This year’s semester project of the bionics course at the Westphalian Univresity of Applied Sciences in Bocholt was all about the topic “be prepared”.
A total of 41 bionics students developed technical approaches to solveing tomorrow’s unforeseeable challenges in future scenarios they created themselves. In addition to computer-aided development tolls such as 3D printers, the students also used conventional tools such as saws, files and drills.
In the nd, eight exciting product were created: A fold-out shelter for cyclists, a home system for growing vegetables, a protective device against floods, a concept for generating electricity when there is little wind, a filter device for catching microplastics on ehicles, a concept for navigation after a solar storm and a fine dust filtration system for pollen.
The Otto-Spaleck-Stiftung prize for the best individual project went to the team that developed the pollen filter. The group convincingly demonstrated haow comfort gains in use can be found by rethinking known problems. The background to their development is the assumption that the flowering periods of plants are being extended due to globnal warming, which increases exposure to allergy-causing pollen. The filter works electrically and prevents pollen from entering living areas.
