In the current era of rapid technological advancement, humanity's pursuit of innovation has never ceased. Nature, a treasure trove shaped by hundreds of millions of years of evolution, provides us with endless inspiration. Bionic technology, serving as a bridge connecting nature and technology, is gradually becoming the focus in the field of innovation. As early as the early stages of ancient human civilization, we began learning ways to survive from nature; today, by leveraging advanced scientific technologies to explore the mysteries of living organisms in depth, bionics has traversed a long journey of development. It covers a wide range of fields, from the invention of submarines to lightweight aerospace technology, and from the simulation of biological vision to the promising 3D-printed bionic eyes. These innovative achievements not only demonstrate human wisdom but also reflect our awe for and learning from nature. Let us step into the wonderful world of bionic technology together, explore the precious treasures bestowed upon us by nature, and see how it drives the continuous advancement of human technology. 01 The Origin and Development of Bionic Technology As an interdisciplinary subject combining engineering technology and biological sciences, bionics has attracted significant attention in recent years. Its English name is "Bionics", which aims to seek inspiration from nature and imitate the functions of animals and plants for application in the field of technology. The development of bionics can be traced back to the early days of human civilization. In ancient times, due to harsh environmental conditions, humans learned from organisms and natural phenomena in nature to ensure survival, and it was during this period that the practice of bionics began. In 1960, the first bionics symposium was held in the United States, where Major J.E. Steele officially named this discipline "Bionics", marking the birth of the concept of bionics. From then until the early 1970s, many countries such as the United States and Russia extensively promoted knowledge about bionics, and a large number of educational articles and books were published one after another. In the early 1990s, various countries formulated long-term preparation plans for basic research in bionics, this interdisciplinary subject. From the 1990s to the present, by virtue of the research concepts and methods of bionics, people have achieved fruitful results in the fields of natural sciences and social sciences. 02 Widespread Applications of Bionic Technology (1) The Invention of Submarines Scientists observed the swim bladder in a fish's belly, which is filled with air. When a fish wants to dive to the bottom of the water, it expels the air, and the reduced buoyancy allows it to sink. Humans created submarines based on the principle of the swim bladder; submarines also contain machines filled with air, and after expelling the air, they can sink to the bottom of the water. (2) Thin-Shell Architectural Design An eggshell has an arched shape with a large span and embodies many mechanical principles. Although it is only 2 millimeters thick, it is difficult to break even with a hammer. Architects have designed thin-shell buildings by imitating eggshells. Such buildings use less materials, have a large span, and are sturdy and durable. The world-famous Sydney Opera House adopts this type of architectural structure. (3) Electronic Frog Eyes People have developed electronic frog eyes based on the visual principles of frog eyes. These electronic devices can accurately identify objects of specific shapes just like real frog eyes. When electronic frog eyes are integrated into radar systems, the anti-interference capability of the radar is greatly enhanced, enabling it to quickly and accurately identify aircraft, ships, missiles, and other objects of specific shapes. (4) Other Applications There are many more applications of bionic technology. For example, the take-off of rockets is achieved by utilizing the recoil principle of jellyfish and squid; miniature thermal sensors are developed by leveraging the "thermal vision" function of venomous snakes; cochlear implants are made using artificial electronic sound receptors; and swimsuits are produced by imitating shark skin. 03 Lightweight Simulation Technology In the field of aerospace equipment, such as deep-space probes, advanced fighter jets, and hypersonic vehicles, the development trend is toward longer endurance, higher load-bearing capacity, and greater maneuverability, making lightweight technology particularly important. By reducing the structural weight, the fuel consumption of aircraft can be significantly reduced, and their endurance and maneuverability can be improved. Therefore, lightweight technology has become one of the key technologies for the future development of aerospace equipment. Researchers draw inspiration from biological structures in nature that have evolved over hundreds of millions of years. Some organisms have developed highly efficient functional structures that are well-adapted to specific environments, featuring low density, high strength, and toughness. Bionic lightweight design follows the principle of similarity and adopts bionic design methods to obtain structural designs that have similar functions and mechanical characteristics to the original organisms. For instance, biological structures such as bones, butterfly wings, cuttlefish bones, and bamboo all provide inspiration for lightweight design. Scientists have designed a lightweight and high-toughness sandwich structure imitating the elytra of the Platysternon megacephalum (big-headed turtle) based on the fiber arrangement and microstructural characteristics of the epidermal layer of the turtle's elytra, which exhibits excellent toughness. Taking the bionic bamboo structure as an example, its macroscopic structure is a slender hollow circular tube with nodes, and it has gradient distribution characteristics at the microscopic level. Inspired by this, researchers have designed a variety of energy-absorbing tubes with bamboo-like structures, which have improved energy absorption performance and structural strength. 04 Simulation of Biological Vision In the military field, weapons and equipment need to adapt to complex battlefield environments, and bionic target detection technology based on biological vision has become one of the important means. By simulating the visual principles of biological eyes, bionic technology can improve the accuracy and efficiency of target detection, addressing the shortcomings of traditional target detection in small target recognition, field of view range, and background interference. The eagle, a medium-sized bird of prey, has eyesight comparable to that of a 1.5 to 2 times telescope and can detect small ground targets from an altitude of 1,500 meters. Its unique physiological structure and functions include rounder eyes, larger pupils, eyelids and nictitating membranes, a pecten structure, and a unique retinal structure. The bionic target detection system developed based on the special physiological structure and visual processing mechanism of eagle eyes can detect suspicious targets through a large-field-of-view system, and then separate the target from the background and track it through a small-field-of-view system, enabling accurate identification and locking of targets in complex environments. 05 3D-Printed Bionic Eyes: Opening a Bright Future for Visually Impaired Patients For visually impaired people living in darkness, 3D-printed bionic eyes are like a bright ray of light, bringing unprecedented hope for vision restoration. This amazing innovative technology makes full use of advanced 3D printing methods to carefully create artificial eyes that are highly similar to human eyes in structure. Its design concept aims to accurately simulate the complex structure and diverse functions of the human eye, thereby creating a more natural and realistic visual experience for patients, allowing them to seemingly embrace the colorful world again. In the process of manufacturing 3D-printed bionic eyes, the charm of technology is fully demonstrated. A specially customized 3D printer, like a magical magician, skillfully uses silver nanoparticles as "ink" to print precisely on the base shape material. These silver nanoparticles are like magical seeds, playing a crucial role in the manufacturing of bionic eyes. Subsequently, photodiodes carefully made of semiconductor polymer materials are placed in the appropriate positions. This small photodiode contains enormous energy: it can efficiently convert light into electrical energy, thereby generating clear electrical signals. Through this series of delicate operations, amazing visual imaging is finally achieved, opening a door to light for visually impaired patients. Moreover, 3D-printed bionic eyes also possess remarkable functions that surpass those of human eyes. For example, they have a powerful night vision function. In dark environments, they can keenly capture the surrounding scenes just like the eyes of nocturnal animals, bringing patients a brand-new visual experience. They also have an infrared function, which can penetrate some obstacles that ordinary vision cannot, expanding the patients' visual range. Furthermore, to ensure the patients' comfort, 3D-printed bionic eyes are made of a special soft material. This material acts like a gentle caretaker, allowing patients to wear the bionic eyes for a long time without feeling any discomfort or fatigue. With the continuous progress of related fields such as materials science and biomedical engineering, the application prospect of 3D-printed bionic eyes in the field of ophthalmology is becoming increasingly broad. It can be predicted that in the near future, they will be more widely used in ophthalmic medical care, bringing benefits to more patients with visual impairment or blindness. At the same time, with the continuous in-depth development of technology and ongoing research, the performance and functions of 3D-printed bionic eyes will surely be further improved and refined. They may have more accurate imaging capabilities, stronger adaptability, and more surprising functions, bringing a better life hope to visually impaired patients. Currently, the research and application of bionics have attracted great attention both at home and abroad, and are developing vigorously. Scientists are turning to biological systems for inspiration to solve a large number of technical problems in areas such as automatic control, energy conversion, information processing, mechanical models, and material composition. The development of robot technology well embodies the concept of bionic application. The development of bionics is of great significance to all walks of life and promotes mutual progress with various scientific fields. In recent years, the development of life sciences has expanded and deepened the field of bionics, greatly promoting the advancement of bionics. At the same time, the development of bionics has also promoted the progress of biological sciences, such as the artificial induction of animal movement and the establishment of neuroengineering. Human bionics of nature is not a simple imitation, but an active assimilation and construction of nature based on human cognition and the needs of engineering and technology. Bionics and engineering technology integrate with each other, influence each other, and promote each other. Most of the problems in bionics are aimed at solving difficulties arising from engineering and technology. Bionic technology draws inspiration from nature, has achieved remarkable results in multiple fields, and demonstrated strong vitality and broad development prospects. In the future, bionic technology will continue to make greater contributions to human development and progress.