The heel pad, located under the calcaneus of the human foot, is a hidden treasure that has been subjected to harsh mechanical conditions such as impact, vibration, and cyclic loading. This has resulted in a unique compartment structure and material composition, endowed with advanced biomechanical functions including cushioning, vibration reduction, fatigue resistance, and touchdown stability, making it an ideal natural bionic prototype in the field of bionic materials. It has been shown that the highly specialized structure and material composition of the heel pad endows it with biomechanical properties such as hyperelasticity, viscoelasticity, and mechanical anisotropy. These complex biomechanical properties underpin its advanced functions. Although it is known that these properties interact with each other, the detailed influence mechanism remains unclear, which restricts its application as a bionic prototype in the field of bionic materials. Therefore, this study provides a comprehensive review of the structure, materials, biomechanical properties, and functions of the heel pad. It focuses on elucidating the relationships between the structure, materials, biomechanical properties, and functions of heel pads and proposes insights for the study of bionic materials using the heel pad as a bionic prototype. Finally, a research idea to analyze the advanced mechanical properties of heel pads by integrating sophisticated technologies is proposed, aiming to provide directions for further in-depth research on heel pads and inspiration for the innovative design of advanced bionic materials.

Bionic neural devices often feature complex structures with multiple interfaces, requiring extensive post‐processing. In this paper, a neural device with intrinsic perception and decision‐making (NDIPD), inspired by neuronal oscillatory activity is introduced. The device utilizes alternating signals generated by coupling the human body with the power‐frequency electromagnetic field as both a signal source and energy source, mimicking neuronal oscillatory activity. The peaks and valleys of the alternating signal are differentially modulated to replicate the baseline shift process in neuronal oscillatory activity. By comparing the amplitude of the peaks and valleys in the NDIPD's electrical output signal, the device achieves intrinsic perception and decision‐making regarding the location of mechanical stimulation. This is accomplished using a single interface, which reduces data transmission, simplifies functionality, and eliminates the need for an external power supply. The NDIPD demonstrates a low‐pressure detection limit (<0.02 N), fast response time (200 000 cycles). It shows great potential for applications such as game control, UAV navigation, and virtual vehicle driving. The innovative energy supply method and sensing mechanism are expected to open new avenues in the development of bionic neural devices.