Silent flight inspires quieter cooling fans

The ability of owls to glide silently makes them a formidable predator, which inspired automotive supplier Mahle to design a ‘bionic’ cooling fan for electrified vehicles that is quieter and more efficient, using artificial intelligence to develop fan blades that mimic the wings of nocturnal birds of prey.

Mahle analysed parts of the animal kingdom with artificial intelligence to come up with ways of improving products in ways that would help the automotive industry decarbonise. 

“We learn from nature. It inspires us in many areas,” said Mahle head of thermal management development Dr Uli Christian Blessing at the IAA Transportation 2024 exhibition in Hannover, Germany.