From Wikipedia,
the free encyclopedia.
Bionics (also known as
Biomimetics, Biognosis
or Biomimicry, a short form
of
Biomechanics - from the
Greek word "bios" - pronounced
"vios" - which means life, and the
word mechanics) is the application
of
methods and systems found in
nature to the study and design
of engineering systems and modern
technology. This
technology transfer is
desirable because evolutionary
pressure typically forces natural
systems to become highly optimized
and efficient. A classical example
is the development of dirt- and
water-repellent paint (coating)
from the observation that the
surface of the
lotus flower plant is
practically
unsticky for anything (lotus
effect). Examples of bionics
results in engineering include
hulls of boats imitating the skin
membrane of dolphins,
sonar,
radar, and
medical ultrasound imaging
imitating
echolocation of
bats.
In the field of computer
science, bionics approach has
produced
cybernetics,
artificial neurons,
artificial neural networks,
and
swarm intelligence.
Evolutionary computation was
also motivated by bionics ideas
but it took the idea further by
simulating evolution 'in silico'
and producing well optimized
solutions that had never appeared
in nature.
It is estimated by
Julian Vincent, professor of
biomimetics at the
University of Bath in the
UK, that "at present there is
only a 10% overlap between
biology and
technology in terms of the
mechanisms used."
Methods
Often bionics approach
emphasizes imitation of a
biological structure rather than a
mere implementation of the same
function. For example, in computer
science,
cybernetics tries to model
actual organic structures that
make us intelligent, while
artificial intelligence tries
to model the intelligent function
regardless of the particular way
it can be achieved.
The conscious copying of
examples and mechanisms from
natural organisms and ecologies is
a form of applied
case-based reasoning, treating
nature itself as a database of
solutions that already work.
Proponents argue that all
natural life forms minimize
and
ecological niches remove
failures.
Although almost all
engineering could be said to
be a form of biomimicry, the
modern origins of this field are
usually attributed to
Buckminster Fuller and its
later codification as a field of
study to
Janine Benyus.
Roughly, we can distinguish
three biological levels in biology
after which technology can be
modelled:
- Mimicking natural methods
of manufacture of chemical
compounds to create new ones
- Imitating mechanisms
found in nature (velcro)
- Studying organizational
principles from social behaviour
of organisms, such as the
flocking behaviour of birds or
the emergent behaviour of bees
and ants
Examples of biomimetics
-
Velcro is the most famous
example of biomimetics. In 1948,
the Swiss engineer
George de Mestral was
cleaning his dog of burrs picked
up on a walk when he realized
how the hooks of the burrs clung
to the fur.
-
Leonardo da Vinci 's flying
machines and ships are early
examples of drawing from nature
in engineering.
- Julian Vincent drew from the
study of
pinecones when he developed
in 2004
"smart" clothing that adapts
to changing temperatures. "I
wanted a nonliving
system which would respond
to changes in moisture by
changing shape," he said. "There
are several such systems in
plants, but most are very small
-- the pinecone is the largest
and therefore the easiest to
work on." Pinecones respond to
warmer temperatures by opening
their scales (to disperse their
seeds). The smart fabric does
the same thing, opening up when
it is warm, and shutting tight
when cold.
- "Morphing airplane wings"
that change shape according to
the speed and duration of flight
have been designed in 2004 by
biomimetic scientists from
Penn State University. The
morphing wings were inspired by
different bird species that have
differently shaped wings
according to the speed at which
they fly. In order to change the
shape and underlying structure
of the airplane wings, the
researchers needed to make the
overlying skin also be able to
change, which their design does
by covering the wings with
fish-inspired scales that could
slide over each other.
Specific uses of the term
In business
The latest research by Phil
Richardson at the Centre for
Biomimetics at the University of
Bath has shown that Biomimetic
models can be used to create
analogies in business. The
analogies can be applied to
provide inspiration as a precursor
to innovation. This approach can
then be hybridised with
traditional programme governance
models to create an integrated
inspiration to implementation
method.
Examples include the
application of natural systems to
solving complex data problems.
In medicine
Bionics is a term which
refers to flow of ideas from
biology to
engineering and vice versa.
Hence, there are two slightly
different points of view regarding
the meaning of the word.
In medicine, Bionics means the
replacement or enhancement of
organs or other body parts by
mechanical versions. Bionic
implants differ from mere
prostheses by mimicking the
original function very closely, or
even surpassing it.
Bionics' German equivalent "Bionik"
always takes the broader scope in
that it tries to develop
engineering solutions from
biological models. This
approach is motivated by the fact
that biological solutions will
always be optimized by
evolutionary forces.
While the technologies that
make bionic implants possible are
still in a very early stage, a few
bionic items already exist, the
best known being the
cochlear implant, a device for
deaf people. Some versions
come quite close to "normal"
hearing; they can even work better
than natural
ears at background noise
filtering. By 2004 fully
functional
artificial hearts have been
developed. Significant further
progress is expected to take place
with the advent of
nanotechnologies. A well known
example of a proposed nanodevice
is a
respirocyte, an artificial red
cell, designed (though not built
yet) by
Robert Freitas.
Bionics are a common element of
science fiction, with
The Six Million Dollar Man as
the probably best-known example.
Politics
A political form of biomimcry
is
bioregional democracy, wherein
political borders conform to
natural
ecoregions rather than human
cultures or the outcomes of prior
conflicts.
Critics of these approaches
often argue that
ecological selection itself is
a poor model of minimizing
manufacturing complexity or
conflict, and that the
free market relies on
conscious cooperation, agreement,
and standards as much as on
efficiency - more analogous to
sexual selection.
Charles Darwin himself
contended that both were balanced
in
natural selection - although
his contemporaries often avoided
frank talk about sex, or any
suggestion that free market
success was based on persuasion,
not value.
Advocates, especially in the
anti-globalization movement,
argue that the mating-like
processes of standardization,
financing and marketing, are
already examples of
runaway evolution - rendering
a system that appeals to the
consumer but which is inefficient
at use of energy and raw
materials. Biomimicry, they argue,
is an effective strategy to
restore basic efficiency.
Biomimicry is also the second
principle of
Natural Capitalism.
Other uses
In a more specific meaning, it
is a
creativity technique that
tries to use
biological prototypes to get
ideas for engineering solutions.
This approach is motivated by the
fact that biological organisms and
their organs have been well
optimized by
evolution.
A less common and maybe more
recent meaning of the term
"bionics" refers to merging
organism and machine. This
approach results in a hybrid
systems combining biological and
engineering parts, which can also
be referred as cybernetic organism
(cyborg).
See also:
implant,
prosthesis.
Quotes
- "There are millions of years
of research that can help us, in
nature," -Anja-Karina
Pahl, professor at
Bath University
- "Nature has been conducting
evolutionary experiments for
millions of years, so if we're
lucky enough to find something
close to what we require in
nature, then it's very likely to
have been highly optimized, and
we're unlikely to do much
better." -Greg
Parker
- "Mankind and industry can
only benefit from bringing
closer the study of nature and
the development of new
technologies and designs." -Luca
Plattner
See also
Compare with:
Technology And The Quality Of
Life: Part One--A Vision Of The
Future
Boxfish - DaimlerChrysler
References
http://www.esa.int/gsp/ACT/biomimetics/index.htm
http://www.biomimicry.net
Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired
by Nature. 1997. Janine Benyus.
