Torscion: Car Bioinspired by the Tortoise and the Scorpion

By Tojin T. Eapen

The Torscion is a bioinspired concept car conceived using the of support text-to-image models as a first stage of the idea management process. Our goal is to use generative AI models which are computer algorithms, trained on a dataset of images and text descriptions, to create novel visual designs for Torscion cars that draw inspiration from two different living organisms, the tortoise and the scorpion. Here is an image of the gryphonic creature with the same name that combines features of the two organisms.

The car's form can likely incorporate elements from both animals, such as the protective shell of a tortoise and the sharp claws or tail of a scorpion. The design not only aims to capture the aesthetics of these animals but also their functional features. Here is a visualization of a Torscion car generated using a text-to-image model.

Additionally, the Torscion may incorporate other bio-inspired, futuristic, or innovative features, such as the ability to withstand extreme external stresses and the ability to clear blockades effectively. Here are some of the other designs generated for Torscion concept cars.

Below are some designs that we found particularly intriguing and have the potential to lead inspire and guide the development of innovative Torscion concepts.

Lastly, we have selected the top design for Torsion from the numerous designs that were generated. This design stood out to us due to its apparent incorporation of bioinspired elements and its unique functional characterictics.

Function Follows Form in AI-Enabled Product Ideation

Atypical designs generated by generative AI models that challenge the status quo can be valuable inputs during the early stages of new product development. These designs can inspire designers to think beyond their preconceptions of what is possible or desirable in a product, both in terms of form and function. An unusual or atypical form can encourage designers to consider the potential benefits of this novel design. This approach, which can be referred to as "function follows form," can help overcome biases such as design fixation, functional fixedness, and the Einstellung effect, where previous experience can prevent new ideas from emerging. This can lead to creative solutions that may not have been discovered using a more traditional "form follows function" approach, where the functions are determined first, and the form is designed to accommodate them.

This post is part of a series of articles on the use of generative AI for bioinspired product ideation. The use of AI for product concept generation allows for the quick creation of many potentially novel designs, which could then be evaluated and refined to select the most promising concepts to move to the next stage of the product development process.

To learn how leading Fortune Global 500 companies such as ABB, Bosch, Google, Samsung, and NetApp have used Innomantra's Functional Innovation Methodology to turbocharge their idea management process, schedule a meeting today at calendly.com/innomantra.