Biomimetics: Nature-Based Innovation
Features
- Reviews the current state of the art of biomimetics
- Offers a comprehensive resource suitable as a reference or textbook
- Documents key inventions and solutions to provide a model for inspiration
- Addresses gaps in the current literature
- Provides extensive end-of-chapter references for further reading
Summary
Mimicking nature – from science fiction to engineering reality
Humans have always looked to nature’s inventions as a source of inspiration. The observation of flying birds and insects leads to innovations in aeronautics. Collision avoidance sensors mimic the whiskers of rodents. Optimization algorithms are based on survival of the fittest, the seed-picking process of pigeons, or the behavior of ant colonies. In recent years these efforts have become more intensive, with researchers seeking rules, concepts, and principles of biology to inspire new possibilities in materials, mechanisms, algorithms, and fabrication processes. A review of the current state of the art, Biomimetics: Nature Based Innovation documents key biological solutions that provide a model for innovations in engineering and science.
Leading experts address a wide range of topics, including:
- Artificial senses and organs
- Mimicry at the cell–materials interface
- Multiscale modeling of plant cell wall architecture and tissue mechanics
- The making of biomimetic composites
- Electroactive polymer (EAP) actuators as artificial muscles
- EAP-based refreshable braille displays
- Biomimetic optics from the angles of biology and plants
- Biomimicry of flying birds, insects, and marine biology
- Applications of biomimetics in manufacturing, products, and medicine
- Robotics, including the development of human-like robots
- Biologically inspired design as a tool for interdisciplinary education
- The biomimetic process in artistic creation
The final chapter outlines the challenges to biomimetic-related innovation and offers a vision for the future.
A follow-up to Biomimetics: Biologically Inspired Technologies (2005), this comprehensive reference methodically surveys the latest advances in this rapidly emerging field. It features an abundance of illustrations, including a 32-page full-color insert, and provides extensive references for engineers and scientists interested in delving deeper into the study of biomimetics.
Table of Contents
Introduction: Nature as a Source for Inspiration of Innovation; Yoseph Bar-Cohen
Artificial Senses and Organs—Natural Mechanisms and Biomimetic Devices; Morgana M. Trexler and Ryan M. Deacon
Biomimicry at the Cell–Material Interface; Kelsey A. Potter, Bo Gui, and Jeffrey R. Capadona
Multiscale Modeling of Plant Cell Wall Architecture and Tissue Mechanics for Biomimetic Applications; Alejandro Rey, Damiano Pasini, and Yogesh Kumar Murugesan
Biomimetic Composites; Daniel G.T. Strange and Michelle L. Oyen
Electroactive Polymer Actuators as Artificial Muscles; Yoseph Bar-Cohen
Refreshable Braille Displays Actuated by Electroactive Polymers; Yoseph Bar-Cohen
Biological Optics; H. Donald Wolpert
Biomimicry of the Ultimate Optical Device—The Plant; David W. Lee
Biologically Inspired Design: A Tool for Interdisciplinary Education; Jeannette Yen, Marc J. Weissburg, Michael Helms, and Ashok Goel
Self-reproducing Machines and Manufacturing Processes; Adrian Bowyer
Biomimetic Products; Tom Masselter, Wilhelm Barthlott, Georg Bauer, Jürgen Bertling, Frank Cichy, Petra Ditsche-Kuru, Friederike Gallenmüller, Maik Gude, Tobias Haushahn, Michael Hermann, Henning Immink, Jan Knippers, Julian Lienhard, Rolf Luchsinger, Karin Lunz, Claus Mattheck, Markus Milwich, Nils Mölders, Christoph Neinhuis, Anke Nellesen, Simon Poppinga, Marcus Rechberger, Simon Schleicher, Clemens Schmitt, Hannes Schwager, Robin Seidel, Olga Speck, Thomas Stegmaier, Iwiza Tesari, Marc Thielen, and Thomas Speck
Biomimetics for Medical Implants; Bert Müller
Application of Biomimetics in the Design of Medical Devices; Hande Argunsah and Brian L. Davis
Affective Robotics: Human Motion and Behavioural Inspiration for Safe Cooperation between Humans and Humanoid Assistive Robots; A. G. Pipe, R. Vaidyanathan, C. Melhuish, P. Bremner, P. Robinson, R. A. J. Clark, A. Lenz, K. Eder, N. Hawes, Z. Ghahramani, M. Fraser, M. Mirmehdi, P. Healey, and S. Skachek
Humanlike Robots—Capabilities, Potentials, and Challenges; Yoseph Bar-Cohen
Biomimetic Swimmer Inspired by the Manta Ray; Frank E. Fish, Hossein Haj-Hariri, Alexander J. Smits, Hilary Bart-Smith and Tetsuya Iwasaki
Biomimetics and Flying Technology; Brenda Kulfan and Anthony J. Colozza
The Biomimetic Process in Artistic Creation; Adi Marom and Gad Marom
Biomimetics—Reality, Challenges, and Outlook; Yoseph Bar-Cohen
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