospire Insect Catcher must accomplish is the intake of gases, particularly air, and any small, loose solids light enough for the rapid intake of air to capture.

A technical description of the strategies used to perform this function can be read below.

Strategy: Depress/deflate a spherical, semi-rigid air sac to forcefully expel air.

The spherical walls of the air sac, once depressed, invert on themselves, leaving the air-sac in a state of tension, as the walls will want to re-invert on themselves to resume the original structure.

The touch-sensitive membrane blocks the end of the product’s tube, preventing air flow back into the air chamber.

Touching an insect with the end of the product tube will dislodge the membrane, breaking the seal, allowing the air chamber to re-inflate, and inducing the sudden intake of air, and

This report represents only the initial application of the strategy with little concern for aesthetics, ergonomics, or overall product feel. Further concept ideation will take place in later project phases.