Powerful performance: leeches as a model for vacuum technology

Velcro fasteners, the lotus effect and airplane wings are some prominent examples of how bionics can solve technical tasks. After all, nature offers fascinating answers to everyday challenges. "And they are usually very efficient," emphasizes Dr. Harald Kuolt. He leads the research projects at Schmalz. "We have been looking for natural suction processes to improve our own vacuum systems."

Schmalz found what they were looking for in leeches. With their two suction organs at the front and back, they have the capability of holding on to different surfaces. Whether slimy or porous, under or above water - thanks to the combination of suction adhesion and mechanical gripping or clinging, they can attach themselves safely to their hosts. Together with the University of Freiburg, Schmalz launched a project to gain a better understanding of biological adhesion systems. "We investigated the functional morphology and biomechanics of leeches," explains Prof. Dr. Thomas Speck. He heads the "Botany - Functional Morphology and Bionics" working group at the University of Freiburg.

After manual pull-off tests, the researchers built rotating systems and determined the centrifugal force at which the leeches release from the respective surface. "We broke new ground and developed special experimental setups to measure the adhesive forces of the leeches," explains Thomas Speck. In a current research project, the team is investigating the anatomy of the suction organ, which consists of muscle-controlled suction, sealing and gripping lips. "Understanding the form-structure-function relationship of the suction organ is essential for further abstraction and implementation steps for new, bionically optimized systems of Schmalz," explains Dr. Simon Poppinga, who heads basic biological research on the model organism at TU Darmstadt.