Smart Bionic Structures: Connecting Nature and Technology through Additive Manufacturing

The ability of organisms to adjust to environmental changes offers valuable insights into the development and creation of innovative smart systems. As requirements increase, the ability of smart materials to change their shapes has become a broader aim beyond their original capabilities. In contrast to conventional manufacturing methods, additive manufacturing (AM) skillfully combines precise three-dimensional structures and the intricate response mechanisms of biological organisms with smart materials. This combination enables the production of smart bionic structures with programmable shapes and features. Trends such as dynamic modulation, responsiveness to multiple stimuli, and the integration of functions are emerging as significant in the development of smart bionic structures. This review first presents smart structures that nature has designed and built in various organisms, highlighting the relationship between the structural characteristics and patterns of deformation. The review then discusses how smart bionic structures developed using AM techniques respond to different stimuli. Additionally, the potential uses of smart bionic structures in biomedicine, intelligent robotics, origami construction, and aerospace are discussed. Finally, the challenges and future prospects for smart bionic structures are examined with the goal of offering innovative solutions for creating the next generation of smart systems through interdisciplinary research.