The Bionic Car project

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June 9, 2005 Bionics, the combination of biology and technology is a recent field of research which has nonetheless already made remarkable progress possible in different areas. Nature has provided ideas for high-strength materials, dirt-repellent coatings and even Velcro fastenings and this has lead to an interdisciplinary project combining biologists and engineers the Mercedes-Benz Technology Center (MTC) to develop the Mercedes-Benz bionic car - a concept vehicle based on examples in nature. Engineers looked for specific example in nature whose shape and structure approximated to their ideas for an aerodynamic, safe, spacious and environmentally compatible car. Using these examples, the team designed and constructed a vehicle with intelligent lightweight construction and extraordinary aerodynamics.

Leaving familiar paths and giving new ideas a chance is one of the core philosophies of DaimlerChrysler that has enabled it to remain a technological leader among automobile manufacturers for a century. The company was founded on the creativity of its engineers and on their enthusiasm for visions and little has changed to the present day - Daimler Chrysler specialists take up the challenge to shape the future of the automobile on a daily basis.

It was upon these principals that the unique bionic car research project was founded - in order to create trailblazing innovations for even more safety, environmental compatibility and comfort, interdisciplinary thinking was employed to consider all the possibilities offered by technology and science.

This was not a matter of detailed solutions but of a complete transfer from nature to technology – a first. This required teamwork: biologists, bionics scientists and automotive researchers from various disciplines embarked on an extraordinary expedition into the animal kingdom which soon led them into the depths of the underwater world where they found a surporising technological role-model.

The boxfish – angular streamlined

It was not the fast, sleek swimmers such as the shark or dolphin that came closest to the ideals of the research engineers, but a creature that looks anything but streamlined and agile at first sight: the boxfish.

The boxfish has its home in the coral reefs, lagoons and seaweed of the tropics, where researchers found it had a great deal in common with automobiles.

Firstly, it is designed by nature to be frugal – to move with the least possible consumption of energy - which requires powerful muscles and a streamlined shape.

Secondly, it must withstand high pressures and protect its body during collisions, which requires a rigid outer skin.

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