Methods and devices for biomimetic hygromorphic composite

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12575478-B2
Application number	US-202217718232-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 11, 2022
Priority date	Apr 9, 2021
Publication date	Mar 17, 2026
Grant date	Mar 17, 2026

Abstract

The present invention comprises an artificial seed device, a drilling process for the artificial seed device and a fabrication method for the artificial seed device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An artificial seed device configured to self-drill into a substrate for transport of a payload, the device comprising:
a body, comprising wood, that coils and uncoils in response to changes in humidity; a tip attached at a first end of the body; at least one tail attached at a second end of the body; and a payload attached to or incorporated into at least one of the body, the tip and the at least one tail.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the tip is rigid and pointed; the body is configured to generate a downward thrust force while coiling and uncoiling to drill the device into a crevice in the substrate; and the tail is curved to provide support against the substrate to facilitate drilling.

3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the tip comprises a plurality of hairs on the tip.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the body is comprised of a wood veneer.

5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the wood veneer is selected from the group consisting of oak, maple, and bamboo.

6 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the wood veneer is a double layer of wood veneer.

7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the payload is a compound selected from the group consisting of one or more of seeds, fertilizer, and microorganisms.

8 . The device of claim 1 wherein the payload is at least one sensor for sensing and collecting collect information relating to the environment around the device.

9 . The device of claim 8 wherein the payload further comprises an electronic display attached to the device and associated with the at least one sensor for displaying the collected information.

10 . The device of claim 8 wherein the payload further comprises a wireless transmitter for transmitting the collected information to at least one of an external display, an external data collection repository, an external network and one or more other devices.

11 . The device of claim 1 wherein the payload further comprises at least one of a marker or indicator to aid in locating the device.

12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the tail has a distal end located remotely from the body, and the tip is inclined upward at a minimum angle of about 30° from the horizontal plane of the substrate when the end of the tail rests on the substrate.

13 . A method of implementation of a self-drilling device for transport of a payload, the method comprising:
selection of at least one artificial device, the device comprising:
a body, comprising wood, having a first end and a second end, wherein the body coils and uncoils in response to changes in humidity and the body is configured to generate a downward thrust force while coiling and uncoiling to drill the device into a crevice in a substrate;
a rigid and pointed tip attached at the first end of the body; and
at least one tail attached at the second end of the body, with the tail curved to provide support against the substrate to facilitate drilling;
distributing the device onto the substrate in an environment having varying humidity, whereby, in response to changes in humidity, the coiling and uncoiling of device causes the device to: search for a crevice in the substrate; locate the crevice; drill the device into the crevice; and establish the device in the crevice.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the device coils in response to low humidity and uncoils in response to high humidity.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the transported payload is a compound selected from the group consisting of one or more of seeds, fertilizer, and microorganisms.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the transported payload is at least one sensor for sensing, collecting, processing and transmitting information relating to the environment around the device.

17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the transported payload is at least one of a marker or indicator to aid in locating the device.

Assignees

• Univ Carnegie Mellon

Inventors

• Yao Lining
• Luo Danli
• Gu Jianzhe
• Qin Fang
• Wang Guanyun

Classifications

• A01C21/00

  Methods of fertilising {, sowing or planting} · CPC title

• A01B79/02

  combined with other agricultural processing, e.g. fertilising, planting · CPC title

• A01G9/0291

  Planting receptacles specially adapted for remaining in the soil after planting · CPC title

• A01C14/00

  Methods or apparatus for planting not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title

• A01C7/006 Primary

  Minimum till seeding · CPC title