Automakers Looking to Animal Kingdom for Ideas

Butterflies, geckos, and other creatures have inspired engineers.

Detroit’s automakers are looking at some unusual sources of inspiration to generate new automotive ideas. 

For example, scientists at Ford are looking at the gecko (yes – the lizard) for ways to fasten car parts together without using conventional adhesives.

Debbie Mielewski is the Senior Technical Leader of Sustainable Materials and Plastics at Ford Motor Company. 

She says the automaker is using an approach called biomimicry.

Author

  • Jerome Vaughn
    Jerome Vaughn is News Director at 101.9 WDET. His interest in news reporting began when he was five years old, after his mom bought him a yellow Panasonic ball and chain radio.