Objective
The objectives of the project are to understand motion and perception systems of lower animal forms, such as parasites, worms, insects and even snakes and eels, and to design and fabricate bio-inspired mini- and micro-machines able to navigate in tortuous and difficult to access cavities, in particular, in the human body. This idea originates from the medical need to develop more powerful tools for micro-endoscopy, one of the most challenging and useful frontiers of modern medicine.
The most significant objectives which represent parallel and complementary results are: the increasing of knowledge in the field of biomechanics and neural control; the definition of biologically inspired design paradigms; the development of innovative hybrid manufacturing technologies.
The objectives of the project are to understand motion and perception systems of lower animal forms, such as parasites, worms, insects and even snakes and eels, and to design and fabricate bio-inspired mini- and micro-machines able to navigate in tortuous and difficult to access cavities, in particular, in the human body. This idea originates from the medical need to develop more powerful tools for micro-endoscopy, one of the most challenging and useful frontiers of modern medicine.
The most significant objectives which represent parallel and complementary results are: the increasing of knowledge in the field of biomechanics and neural control; the definition of biologically inspired design paradigms; the development of innovative hybrid manufacturing technologies.
DESCRIPTION OF WORK
The first step in the project will be to study the locomotion mechanisms used by animals which move in a wet environment containing large amounts of solid and semi-solid material. In order to understand better how to gain purchase on this soft tissue, the mechanisms of attachment used by parasites, both internal and external, will be investigated. The interaction between the biomimetic "worm" and the gut wall will be analysed, and objective parameters, like fracture and tear-resistance, of such tissue will be estimated.
A second step of the project will be the development of a biomimetic control module. The unit action-perception-reaction of insects, worms and parasites will be studied to define a strategy of replication and implementation in an artificial, bio-inspired, adaptable system. The third step will consist of feasibility studies of the previously identified biomechanical, sensing and control strategies and systems and in their implementation by biomechatronic design approach, which can integrate and merge different functions, and by innovative microfabrication technologies. Research efforts will be focused on polymer materials, which are particularly suitable for the implementation of biomimetic structures and integrated functions subsystems. Finally, the design criteria and innovative technologies developed during the first phase of the project will be exploited for fabricating and testing several locomotion units prototypes. Such bio-inspired devices will be especially designed for medical application. The prototypes will be tested experimentally using both simulated and animal-derived tissues for practical surgical testing.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- natural sciences biological sciences zoology entomology
- natural sciences biological sciences biophysics
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Programme(s)
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
56127 PISA
Italy
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.