This document discusses using biomimicry to solve transportation challenges posed by peak oil by examining how sea turtles, lobsters and sea slugs navigate over long distances using magnetic senses. It proposes that electromagnetic propulsion could move objects through air, water and land by processing magnetic signals for orientation and navigation, and transmitting information electromagnetically. Design principles from nature like self-organization and energy generation could allow pyramid-shaped pods to conserve energy and transmit signals to move large payloads sustainably without oil.

1. Design Challenge in Biomimicry
How will we move people, products, information and supplies after peak oil? The onset of a
new condition without oil as our main source of transportation energy will force us to rede-
sign transportation as a system itself. Magnetic orientation & navigation and electromag-
netic propulsion provide one source of energy worth examining.
Identify Real Challenge
We’ve all heard about peak oil coming soon; sometime this decade by some estimates. In what other ways can we move objects over long
distances on this planet, and even into space, besides by fuel burning engines? With peak food coming soon as well, even biofuels have
mixed support.
Interpret Design Brief
To answer this question, we can look to nature to see how it solves this problem. After all, natures doesn’t use or need machines to do it’s
work. How does natures move objects and information, make energy, sense, receive, process, and send signals, and distribute molecular
forms of all types?
Discover Natural Models
The answer lies within sea turtles, spiny lobsters, and sea slugs. From the Oxford Journals, “The Earth’s magnetic field provides a pervasive
source of directional information used by phylogenetically diverse marine animals. Behavioral experiments with sea turtles, spiny lobsters,
and sea slugs have revealed that all have a magnetic compass sense, despite vast differences in the environment each inhabits and the
spatial scale over which each moves.” For more information on how it works, click here.
Abstract Design Principles
Biomimicry Taxonomy of Life’s Strategies: Like the sea turtles, we can utlize magnetic and electromagnetic forces to:
• Move—In/On Liquids & Gasses
• Attach—Permanently & Temporarily
• Maintain Community—Coordinate in Groups (Self-Organize)
• Make—Generate Magnetic Energy
• Process Information—
o Navigate through Air, Water, and Over Land
o Send Electrical/Magnetic Signals
o Process Signals through Conversion and Respond
o Sense Electrical/Magnetic Signals/Environmental Cues
• Distribute—Solids, Liquids, Gasses, Energy
Emulate Nature’s Stretegies
Form--Pyramid-shaped container pods of all sizes self-organize into V shape during travel to conserve up to 23% energy. Signal receptors
receive and transmit magnetic and electromagnetic signals in space. On-board computer processes signals and provides speed, duration,
and origination/destination information.
Function--Can move very large to very small objects, people, and information over long distances. using electromagnetic propulsion Can
move through air, water, or over land using magnetic signals for orientation and navigation. Can transmit information using electromag-
netic signals.
Ecosystem--Electromagnetic propulsion is strong enough to propell the containers through many liquid and gas resistance vicosities., as
well as in darkenss, or even into outer space.
Evaluate Against Life’s Principles
Through nature’s soltuion using magnetic force to move, attach, make energy, and distribute , we can create a far more sustainable trans-
Kelly Kokaisel
portation solution than oil coild ever provide. MCAD
Summer ‘10