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.
By:
Yoseph Bar-Cohen
Imprint: CRC Press Inc
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions:
Height: 254mm,
Width: 178mm,
Spine: 41mm
Weight: 1.632kg
ISBN: 9781439834763
ISBN 10: 1439834768
Series: Biomimetics Series
Pages: 788
Publication Date: 21 September 2011
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Further / Higher Education
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Introduction: Nature as a Source for Inspiration of Innovation. Artificial Senses and Organs—Natural Mechanisms and Biomimetic Devices. Biomimicry at the Cell–Material Interface. Multiscale Modeling of Plant Cell Wall Architecture and Tissue Mechanics for Biomimetic Applications. Biomimetic Composites. Electroactive Polymer Actuators as Artificial Muscles. Refreshable Braille Displays Actuated by Electroactive Polymers. Biological Optics. Biomimicry of the Ultimate Optical Device—The Plant. Biologically Inspired Design: A Tool for Interdisciplinary Education. Self-reproducing Machines and Manufacturing Processes. Biomimetic Products. Biomimetics for Medical Implants. Application of Biomimetics in the Design of Medical Devices. Affective Robotics: Human Motion and Behavioural Inspiration for Safe Cooperation between Humans and Humanoid Assistive Robots. Humanlike Robots—Capabilities, Potentials, and Challenges. Biomimetic Swimmer Inspired by the Manta Ray. Biomimetics and Flying Technology. The Biomimetic Process in Artistic Creation. Biomimetics—Reality, Challenges, and Outlook. Index.
"Dr. Yoseph Bar-Cohen is a senior research scientist and a supervisor of the Advanced Technologies Group at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California. He received his PhD in physics (1979) from the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel. Dr. Bar-Cohen discovered the ultrasonic wave phenomena polar backscattering (1979) and leaky lamb waves (1983) in composite materials. In his Nondestructive Evaluation and Advanced Actuators (NDEAA) lab, he led the development of novel methods and mechanisms related to electromechanics that are actuated by electroactive materials as well as ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation methods. Dr. Bar-Cohen initiated the SPIE conference on artificial muscles, which he has chaired since 1999. He challenged engineers and scientists worldwide to develop a robotic arm driven by artificial muscles to wrestle with humans and win, and organized the first arm-wrestling contest in 2005. For his contributions to the field of artificial muscles, Business Week named him one of five technology gurus who are ""Pushing Tech's Boundaries"" (April 2003). His accomplishments have earned him two NASA Honor Award Medals and two SPIE's Lifetime Achievement Awards, among many other honors and awards. For more information about Dr. Bar-Cohen and his work at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, see Dr. Bar-Cohen's website."
Reviews for Biomimetics: Nature-Based Innovation
... a convenient source of examples and literature references for engineering students interested in how natural patterns can be exploited in mechanical and materials engineering. ... will be of most interest to roboticists, who can profitably exploit many of the mechanisms it describes. - Computing Reviews, June 2012
