Development of bionic design method based on exoskeleton form and its application

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K04224
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 18030:Design engineering-related
• Research Institution: Kanazawa University
• Principal Investigator: Sakamoto Jiro 金沢大学, 設計製造技術研究所, 教授 (20205769)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 北山 哲士 金沢大学, 設計製造技術研究所, 教授 (90339698) ; 茅原 崇徳 金沢大学, フロンティア工学系, 准教授 (00582967) ; 伊藤 誠 金沢大学, 機械工学系, 助教 (30845160)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 生体力学 / バイオ材料力学 / 最適設計 / 計算力学 / バイオミメティクス / 外骨格 / データベース

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we focused on exoskeletal creatures and aimed to develop a method to create the design of machine housing and shell structure based on exoskeleton form. Therefore, (1) we examined the mechanical optimality of the exoskeleton structure, (2) developed a structure design method that reflects its characteristics, and (3) applied it to the mechanical structure and verified its effectiveness. Specifically, we created a mechanical analysis model from CT images for exoskeletons such as crustaceans and analyzed their optimality. In addition, we developed an optimization method for the purpose of reducing weight and improving strength with the morphological synthesis ratio of various exoskeleton models as design variables, and applied it to the design of the grip structure to examine the effectiveness. We have established an original mechanical design method using biological continuums that is different from conventional mechanical design, which is premised on parts assembly.

Free Research Field

バイオメカニクス，設計工学，計算力学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で提案した多種多様な外骨格モデルを合成して設計する方法は，単純に1つの生物を模倣するのとは異なり合目的的に最適なデザインの創出が可能で，従来の研究と比較して独自性と創造性に優れ，学術的意義は高い．2016から2018年度の科研費基盤(C)(一般)の研究では，様々な動物の骨形状を機械構造の軽量高強度化を目的とする最適設計に応用しその有効性を確認した．さらに本研究では，様々な動物の外骨格形状を応用した最適設計手法を確立した．骨と外骨格の両方の形状を応用した最適設計の手法が得られたことで適用範囲が広がり，機械や建設，建築などの様々な分野への構造設計にも応用される可能性から社会的意義も高い．