Biodegradable Bio-Gliders Promise Real-Time Eco-Data from Inaccessible Forest Regions

Ephemeral data collectors: Bio-gliders are dispersed over a forest by a drone. When they reach the ground, they transmit environmental data until they are eventually decomposed by soil organisms.

Illustration: Empa

The Idea

 

Soaring into a new era of sustainable environmental monitoring, Empa researchers have unveiled eco-friendly bio-gliders, ingeniously inspired by the Java cucumber’s flying seeds. Harnessing the power of potato starch and wood waste, these biodegradable gliders deftly collect real-time data on forest ecosystems, even in the most inaccessible regions. As these cutting-edge, lightweight flying sensors crumble to dust upon completion of their mission, they signal a groundbreaking step towards a greener, more efficient future in environmental observation and conservation.

 

The Latest

 

Sailing Seeds of Sustainability: Empa Researchers Unveil Bio-Gliders for Cutting-Edge Environmental Monitoring

In the footsteps of legendary explorers like Alexander von Humboldt, Charles Darwin, and Ernest Shackleton, the pioneers of modern environmental observation are now being succeeded by a groundbreaking innovation: the bio-glider. Empa researchers at the Sustainability Robotics laboOnce the ultra-lightweight bio-glider reaches the ground, a race against time begins as soil organisms decompose the wings within seven days, and the sensor falls apart after three weeksratory in Dübendorf have ingeniously developed low-cost, sustainable flying sensors that can autonomously collect real-time eco-data even in the most inaccessible areas. Inspired by the Java cucumber’s unique seed dispersal, these bio-gliders are created using eco-friendly materials like potato starch and wood waste.

Fabian Wiesemüller and Mirko Kovac’s team from the Sustainability Robotics lab have engineered these biodegradable gliders to monitor the condition of forest soil and its biological and chemical balance. The sensors, cleverly embedded within the gliders, measure crucial parameters such as soil moisture and acidity before gracefully returning to nature as they decompose on the forest floor.

The researchers have successfully integrated a classic litmus test to measure pH values using lichen-derived dyes that change color when exposed to acidic conditions. This color change is then detected by a drone flying overhead, ensuring seamless data collection and minimal human intervention.

To guarantee the sensor’s protection until deployment, Empa researchers have devised an ingenious protective film that opens like a blooming flower when exposed to rain or humidity. Gustav Nyström’s team from Empa’s Cellulose & Wood Materials laboratory collaborated to create this moisture-reactive polymer film using nanofibrillated cellulose from wood residues and gelatin.

The eco-friendly bio-gliders are crafted from conventional potato starch, allowing them to be printed and molded into the shape of the Java cucumber seed. Weighing a mere 1.5 grams with a 14-centimeter wingspan, these lightweight gliders are designed for extended descent times and optimized flight behavior. In the drone flight arenas at Empa in Dübendorf and Imperial College London, Wiesemüller’s team achieved a glide ratio of 6, allowing the bio-glider to travel 60 meters horizontally when launched from a height of 10 meters.

Once the ultra-lightweight bio-glider reaches the ground, a race against time begins as soil organisms decompose the wings within seven days, and the sensor falls apart after three weeks. As nature reclaims its components, these innovative gliders leave no trace behind, showcasing the perfect blend of technology and sustainability.

In pursuit of a greener future, Empa researchers are now working on completely biodegradable sensor drones to monitor climate change’s effects on various habitats. The ultimate goal is to create “digital ecology” solutions that provide accurate environmental predictions and enable appropriate preventative measures while leaving minimal ecological footprints.

Inspired by nature’s unmatched efficiency, these bio-gliders stand as a testament to humankind’s ability to learn from the natural world and harness its power for sustainable environmental monitoring and conservation. With their incredible performance and minimal environmental impact, Empa’s bio-gliders are undeniably ushering in a new era of eco-conscious innovation.

 

10 Takeaways

 

1. Empa researchers at the Sustainability Robotics laboratory in Dübendorf have developed bio-gliders, sustainable flying sensors that can autonomously collect real-time environmental data in inaccessible areas.
2. The bio-gliders are inspired by the Java cucumber’s seed dispersal method, using a design that enables them to sail through the air and cover considerable distances.
3. These innovative gliders are created using eco-friendly materials, such as potato starch and wood waste, making them biodegradable and reducing their environmental impact.
4. Fabian Wiesemüller and Mirko Kovac’s team have designed the bio-gliders to monitor forest soil conditions, specifically assessing biological and chemical balance.
5. The sensors within the gliders use a classic litmus test to measure pH values, utilizing lichen-derived dyes that change color in response to acidity levels. Drones then detect this color change from the air.
6. To protect the sensors until deployment, a moisture-reactive protective film was developed by Gustav Nyström’s team from Empa’s Cellulose & Wood Materials laboratory, using nanofibrillated cellulose and gelatin.
7. The bio-gliders, made from potato starch, are lightweight, weighing only 1.5 grams with a 14-centimeter wingspan, and are designed for extended descent times and optimal flight behavior.
8. In drone flight arenas at Empa in Dübendorf and Imperial College London, the bio-gliders achieved a glide ratio of 6, allowing them to travel 60 meters horizontally when launched from a height of 10 meters.
9. Once the bio-gliders land, they decompose quickly, with the wings breaking down within seven days and the sensor falling apart after three weeks, leaving no trace behind.
10. Empa researchers are now working on developing completely biodegradable sensor drones to monitor climate change’s effects on various habitats, ultimately aiming to create “digital ecology” solutions that provide accurate environmental predictions and enable appropriate preventative measures while minimizing ecological footprints.

 

Discovery Origin: Delicate, diligent, transient

More from: Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology 

 

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