1
|
Snell-Rood EC, Smirnoff D. Biology for biomimetics I: function as an interdisciplinary bridge in bio-inspired design. BIOINSPIRATION & BIOMIMETICS 2023; 18:052001. [PMID: 37429293 DOI: 10.1088/1748-3190/ace5fb] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
In bio-inspired design, the concept of 'function' allows engineers and designers to move between biological models and human applications. Abstracting a problem to general functions allows designers to look to traits that perform analogous functions in biological organisms. However, the idea of function can mean different things across fields, presenting challenges for interdisciplinary research. Here we review core ideas in biology that relate to the concept of 'function,' including adaptation, tradeoffs, and fitness, as a companion to bio-inspired design approaches. We align these ideas with a top-down approach in biomimetics, where engineers or designers start with a problem of interest and look to biology for ideas. We review how one can explore a range of biological analogies for a given function by considering function across different parts of an organism's life, such as acquiring nutrients or avoiding disease. Engineers may also draw inspiration from biological traits or systems that exhibit a particular function, but did not necessarily evolve to do so. Such an evolutionary perspective is important to how biodesigners search biological space for ideas. A consideration of the evolution of trait function can also clarify potential trade-offs and biological models that may be more promising for an application. This core set of concepts from evolutionary and organismal biology can aid engineers and designers in their search for biological inspiration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emilie C Snell-Rood
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, United States of America
| | - Dimitri Smirnoff
- Department of Curriculum and Instruction, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
- Department of Biology Teaching and Learning, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Li G, Liu G, Leng D, Fang X, Li G, Wang W. Underwater Undulating Propulsion Biomimetic Robots: A Review. Biomimetics (Basel) 2023; 8:318. [PMID: 37504206 PMCID: PMC10807579 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics8030318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The traditional propeller-based propulsion of underwater robots is inefficient and poorly adapted to practice. By contrast, underwater biomimetic robots show better stability and maneuverability in harsh marine environments. This is particularly true of undulating propulsion biomimetic robots. This paper classifies the existing underwater biomimetic robots and outlines their main contributions to the field. The propulsion mechanisms of underwater biomimetic undulating robots are summarized based on theoretical, numerical and experimental studies. Future perspectives on underwater biomimetic undulating robots are also presented, filling the gaps in the existing literature.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Guijie Liu
- Department of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266000, China; (G.L.)
| | - Dingxin Leng
- Department of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266000, China; (G.L.)
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Yeter IH, Tan VSQ, Le Ferrand H. Conceptualization of Biomimicry in Engineering Context among Undergraduate and High School Students: An International Interdisciplinary Exploration. Biomimetics (Basel) 2023; 8:biomimetics8010125. [PMID: 36975355 PMCID: PMC10046154 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics8010125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomimicry is an interdisciplinary design approach that provides solutions to engineering problems by taking inspiration from nature. Given the established importance of biomimicry for building a sustainable world, there is a need to develop effective curricula on this topic. In this study, a workshop was conducted twice in Singapore: once with 14 students from a local high school in Singapore, and once with 11 undergraduate students in engineering from the United States. The workshop aimed to better understand how students conceptualize biomimicry following the bottom-up and top-down biomimetic methods. The workshop contained a lecture and laboratory session, and data were collected via questionnaires, field observation, and participant presentations at the end of the laboratory session. A qualitative analysis revealed that the top-down biomimetic approach was initially understood using vague and generic terms. In contrast, the students described the bottom-up approach using precise and technical vocabulary. By naming the themes highlighting the students' conceptualizations, it was concluded that strengthening the principle that makes the natural object unique and increasing interdisciplinary knowledge are needed to help them perform the top-down approach. The results from this work should be confirmed with a more significant number of participants, and they could help develop a curriculum to teach the two approaches effectively by providing tools to help the students generalize their ideas and abstract meaning from systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahim H Yeter
- National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Nanyang Walk, Singapore 637616, Singapore
| | - Valerie Si Qi Tan
- National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Nanyang Walk, Singapore 637616, Singapore
| | - Hortense Le Ferrand
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Sun F, Xu H, Meng Y, Lu Z. A BERT-based model for coupled biological strategies in biomimetic design. Neural Comput Appl 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00521-022-07734-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
5
|
Wanieck K, Hamann L, Bartz M, Uttich E, Hollermann M, Drack M, Beismann H. Biomimetics Linked to Classical Product Development: An Interdisciplinary Endeavor to Develop a Technical Standard. Biomimetics (Basel) 2022; 7:biomimetics7020036. [PMID: 35466253 PMCID: PMC9036278 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics7020036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomimetics is a well-known approach for technical innovation. However, most of its influence remains in the academic field. One option for increasing its application in the practice of technical design is to enhance the use of the biomimetic process with a step-by-step standard, building a bridge to common engineering procedures. This article presents the endeavor of an interdisciplinary expert panel from the fields of biology, engineering science, and industry to develop a standard that links biomimetics to the classical processes of product development and engineering design. This new standard, VDI 6220 Part 2, proposes a process description that is compatible and connectable to classical approaches in engineering design. The standard encompasses both the solution-based and the problem-driven process of biomimetics. It is intended to be used in any product development process for more biomimetic applications in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Wanieck
- Faculty of Applied Informatics, Deggendorf Institute of Technology (DIT), Teaching Area Biomimetics and Innovation, Grafenauer Str. 22, 94078 Freyung, Germany;
| | - Leandra Hamann
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Animal Ecology, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany;
| | - Marcel Bartz
- Engineering Design, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Martensstraße 9, 91058 Erlangen, Germany;
| | - Eike Uttich
- Product Development, Institute Product and Service Engineering, Faculty Mechanical Engineering, Ruhr-University Bochum (RUB), Universitaetsstr. 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany;
| | - Markus Hollermann
- Die Bioniker GbR/ELISE GmbH, Consulting & Development, Im Mersch 14, 49577 Eggermühlen, Germany;
| | - Manfred Drack
- Evolutionary Biology of Invertebrates, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 28E, 72076 Tübingen, Germany;
| | - Heike Beismann
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Westphalian University of Applied Sciences, Teaching Area Biology and Biomimetics, Münsterstr. 265, 46397 Bocholt, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-2871-2155-944
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Chen C, Tao Y, Li Y, Liu Q, Li S, Tang Z. A structure-function knowledge extraction method for bio-inspired design. COMPUT IND 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.compind.2021.103402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
|
7
|
Graeff E, Maranzana N, Aoussat A. Biological Practices and Fields, Missing Pieces of the Biomimetics' Methodological Puzzle. Biomimetics (Basel) 2020; 5:biomimetics5040062. [PMID: 33218019 PMCID: PMC7709660 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics5040062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 11/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Facing current biomimetics impediments, recent studies have supported the integration within biomimetic teams of a new actor having biological knowledge and know-how. This actor is referred to as the "biomimetician" in this article. However, whereas biology is often considered a homogenous whole in the methodological literature targeting biomimetics, it actually gathers fundamentally different fields. Each of these fields is structured around specific practices, tools, and reasoning. Based on this observation, we wondered which knowledge and know-how, and so biological fields, should characterize biomimeticians. Following the design research methodology, this article thus investigates the operational integration of two biological fields, namely ecology and phylogenetics, as a starting point in the establishment of the biomimetician's biological tools and practices. After a descriptive phase identifying specific needs and potential conceptual bridges, we presented various ways of applying biological expertise during biomimetic processes in the prescriptive phase of the study. Finally, we discussed current limitations and future research axes.
Collapse
|
8
|
Green Product Design Based on the BioTRIZ Multi-Contradiction Resolution Method. SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su12104276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The impacts on the environment of many commercial products have not been fully considered in past years. For the sustainable development of Earth’s resources, future product design should move towards not only innovation, but also fundamentally in the green direction. Currently, the BioTRIZ method may provide a satisfactory solution for a single contradiction of green product design. However, if there are multiple contradictions existing due to multiple operational fields, difficulty in implementing design aspects may be posed. For this reason, this paper develops a BioTRIZ multi-contradiction resolution method targeting a green product design, which can find the crucial contradictions and thus achieve the necessary invention principles (IP). By summarizing the green factors and further dividing operational fields, the deduced matrix table becomes highly effective in the design. Accordingly, designers can be assisted to quickly find the operational fields under multiple contradictions. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified using a product example of a window-cleaning robot design.
Collapse
|
9
|
Terrier P, Glaus M, Raufflet E. BiomiMETRIC Assistance Tool: A Quantitative Performance Tool for Biomimetic Design. Biomimetics (Basel) 2019; 4:biomimetics4030049. [PMID: 31295968 PMCID: PMC6784294 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics4030049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Revised: 07/06/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
This article presents BiomiMETRIC, a quantitative performance tool for biomimetic design. This tool is developed as a complement to the standard ISO 18458 Biomimetics—terminology, concepts, and methodology to quantitatively evaluate the biomimetics performance of a design, a project, or a product. BiomiMETRIC is aimed to assist designers, architects, and engineers to facilitate the use of the biomimetic approach beyond the existing frameworks, and to provide an answer to the following question: How can a quantitative evaluation of biomimetic performance be carried out? The biomimetic quantitative performance tool provides a method of quantitative analysis by combining the biomimetic approach with the impact assessment methods used in life-cycle analysis. Biomimetic design is divided into eight steps. The seventh step deals with performance assessment, verifying that the concept developed is consistent with the 10 sustainable ecosystem principles proposed by the Biomimicry Institute. In the application of the biomimetic quantitative performance tool, stone wool and cork are compared as insulation materials used in biomimetic architecture projects to illustrate the relevance and added value of the tool. Although it is bio-based, cork has a lower biomimetic performance according to the indicators used by the biomimetic quantitative performance tool presented in this article.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Terrier
- Laboratoire d'Ingénierie pour le Développement Durable, École de Technologie Supérieure, 1100 Notre-Dame Ouest, Montréal, QC H3C1K3, Canada.
| | - Mathias Glaus
- Station Expérimentale des Procédés Pilotes en Environnement, Département de Génie de la Construction, École de Technologie Supérieure, 1100 Notre-Dame Ouest, Montréal, QC H3C1K3, Canada
| | - Emmanuel Raufflet
- Département de Management, HEC Montréal, 3000 Chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QB H3T 2A7, Canada
- Institute EDDEC, Environnement, Développement Durable et Économie Circulaire, Montréal, QC H3T 2A7, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Rovalo E, McCardle J, Smith E, Hooker G. Growing the practice of biomimicry: opportunities for mission-based organisations based on a global survey of practitioners. TECHNOLOGY ANALYSIS & STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/09537325.2019.1634254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Erin Rovalo
- Loughborough Design School, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
| | - John McCardle
- Loughborough Design School, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
| | | | | |
Collapse
|