How to Improve Soil Anti-adhesion by Studying the Micro-topography of a Beetle Cuticle

Abstract

In the last thirty years, biomimetics (technological developments based on biological systems) has opened a fruitful field of investigation for engineering solutions. For instance, soil animals move without the soil sticking to them, basically because of their geometric shapes, hydrophobicity, lubrication and the micro-topography of the cuticular surface. At the same time, farm workers know that the phenomenon of adherence of soil to solid surfaces, components of agricultural machinery, increases the required drawing force as well as energy consumption of machinery, decreasing the quality of work. Decreasing adhesion means replacing the soil-soil friction with friction between metal and soil, which can reduce the traction or drawing force on the tool with a consequent reduction in fuel consumption, but also the time window for carrying out plowing or tillage can be extended by reducing the required power. This has a deep ecological and economic impact resulting from saving fuel and labor time. Therefore, to overcome or reduce the adhesion of soil to solid surfaces, a solution based on the main characteristics of the micro-topography of the exoskeleton of the Diloboderus abderus beetle (female) is proposed.