Explore how the kingfisher bird inspired a revolutionary re-design of Japan's Shinkansen bullet trains, to demonstrate the incredible power of biomimicry in advancing sustainable technology, as explored in the book '30 Animals That Made Us Smarter'.
The Kingfisher's Beak - Nature's Blueprint for Speed and Efficiency
In the kingdom of nature, where survival hinges on fast reaction speeds and adapting for greater efficiency, the kingfisher emerges as a winged wonder.
Armed with a sleek streamlined beak – a masterstroke of evolutionary design – this bird pierces through water with barely a ripple. Adorned in vibrant hues of flashing oranges & blues it's far from just a visual spectacle; it's a testament to the genius of nature.
But how is the hunting strategy of this small bird connected to the cutting-edge technology of bullet trains? The answer lies in the heart of Japan's quest for greater innovation & sustainability. A quest where a bird's beak, would reshape the future of the high speed rail industry.
The Kingfisher's Unique Design
Kingfisher birds are often found perched above the trickling waters of a stream or river. Silently, there they wait for just the right moment to dive in on their prey. One of their most notable features which helps them with this ambush strategy is undoubtedly their beak.
Long, pointed, and remarkably aerodynamic this specialised tool allows each kingfisher to minimise the splash on the surface while still being able to slice through the water at high speed. A crucial ability when it comes to catching their fast-moving prey by surprise.
Their seamless entry into the water is all made possible thanks to the shape of their beak, which gradually widens from the tip all the way to the base towards their head. This needle like shape helps to reduce drag & resistance against the birds' body when diving into water.
The kingfisher's hunting success all comes down to poise, patience, and precision; key attributes that would capture the attention of tech innovators in the train services and public transport sector. So, how did all these connecting ideas come to take flight?
The Challenge with Bullet Trains
In the late 90s, Japan's iconic bullet trains faced a big problem.
Known locally as Shinkansen trains - which translates as the 'new trunk line' or 'new main line' - these are high speed trains that rely on magnetic levitation (maglev). This maglev system of train transportation differs from other trains in that the entire bullet train floats along a guideway through the use of magnetic forces.
By levitating above the Shinkansen railway tracks, maglev trains completely eliminated the resistance and friction of wheel-to-rail contact that regular railways continue to experience. In this way maglev technology has become a crucial aspect of creating the worlds fastest trains.
The only trouble was as the bullet train cars accelerated up to maximum speed they were now being slowed down by something else. The clue lay in the sound they were making as they passed through tunnels of the Shinkansen network.
A booming shockwave!
This shockwave was being caused by a build up of air pressure at the front of the Shinkansen bullet trains. It created a sonic boom effect as they exited each of the tunnels dotted along the high speed lines. This sonic boom was disturbing to local wildlife and the nearby residents too.
But this issue wasn't just about the amount of noise they made it was also a matter of demanding high levels of energy. To combat the pressure and resistance that most Shinkansen trains were experiencing more power was needed to maintain their high speeds.
The engineers were tasked with a dual challenge; i) reduce the overall noise levels ii) without compromising the efficiency of the bullet train along the high speed lines. It was a challenge that would require inspiration from one of the most unlikely of sources.
Innovation Through Biomimicry: The Kingfisher's Influence
The breakthrough moment in redesigning the Japanese bullet train came from a remarkable observation made by birdwatching enthusiast, Eiji Nakatsu. As it turns out, Mr Nakatsu was also an engineer of high speed trains! It was his passion for problem solving, combined with a deep fascination of these brilliant birds which led to a pivotal insight.
After watching the kingfisher's dive repeatedly into the water, he took notice of how the birds' beak allowed them to enter the water with minimal splash while still maintaining their speed underwater. Inspired by what he saw, Mr. Nakatsu proposed redesigning the train's front nose to mimic the beak, of a kingfisher!
But what exactly was it about the kingfisher that made him think it would be such a good candidate to learn from in the first place?
The key comes down to how the kingfisher's highly adapted beak allows the bird to move through high resistance mediums like water with minimal resistance. This is due to the beak's ability to change pressure gradually as it goes between two different mediums (air and water) without causing disruptive turbulence.
Mr. Nakatsu's idea was quite revolutionary. His theory was that by adopting the contoured and streamlined shape of the bird's beak his team might be able to make the bullet train services more effective by reducing the build-up of air pressure that was causing the loud booms between each train station.
But could his team be convinced that this new idea would work?
The Impact of Kingfishers on Shinkansen Trains
As it turns out Mr. Nataksu had struck an engineering goldmine. The complete redesign of the Japanese bullet trains – inspired by the kingfisher – led to a series of significant improvements.
The new, streamlined nose successfully reduced the loud sonic booms which lessened the noise pollution coming from the bullet train and its overall environmental impact.
By enhancing the aerodynamics, the new front nose allowed the Japanese bullet trains to travel 10% faster and consume 15% less electricity. It was a huge success for Mr. Nakatsu and for his team at Japan Railway West.
By translating the features of the kingfisher to create a ‘beak-like' train nose, the new bullet trains had the effect of reducing the pressure of the shockwave that was being created as they entered and travelled through the confined space of the tunnels. It was the tapering design that was key to minimising air resistance at high speeds and the resulting air pressure that was building up in front of the Shinkansen train.
As a result, not only did the design significantly reduce the noise and vibration associated with high speed travel it also improved performance and efficiency along the Shinkansen lines.
Quite the spectacle to behold, as the worlds fastest trains these high speed rail machines are now able to reach maximum speeds of 240–320 km/h (150–200 mph) on the main Shinkansen routes, and 130 km/h (80 mph) on the mini Shinkansen.
This enhanced maximum operating speed allowed each passenger train to successfully reach the goal of transporting passengers along 380-miles of track, between the train stations of the major cities of Shin-Osaka and Fukuoka, in less than 2-hours and 20-minutes. What's more the noise levels of these enhanced train services were far lower than they were previously, coming in at less than 75-decibels.
The same levels as a standard kitchen dishwasher.
At the time it was a world record for the fastest maglev trains on Earth!
Embracing Nature's Wisdom for Future Innovation
By mimicking the kingfisher's beak the Shinkansen engineers were able to create a design that tapped into the raw potential of high speed travel. In doing so they created the fastest trains on the planet. This approach of combining the elegant design of mother nature with advanced engineering was a total game-changer.
By paying attention to the world around him Mr Nakatsu's ingenuity is likely to go down as one of the most perfect examples of how nature is inspiring great advances in sustainable technology that are leading to a brighter future.
If you're intrigued by stories like this which blend tales of nature's designs and human creativity, consider delving deeper into the book '30 Animals That Made Us Smarter'. It's available to order now and offers a wealth of inspiration and a new perspective on the world around us. ourney and see how the animal kingdom is silently reshaping our future. Click here to order your copy.