Product Design
Sharks (various species with dermal denticles), the natural model for Sharkskin: LZR Swimsuit Drag Reduction
Sharkskin: LZR Swimsuit Drag Reduction: the human application

Inspired by: Sharks (various species with dermal denticles)

Sharkskin: LZR Swimsuit Drag Reduction

Speedo, NASA

The Problem

Water drag limits swimming speed; conventional swimsuits don't address hydrodynamic efficiency; athletes seek marginal performance gains.

High-performance swimsuit featuring sharkskin-inspired surface texture to reduce drag and improve swimming speed.

Sharkskin has microscopic grooves (dermal denticles) that reduce hydrodynamic drag. Speedo and NASA collaborated to develop the LZR Racer swimsuit incorporating sharkskin surface technology. The suit's texture mimics shark dermal denticles to reduce water drag, resulting in measurable speed improvements.

Biomimicry Breakdown

The Biomimicry Analysis

How Sharks (various species with dermal denticles) translates into Sharkskin: LZR Swimsuit Drag Reduction

Term
Applied to Sharkskin: LZR Swimsuit Drag Reduction
Function
Mimics shark skin grooves to reduce drag in swimming.
Mechanism
Surface texture creates vortices that reduce pressure drag.
Design Principle
Use surface structure to manipulate fluid flow.
Resulting Design
Improved swimming speed and athletic performance.

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