Flexible without hinges

From nature...

In plants, there are many movements that function by elastic pliability without hinges.

The South African crane flower (Strelitzia reginae BANKS ) is pollinated by birds drinking its nectar. They land on the tip of a "perch" made of two blue petals specially stiffened and fused together. The weight of the bird bends the perch downward, causing it to open sideways lengthwise. This makes the stamens and pistil accessible and pollination can take place.

...to technology

Technology mostly uses hinges to make movable structures. But with frequent movement, hinges wear out quickly. Abstracted, the functional principle of the crane flower offers an alternative solution: the bionic product Flectofin ®. Like its biological model, it links the movement of rod-shaped and flat elements in the form of a joint-free, infinitely adjustable folding mechanism. In this way, for example, the position of movable sunshade slats can be changed at any time without wear.

Image captions

Two blue petals of the bird of paradise flower serve as a landing place for pollinating birds.

If you bend the "perch" down, it folds open without any hinges at all.

This theme pavilion at Expo 2012 in Korea is protected from the sun by the Flectofin® bionic facade shading system.

Translation of the information panel in the Botanical Garden Dresden.