This wearable adventure accessory called the Portable Water Storage Unit utilizes bug-biomimicry to harvest water vapor in the driest of areas. Inspired by the Namib desert beetle, the backpack gathers water from the air using nanoscale bumps with hydrophilic (water attracting) tips and hydrophobic (water repelling) sides. When aimed at morning fog, droplets will materialize and fall down channels into a reservoir for drinking.
Living in a developed nation, we sometimes don't realize that water is a scarce necessity for some in less developed countries. The presence of water can also mean survival for thrill seeking adventurers. Inspired by the Fogstand Beetle, Bionic Water Storage Unit is a conceptual design that would harvest and store water.
Harvesting water sounds funny, I know. We typically think of harvesting plants, but the Fogstand Beetle, which inhabits the Namib Desert, one of the harshest environments on the planet, has a unique way of harvesting water.
The Fogstand Beetle, the inspiration behind Bionic, actually harvests water particles in fog, in the early, Namib Desert mornings. It climbs a sand ridge and faces the morning winds. These winds carry foggy air--moist air--toward the little insect. The beetle's anatomy does the rest. Its back is composed of a hydrophobic surface interspersed by hydrophilic bumps.
Fog condenses on the Fogstand Beetle's wings and that moisture forms small droplets that are attracted to the hydrophilic bumps. When enough droplets are collected and become heavy enough to detach from the bump, they slide down the hydrophobic surface of the beetle's back and into its mouth.
The Bionic Water Storage device would have a similar composition--hydrophilic bumps and hydrophobic sides. You would have to point the unit in the direction of fog laden wind, just like the Fogstand Beetle, in order for droplets to materialize on the hydrophilic bumps and subsequently fall into the Bionics water reservoir.
It is unclear how much water Bionic would be able to capture, if any. The Fogstand Beetle is able to collect more than enough water to sustain itself, however the Bionic concept hasn't made it to the prototype stage yet and so hasn't been tested. Also, it is typically expensive and inefficient to create surfaces like the one Bionic would utilize--hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces just don't attach so easily.
Though this concept has the potential to turn out to be inefficient, it also has the potential to be a new means of water collection. If it's a feasible concept (the designer doesn't give enough information on the design to really make a hard determination), then it could mean water for those who don't have great access to it and a new accessory for hikers, campers and adventurers. Perhaps we will see it or something like it come along in the near future.
