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Bionics (also known as biomimetics, biognosis, biomimicry, or bionical creativity engineering) is the application of methods and systems found in nature to the study and design of engineering systems and modern technology. The origin of the word 'bionic' is a matter of dispute. One origin asserts that it is formed from the Greek word "βίον", pronounced "bion", meaning "unit of life") and the suffix -ic, meaning "like" or "in the manner of", hence "like life". Some dictionaries, however, explain the word as being formed from "biology" + "electronics" Scientific method is a body of techniques for investigating phenomena and acquiring new knowledge, as well as for correcting and integrating previous knowledge. ...
Galunggung in 1982, showing a combination of natural events. ...
Engineering is the design, analysis, and/or construction of works for practical purposes. ...
By the mid 20th century humans had achieved a mastery of technology sufficient to leave the surface of the Earth for the first time and explore space. ...
For other uses, see Life (disambiguation). ...
The transfer of technology between lifeforms and synthetic constructs 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 (the lotus effect). Examples of bionics in engineering include the hulls of boats imitating the thick skin of dolphins; sonar, radar, and medical ultrasound imaging imitating the echolocation of bats; and the arch imitating the spinal column. Technology transfer is the process of developing practical applications for the results of scientific research. ...
Species Nelumbo lutea (American Lotus) Nelumbo nucifera (Sacred Lotus) Nelumbo is a genus of water flowers commonly known as lotus (Hindi: कमल) and the only genus in the family Nelumbonaceae. ...
Teflon is the brand name of a polymer compound discovered by Roy J. Plunkett (1910-1994) of DuPont in 1938 and introduced as a commercial product in 1946. ...
Water on the surface of a lotus leaf The Lotus effect in material science is the observed self-cleaning property found with lotus plants. ...
The F70 type frigates (here, La Motte-Picquet) are fitted with VDS (Variable Depth Sonar) type DUBV43 or DUBV43C towed sonars SONAR (SOund Navigation And Ranging) — or sonar — is a technique that uses sound propagation under water (primarily) to navigate, communicate or to detect other vessels. ...
This long range radar antenna, known as ALTAIR, is used to detect and track space objects in conjunction with ABM testing at the Ronald Reagan Test Site on the Kwajalein atoll. ...
Ultrasound is a form of cyclic sound pressure with a frequency greater than the upper limit of human hearing, this limit being approximately 20 kilohertz (20,000 hertz). ...
See: Animal echolocation: animals emitting sound waves and listening to the echo in order to locate objects or navigate. ...
For the flying mammal see bat. ...
In the field of computer science, the study of bionics has produced 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. The artificial neuron (also called node) is the basic unit of an artificial neural network, simulating a biological neuron. ...
// See also Artificial neural network. ...
Swarm intelligence (SI) is an artificial intelligence technique based around the study of collective behavior in decentralized, self-organized systems. ...
In computer science evolutionary computation is a subfield of artificial intelligence (more particularly computational intelligence) involving combinatorial optimization problems. ...
in silico is an expression used to mean performed on computer or via computer simulation. ...
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". The University of Bath is a campus university located near Bath, England. ...
This article does not cite any references or sources. ...
By the mid 20th century humans had achieved a mastery of technology sufficient to leave the surface of the Earth for the first time and explore space. ...
History
The name biomimetics was coined by Otto Schmitt in the 1950s. The term bionics was coined by Jack E. Steele in 1958 while working at the Aeronautics Division House at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton. Otto Herbert Schmitt (April 6, 1913 – January 6, 1998) was an American inventor, engineer, and biophysicist best known for his scientific contributions to biophysics and for establishing the field of biomedical engineering. ...
Jack E. Steele (born January 27, 1924) is an American medical doctor and retired US Air Force colonel, most widely known for coining the word bionics. ...
Year 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...
Dayton, a surname and place name, may refer to: // Elias Dayton (1737-1807), Colonel and father of Jonathan and builder of Fort Dayton Jonathan Dayton (1760-1824), son of Elias, signer of the United States Constitution, and Speaker of the House Dayton Clarence Miller (1866-1941), an American physicist and...
Methods Often, the study of bionics emphasizes implementing a function found in nature rather than just imitating biological structures. For example, in computer science, cybernetics tries to model the feedback and control mechanisms that are inherent in intelligent behavior, while artificial intelligence tries to model the intelligent function regardless of the particular way it can be achieved. Cybernetics is the study of feedback and derived concepts such as communication and control in living organisms, machines and organisations. ...
Garry Kasparov playing against Deep Blue, the first machine to win a chess game against a reigning world champion. ...
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 the selective pressure placed on all natural life forms minimizes and removes failures. Case-based reasoning (CBR), broadly construed, is the process of solving new problems based on the solutions of similar past problems. ...
This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ...
For other uses, see Life (disambiguation). ...
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 house or field of study to Janine Benyus. Engineering is the design, analysis, and/or construction of works for practical purposes. ...
Richard Buckminster “Bucky†Fuller (July 12, 1895 – July 1, 1983)[1] was an American visionary, designer, architect, poet, author, and inventor. ...
Janine M. Benyus is a science writer and lecturer on environmental matters. ...
Roughly, we can distinguish three biological levels in cool[vague] biology after which technology can be modeled:
- Mimicking natural methods of manufacture
- Imitating mechanisms found in nature (velcro)
- Studying organizational principles from social behaviour of organisms, such as the flocking behaviour of birds or the emergent[vague] behaviour of bees and ants
Velcro: hooks (left) and loops (right). ...
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 aircraft 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 aircraft 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. In some respects this is a refinement of the swing-wing design.
- Some paints and roof tiles undergo a form of self-purification in which their surfaces are kept clean just as the lotus.
Lotus leaf surface, rendered: microscopic view Velcro: hooks (left) and loops (right). ...
1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ...
George de Mestral (June 19, 1907 - February 8, 1990) was an electrical engineer who invented Velcro. ...
Burr may refer to: Things Burr (fruit), a type of seed or fruit. ...
The Mona Lisa Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (April 15, 1452 – May 2, 1519) was an Italian polymath: scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, painter, sculptor, architect, musician, and writer. ...
Mature female European Black Pine cone Male cones of a pine A cone (in formal botanical usage: strobilus, plural strobili) is an organ on plants in the division Pinophyta (conifers) that contains the reproductive structures. ...
Intelligent Clothing are articles of clothing, footwear or accessories that feature micro-electronic sensors which gather, communicate and output usage and performance data. ...
System (from Latin systēma, in turn from Greek systēma) is a set of entities, real or abstract, comprising a whole where each component interacts with or is related to at least one other component and they all serve a common objective. ...
The Pennsylvania State University The Pennsylvania State University (commonly known as Penn State) is a state-related land-grant university in Pennsylvania, with over 80,000 students at 24 campuses throughout the state. ...
A swing-wing is a wing configuration that allows it to alter its planform for various flight conditions. ...
intermediate size between molecular and microscopic (micrometer-sized) structures ...
Superfamilies and families Superfamily Hedyloidea: Hedylidae Superfamily Hesperioidea: Hesperiidae Superfamily Papilionoidea: Papilionidae Pieridae Nymphalidae Lycaenidae Riodinidae A butterfly is an insect of the order Lepidoptera. ...
in silico is an expression used to mean performed on computer or via computer simulation. ...
Greg Parker is Professor of Photonics at the University of Southampton, Hampshire, U.K. His research interests include the design and construction of UHV compatible semiconductor deposition systems, and the design and fabrication of Photonic Crystal circuits and devices. ...
The University of Southampton is a university situated in the city of Southampton, on the south coast of Great Britain. ...
This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...
Electronics is the study of the flow of charge through various materials and devices such as, semiconductors, resistors, inductors, capacitors, nano-structures, and vacuum tubes. ...
In physics, the photon (from Greek φως, phÅs, meaning light) is the quantum of the electromagnetic field; for instance, light. ...
Properties The electron (also called negatron, commonly represented as e−) is a subatomic particle. ...
Species Nelumbo lutea (American Lotus) Nelumbo nucifera (Sacred Lotus) Nelumbo is a genus of water flowers commonly known as lotus (Hindi: कमल) and the only genus in the family Nelumbonaceae. ...
Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2400x1800, 378 KB) // Description: CG of Lotus effect Source: own work Date: 16. ...
Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2400x1800, 378 KB) // Description: CG of Lotus effect Source: own work Date: 16. ...
3D computer graphics are different from 2D computer graphics in that a three-dimensional representation of geometric data is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images. ...
The term neuromorphic was coined by Carver Mead, in the late 1980s to describe Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) systems containing electronic analog circuits that mimic neuro-biological architectures present in the nervous system. ...
Integrated circuit of Atmel Diopsis 740 System on Chip showing memory blocks, logic and input/output pads around the periphery Microchips with a transparent window, showing the integrated circuit inside. ...
General Name, Symbol, Number silicon, Si, 14 Chemical series metalloids Group, Period, Block 14, 3, p Appearance as coarse powder, dark grey with bluish tinge Standard atomic weight 28. ...
Human eye cross-sectional view. ...
The cochlea is the auditory portion of the inner ear. ...
Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...
Connectivity is the property of a device such as a PC, peripheral, PDA, mobile phone, robot, home appliance, or car that enables it to be connected, generally to a PC or another device without the need of a PC - autonomously. ...
Vegetation is a general term for the plant life of a region; it refers to the ground cover provided by plants, and is, by far, the most abundant biotic element of the biosphere. ...
Specific uses of the term
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. This article does not cite any references or sources. ...
Engineering is the design, analysis, and/or construction of works for practical purposes. ...
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. In biology, an organ (Latin: organum, instrument, tool) is a group of tissues that perform a specific function or group of functions. ...
A United States Army soldier plays foosball with two prosthetic arms Jon Comer, professional skateboarder with a prosthetic leg. ...
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. Galunggung in 1982, showing a combination of natural events. ...
This article is about biological evolution. ...
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. By 2004 fully functional artificial hearts were 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. Illustration of the internal parts of a cochlear implant. ...
The word deaf can have very different meanings depending on the background of the person speaking or the context in which the word is used. ...
An artificial heart is a device that is implanted into the body to replace the original biological heart. ...
Respirocytes are artificial red blood cells, which can take the place of our oxygen carrying cells and do a more efficient job in the process - a great deal more efficient job. ...
Robert A. Freitas Jr. ...
Kwabena Boahen from Ghana was a professor in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania. During his eight years at Penn, he developed a silicon retina that was able to process images in the same manner as a living retina. He confirmed the results by comparing the electrical signals from his silicon retina to the electrical signals produced by a salamander eye while the two retinas were looking at the same image. General Name, Symbol, Number silicon, Si, 14 Chemical series metalloids Group, Period, Block 14, 3, p Appearance as coarse powder, dark grey with bluish tinge Standard atomic weight 28. ...
Human eye cross-sectional view. ...
Suborders Cryptobranchoidea Salamandroidea Sirenoidea Salamander is the common name applied to approximately 500 species of amphibians with slender bodies, short legs, and long tails. ...
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. Bioregional democracy (or the Bioregional State) is a set of electoral reforms designed to force the political process in a democracy to better represent concerns about the economy, the body, and environmental concerns (e. ...
An ecoregion is a relatively large area of land or water that contains a geographically distinct assemblage of natural communities. ...
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. Ecological selection (or environmental selection or survival selection or individual selection or asexual selection) refers to natural selection minus sexual selection, i. ...
For other uses, see Conflict (disambiguation). ...
A free market is an idealized market, where all economic decisions and actions by individuals regarding transfer of money, goods, and services are voluntary, and are therefore devoid of coercion and theft (some definitions of coercion are inclusive of theft). Colloquially and loosely, a free market economy is an economy...
Illustration from The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex by Charles Darwin showing the Tufted Coquette Lophornis ornatus, female on left, ornamented male on right. ...
For other people of the same surname, and places and things named after Charles Darwin, see Darwin. ...
Darwins illustrations of beak variation in the finches of the Galápagos Islands, which hold 13 closely related species that differ most markedly in the shape of their beaks. ...
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. Anti-WEF grafiti in Lausanne. ...
Fisherian runaway refers to a model of the evolution of sexual selection first proposed by Ronald Fisher in 1915 Categories: Stub ...
Biomimicry is also the second principle of Natural Capitalism. Natural capitalism is a set of trends and economic reforms to reward energy and material efficiency - and remove professional standards and accounting conventions that prevent such efficiencies. ...
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. Creativity techniques are heuristic methods to facilitate creativity in a person or a group of people. ...
Galunggung in 1982, showing a combination of natural events. ...
This article is about evolution in biology. ...
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). A cyborg is a cybernetic organism (i. ...
In 2006 Mercedes-Benz introduced its Bionic concept car. This page is about the Mercedes-Benz brand of automobiles and trucks from the DaimlerChrysler automobile manufacturer. ...
The Mercedes-Benz Bionic The Mercedes-Benz Bionic was a concept car created by DaimlerChrysler AG under the Mercedes Group. ...
See also: implant, prosthesis. The term implant has different meanings: in Scientology, see Implant (Scientology) in medicine, see prosthesis This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...
A United States Army soldier plays foosball with two prosthetic arms Jon Comer, professional skateboarder with a prosthetic leg. ...
See also Compare with: There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ...
Biophysics (also biological physics) is an interdisciplinary science that applies the theories and methods of physics, to questions of biology. ...
To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...
A cyborg is a cybernetic organism (i. ...
This is a list of topics related (in whole or in part) to (a) phenomena in the natural environment which have a definite or significantly possible connection with human activity or (b) features of human activity which have a definite or significantly possible connection with the natural environment, even if...
The AbioCor artificial heart, an example of a biomedical engineering application of mechanical engineering with biocompatible materials for Cardiothoracic Surgery using an artificial organ. ...
Biomechatronics is an applied interdisciplinary science which aims to integrate mechanical elements in the human body, both for therapeutic (artificial hearts) and augmentation (mainly military uses for the moment) reasons. ...
The structure of insulin Biological technology is technology based on biology, especially when used in agriculture, food science, and medicine. ...
External links
References - European Space Agency - Advanced Concepts Team Biomimetics Website
- BioMimicry
- Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature. 1997. Janine Benyus.
- Biomimicry for Optimization, Control, and Automation, Springer-Verlag, London, UK, 2005, Kevin M. Passino
- Ideas Stolen Right From Nature (Wired Magazine)
- Bionics and Engineering: The Relevance of Biology to Engineering, presented at Society of Women Engineers Convention, Seattle, WA, 1983, Jill E. Steele
Janine M. Benyus is a science writer and lecturer on environmental matters. ...
Wired is a full-color monthly magazine and on-line periodical published in San Francisco, California since March 1993. ...
Notes - ^ Woodley, M. A. (2005). "Synthetic Vegetation: An Ecosystem Prosthesis", Int. J. Environ. Sci. Tech, 2:4, 395-398. [2]
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