Microplastics are an ever-increasing presence in our ocean. They come from a myriad of sources, from broken-down pieces of larger plastic debris to microbeads found in cosmetics. As ubiquitous as they are, little is understood about their impact on ocean ecosystems and the human body. However, they have been a cause of great concern for scientists, environmentalists and the general public, leading to the development of a myriad of potential solutions to this problem.
One new tool in the fight against microplastics might be a diminutive robot based on a snail. Researchers at Cornell University developed a prototype design based on the Hawaiian apple snail, a common aquarium creature that uses the undulating motion of its foot to drive water surface flow and suck in floating food particles. The scientists used a 3D printer to make a flexible, carpet-like sheet that undulates when powered by a rotating helical structure on its underside. The resulting wave-like motion creates an open-air fluid pumping system that can suck in water and particles.
“We were inspired by how this snail collects food particles at the [water and air] interface to engineer a device that could possibly collect microplastics in the ocean or at a water body’s surface, ” said Sunghwan “Sunny” Jung, professor in the department of biological and environmental engineering at Cornell University.
The researchers calculated that the open-air system was far more efficient than a similar closed system, where an enclosed pump would suck water into a tube. The snail-based design also has the potential to capture particles that are too small for commonly used plastic collection devices like drag nets or conveyor belts. Though the prototype would need to be scaled up to be practical in a real-world setting, the design proves to be a promising development in the fight against ocean microplastics.
