Bio-mimicry: Flamingos by Deanna Downs https://padlet.com/deanna_downs/9w1rs4somo0c Invention for Balance en-us 2017-03-06 23:15:16 UTC 2025-11-30 09:25:07 UTC hello@padlet.com Explore Nature deanna_downs https://padlet.com/deanna_downs/9w1rs4somo0c/wish/158201160 Flamingos are a type of wader bird that has an adaptation in its legs and toes to help their balance when walking through mud. Wader birds like flamingos need their long legs and toes to do so. With their long legs come long toes which is the actual adaptation. With this adaptation, the flamingo has three long toes pointing forward and one in the back pointing backwards. The toes allow for the weight to be spread evenly among the front and back with each toe. 

In this invention, the idea of the long toes was discussed at first to be the only adaptation in this but the long legs are truly an adaptation as well because without the legs, the balance of these birds would be thrown off. In the invention, it will feature both the legs and the toes of Flamingos because they both help with balance and that is exactly what is needed in the problem. 
]]> 2017-03-06 23:19:33 UTC https://padlet.com/deanna_downs/9w1rs4somo0c/wish/158201160 Identify the Problem deanna_downs https://padlet.com/deanna_downs/9w1rs4somo0c/wish/158201282 Balance is a never ending problem among some jobs, activities, or at certain ages. Having a one year old that can walk and her cousin that cannot, when babies begin walking, they often are scared to begin with that first step because their balance is not all the way developed. Even after they begin trying to walk and standing alone, their balance is still not great. Having something that can put their minds and their parents’ minds at ease and help with their balance, will allow babies to try to start walking sooner or build the leg strength as they are able to stand on their own with this invention. ]]> 2017-03-06 23:20:31 UTC https://padlet.com/deanna_downs/9w1rs4somo0c/wish/158201282 Who can this benefit? deanna_downs https://padlet.com/deanna_downs/9w1rs4somo0c/wish/158201354 This not only would be helpful to babies learning to stand and walk but to other people as well. This would be helpful to those that require balance in their activities such as beginning trapeze artists and gymnasts. This would be helpful to them because it would allow them to gain balance when they are on a balance beam or trying to land on their dismounts. This would equal out the weight when they are practicing and when in a competition, they would be used to having the invention but with practice, they would not need the invention because the balance is second nature. Another group that would find this helpful would be people that enjoy hiking or working outdoors. The Flamingo and other wader birds have their long toes for balance but it’s particularly for balance when walking through mud. This would allow those outdoorsy people to be able to travel many places that would cause them trouble because of the land terrain. This would give them traction and balance in those situations because that is what it is made for on the bird. This not only can help babies but can help older people that have lost their sense of balance. With this invention attaching to the shoe and acting as a brace, it can be adjusted to fit the size and weight of the person it is on. It would help those people in the same way it would help a baby. It would allow the person to be able to possibly walk without a cane/walker and gain balance back through using this invention based on the toes and legs of the Flamingo. ]]> 2017-03-06 23:21:16 UTC https://padlet.com/deanna_downs/9w1rs4somo0c/wish/158201354 Evaluate deanna_downs https://padlet.com/deanna_downs/9w1rs4somo0c/wish/158201532 This invention is made of metal and acts as a brace. The invention snaps on the shoe at the bottom and it is fitted to the specific shoe. This design is just the basic one for a baby but can be modified to support different weights and heights. The design will last because it is made out of strong metal that will not snap under pressure. Each invention will have a brace that goes around the leg so that there is support like the long legs of a Flamingo. Then each will have a long “toe” (length depends on height and weight of user) in the back and three in the front pointing like those on a flamingo. Each toe in the front will be equidistant and support the weight evenly. When the weight is distributed evenly, balance is occurring. Each toe will also come with smaller toes because some may need more support. This would allow each toe to balance the other out when the baby tries to stand because they are firm and their legs will be supported as well to help balance. The toes would be slightly rounded but flat as well to have a sense of balance there as well. The rounded piece gives the child the support as needed as well because it gives traction whereas round/rods would be slick and not stable. ]]> 2017-03-06 23:23:09 UTC https://padlet.com/deanna_downs/9w1rs4somo0c/wish/158201532 Adaptation deanna_downs https://padlet.com/deanna_downs/9w1rs4somo0c/wish/158201634 In the original design, it was going to be made of wood because that is the first thing that was thought of. The idea of wood would have been a good idea except it would not hold as much weight because it was going to use little wood poles. These would easily snap and break under any weight, especially if it was an adult and trying to walk. This led to the next adaptation of making it out of metal. Metal would not snap and would hold the weight that was wanted. These were still in poles so they were going to be too slick and not support the child correctly. In this adaptation, the leg brace was added as well because that gave more support and it was figured that it helped with balance on the Flamingo as well as the toes. The next adaptation giving the metal a flatter look to it with it being slightly rounded. The brace still existed but padding was added for comfort. The flatter metal would allow for more stability because more surface area was covered and it was not a slick pole that did not have any traction. The final adaptation was the addition metal was added to each pole to help with stability and traction as well. These can be taken off but it helps those that need that extra stability like babies and older people. Every one of the designs can be adapted to fit the height and weight of a person that needs it. This involves having higher braces, longer toes, and thicker metal. 

]]> 2017-03-06 23:23:57 UTC https://padlet.com/deanna_downs/9w1rs4somo0c/wish/158201634 Adaptation One deanna_downs https://padlet.com/deanna_downs/9w1rs4somo0c/wish/158201803 2017-03-06 23:25:55 UTC https://padlet.com/deanna_downs/9w1rs4somo0c/wish/158201803 Adaptation Two deanna_downs https://padlet.com/deanna_downs/9w1rs4somo0c/wish/158202378 2017-03-06 23:32:55 UTC https://padlet.com/deanna_downs/9w1rs4somo0c/wish/158202378 Original deanna_downs https://padlet.com/deanna_downs/9w1rs4somo0c/wish/158202549 2017-03-06 23:34:44 UTC https://padlet.com/deanna_downs/9w1rs4somo0c/wish/158202549 Adaptation Three deanna_downs https://padlet.com/deanna_downs/9w1rs4somo0c/wish/158202604 2017-03-06 23:35:14 UTC https://padlet.com/deanna_downs/9w1rs4somo0c/wish/158202604