Nicole Ackermans

Science correspondent and researcher specializing in animals that repeatedly hit their heads (e.g., woodpeckers) and the effects on brain injury; guest on the episode to discuss biomimicry and woodpecker-inspired engineering.

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Oct 4, 2025 • 14min

Crash-proof Drone Inspired by Woodpecker - DTNS Weekend

Nicole Ackermans, a science correspondent and researcher focused on animals that sustain head impacts, discusses a woodpecker-inspired crash-proof drone. She explains the drone's innovative tensegrity design that claims to reduce impact forces by 70%. However, Dr. Ackermans challenges the biological claims underpinning the drone's design, highlighting inaccuracies in studies regarding brain injury in woodpeckers. She emphasizes the need for engineers to collaborate with biologists to avoid dangerous assumptions in biomimicry.

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