Leading edge of seed creates vortex lift: maple

1 of 2 Japanese maple seeds / Liz West / License

The leading edge of spinning hornbeam and maple seeds provides lift by generating a tornado-like vortex.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Make >
	Generate/convert energy >
	Mechanical energy

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Wind energy extraction More efficient fan blades Micro aerial vehicles

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"The twirling seeds of maple trees spin like miniature helicopters as they fall to the ground. Because the seeds descend slowly as they swirl, they can be carried aloft by the wind and dispersed over great distances. Just how the seeds manage to fall so slowly, however, has mystified scientists...The research, led by David Lentink, an assistant professor at Wageningen, and Michael H. Dickinson, the Zarem Professor of Bioengineering at Caltech, revealed that, by swirling, maple seeds generate a tornado-like vortex that sits atop the front leading edge of the seeds as they spin slowly to the ground. This leading-edge vortex lowers the air pressure over the upper surface of the maple seed, effectively sucking the wing upward to oppose gravity, giving it a boost. The vortex doubles the lift generated by the seeds compared to nonswirling seeds." (Caltech Media Relations 2009)

[Video showing vortices can be downloaded from http://mr.caltech.edu/assets/619-mapleseed.mp4.]

About the inspiring organism

Acer palmatum
Acer palmatum Thunb.
[Japanese maple]

IUCN Red List Status: Unknown

Some organism data provided by: ITIS: The Integrated Taxonomic Information System
Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Technology can be used to build micro aerial vehicles, such as helicopters, more efficient fan blades, and for wind energy blades.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Aerospace, wind energy

Monocopter - micro-rotorcraft

Experts

Experimental Zoology Group
David Lentink Johan van Leeuwen
Department of Animal Sciences of Wageningen University

References

Lentink, D; Dickson, WB; van Leeuwen, JL; Dickinson, MH. 2009. Leading-edge vortices elevate lift of autorotating plant seeds. Science. 324(5933): 1438-1440.

Svitil, K. 2009. Maple seeds and animals exploit the same trick to fly. California Institute of Technology Press Release [Internet], Accessed June 11.

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Comments

Thanks to Sabri Sansoy for contributing this strategy.

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