Bioinspired Divide-and-Conquer Design Methodology for a Multifunctional Contour of a Curved Lever

In this study, we propose a bioinspired design methodology for a multifunctional lever based on the morphological principle of the lever mechanism in the Salvia pratensis flower. The proposed divide-and-conquer contour design methodology does not treat a lever contour as a single curve that satisfies multiple functions. Rather, the lever contour combines partial contours to achieve its assigned subfunction. This approach can simplify the complex multifunctional problem in lever design. We include a case study of a lever utilized in a compact variable gravity compensator (CVGC) to explain the methodology in more detail. In the case study, four partial contours were designed to satisfy three types of functional requirements. The final design for the lever contour was manufactured and verified with visual measurement experiments. The experimental result shows that each partial contour successfully achieved its subfunctions.