AUTOFLOAT 4D – Biomimétisme impression 4D pour le développement de Biométamatériaux adaptatifs passifs pour flottabilité adaptative

Adaptive and reconfigurable structures respond to their environment through control signals transmitted via mechanical, pneumatic, or electronic means. A typical application is the control of buoyancy and lift in underwater drones. However, these systems still suffer from limitations in terms of acoustic stealth, reliability due to their numerous assemblies, maintenance complexity, and environmental impact.

Building on biomimicry and 4D printing of novel meta-biomaterials, the AutoFloat 4D project aims to design and develop bioinspired structures capable of passively reconfiguring their shape and volume in response to environmental variations representative of a natural water column, such as temperature, pressure, and water content. The project will investigate the biological principles underlying buoyancy and lift control in living organisms and transfer these principles to meta-biomaterials using biomimetic approaches combined with generative design, numerical simulation, and 4D printing. These materials will be based on locally available natural resources, particularly hygromorphic biocomposites that respond to environmental stimuli. They will then be fabricated and characterized to determine their programmability range. Finally, a laboratory-scale proof of concept (approximately 20 cm) suitable for integration into an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) will be proposed.