When Nature Meets Mechanical Engineering

Our mechanical engineering firm at MAKO Design works on so many different types of products. Some of the most interesting ones come from ideas that find their inspiration in the natural world. Innovation doesn’t always mean creating something entirely new, which is why turning to the evolution of nature can help you take old, tried-and-true concepts and use them to build new solutions.

This is called biomimicry, and it`s the basis for some of the most successful product designs out there. A mechanical engineering firm works on everything from industrial to medical products, and will often look to animals, plants, and nature for design cues to get those product ideas flowing. Here are some prime examples of biomimicry in action.

Mechanical Engineering Meets the Animal Kingdom

One of the most notable biomimetic innovations is the bullet train. Japanese engineers needed a more aerodynamic solution for their latest high-speed trains to minimize noise and the sonic boom encountered as they passed through tunnels.

Enter the Kingfisher bird, able to quickly dive into the water with a minimal splash to hunt thanks to its distinctly shaped beak. Studying the length and shape of the bird’s bill and the way it pushes water out of the way instead of forward to lessen drag is how the engineers adapted the nose of the bullet train to solve their issue.

Engineering Insight From the Insect World

The shapes and forms of animals and plants aren’t the only places to find design inspiration. As with the termite hills found in Africa, even the insect world is inherently full of feats of engineering.

The Termite Hills in Africa display some strategic hills throughout as a primitive form of air-conditioning.

To manage in Africa’s incredibly hot climate, the termites build their hills with a vast network of air pockets that serve as a natural ventilation system. A convection-based method of air-conditioning that keeps the inside of the mounds cool and regulated. Mechanical engineering firms use this idea to tackle air conditioning for large buildings in an effort to lower the amount of energy needed for those systems to run.

About: MAKO Design + Invent is the original firm providing world-class consumer product development services tailored to startups, small manufacturers, and inventors. Simply put, we are the leading one-stop-shop for developing your physical product from idea to store shelves, all in a high-quality, cost-effective, and timely manner. We operate as one powerhouse 30-person product design team spread across 4 offices to serve you (Austin, Miami, San Francisco, & Toronto). We have full-stack in-house industrial design, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, patent referral, prototyping, and manufacturing services. To assist our startup and inventor clients, in addition to above, we help with business strategy, product strategy, marketing, and sales/distribution for all consumer product categories. Also, our founder Kevin Mako hosts The Product Startup Podcast, the industry's leading hardware podcast. Check it out for tips, interviews, and best practices for hardware startups, inventors, and product developers. Click HERE to learn more about MAKO Design + Invent!