The goals for this week were to continue research the biology and mechanics behind the chameleon's tongue. The tongue consists of three primary components: The accelerator muscles, the retractor muscles, and the sticky tip. The tip of the tongue resembles a club. Covered with sticky saliva, the tongue's surface is also abrasive to increase grip. The soft tip wraps around prey during impact to minimize the pressure on the insect decreasing the chances of obliterating the bug.
Using this information, significant progress was made determining the basic mechanics behind the insect swatter. The mechanism will replicate a chameleon's tongue as closely as mechanically possible by launching the tongue in a rapid linear motion in the direction of the target insect. The tip of the mechanical tongue will attempt to mimic the tip of the chameleon's. It will be covered with a soft sticky substance that will gently snatch the insect instead splattering it upon impact. Once the tongue has fully extended and the adhesive tip has made contact with the insect, the tongue will rapidly retract to it's pre-firing position. After the tongue's motion has stopped, the insect will be removed from the end of the device, completing the process.
In order to achieve rapid extension of the tongue, the group decided to design a pressurized air system. An on board pressurized air tank will be filled to a given pressure. Once the tank is filled, the device could be considered "loaded". When the device is ready to be fired, a trigger will be pulled which will release the compressed air in the tank extending an inflatable tongue mounted at the muzzle. The sudden rush of air is expected to unroll the tongue in a similar fashion to a party horn. We are still brainstorming ways to replicate the tongue's retractor muscles.
Using these mechanics, the group worked up a rough sketch of a potential prototype.
