Programming motion in soft, deformable structures remains a central challenge for conventional design frameworks. Biological systems provide instructive examples of hydraulically driven morphogenesis and actuation. In holometabolous insects, for instance, Drosophila wings undergo rapid post-eclosion wing expansion, completed within minutes through hydraulic pressurization. I will present a minimal mechanical model that captures the essential features of this pressure-driven deployment at the organ scale. In parallel, I will discuss hydraulic actuation in Mimosa pudica, where localized water exchange between cells and adjacent air cavities generates fast motion. These case studies highlight how plants and insects harness geometry, compartmentalization, and fluid redistribution to achieve rapid and robust shape change, offering guiding principles for the design of hydraulically actuated soft robotic systems.
Zoom link: https://icts-res-in.zoom.us/j/99768568995?pwd=jm0b2uIdgqcLV4UgxcudnXIxmRdU6R.1
Meeting ID: 997 6856 8995
Passcode: 040506