Significance  Drill rods are recognized as core tools in drilling engineering, and their performance exerts a significant influence on drilling efficiency and safety. Over recent years, applying biomimetic technologies to drill rod design has gradually emerged as a hot research topic. By imitating the remarkable structures, morphologies, and material properties of living organisms in nature, biomimetic technologies provide entirely new philosophies and approaches for the innovative design of drill rods.

Advances  This study summarizes the advances in research on biomimetic technologies for drill rods in terms of the biomimetic design of structures, morphologies, and materials. Regarding the biomimetic design of structures, highly resilient biomimetic drill rods that prevent drilling tool accidents and have flexible structures have been developed by imitating the spinal structural characteristics of quadruped mammals. Concerning the biomimetic design of morphologies, highly wear-resistant biomimetic drill rods with uneven surfaces have been developed by imitating the non-smooth surface morphologies of living organisms such as dung beetles and shells. For the biomimetic design of materials, high-strength, corrosion-resistant, and highly wear-resistant biomimetic drill rods with gradients and fiber material characteristics have been developed by imitating Scapharca subcrenata and Crustacea for their composite materials with biological gradients and bamboo for their biological fiber-reinforced structural characteristics.

Prospects  Nevertheless, current research has limitations in terms of the integration of theory and practice and integrated multifunctional design. Future biomimetic technologies for drill rods will develop toward the integration of high strength, light weight, and wear/corrosion/fatigue resistance, as well as intelligent structure and information transmission, ultimately providing a basis and guidance for the innovation and development of drill rod technology.