Biomimetics
[pic]
–One step closer to understanding nature-

Student:
Ana Stamatescu
322 AB

Contents:

1. Biomimetics: The concept 2. A close-up in biomimetics 3. Outlook for the future 4. Bibliography

1. Biomimetics: the concept

In our continuous effort to gain knowledge we have conquered parts of the Universe, of the Moon and of the Earth and to do so we have used all the tools, means in the book . (SUNA CIUDAT in the book, poate reformulezi) Biomimetics is such a tool, a rapidly growing field both as an academic and as an applied discipline which helps us understand different structures in nature and by shaping them according to our needs we simplify our day to day life. A more exact and complete definition of biomimetics can be the follow: "the study of the formation, structure, or function of biologically produced substances and materials (as enzymes or silk) and biological mechanisms and processes (as protein synthesis or photosynthesis) especially for the purpose of synthesizing similar products by artificial mechanisms which mimic natural ones" (first appeared in the Websters Dictionary in 1974). Although biomimetics, also known as biomimicry, is a relatively new science we can surely state that since the first Homo Sapiens, the process of observing and mimicing nature has always been present but maybe with a different purpose: survival. Nowadays the purpose may have changed into: evolving, becoming faster, stronger and better.

2. A close-up in biomimetics

The best recipe for a successful biomimetic outcome has two major ingredients: biological insight and engineering pragmatism. The process of creating a final prototype inspired by designs from nature that actually works and has a specific utility is a very complex one which involves: observing (preferably first in a natural habitat and afterwards in a laboratory where the characteristics of that specific habitat have been adapted for a higher eficiency), studying, recreating, experimenting and inovating the X design . One of the early examples of biomimetics was the study of birds to enable humans to fly, to reach new horizons. In spite of his failure to create a “flying machine“, Leonardo da Vinci opened a whole new perspective with his notes and sketches from his observations of the anatomy and flight of birds. In 1903 the Wright Brothers succeeded in building and flying the first airplane also born from the observations of birds, pigeons, to be more exact. Materials scientist Michael Rubner says that “Biomimetics brings in a whole different set of tools and ideas you would not otherwise have, it is now built into our group culture“ . The case of Leonardo da Vinci, Wright Brothers and many other biologists, scientists, engineers, chemists to come is as Rubner suggests: they would not even have dared to think about it if it wasn’t for Mother Nature to inspire them, to light that precious first sparkle of idea, of: “What if we can mimic that and use it there? “ The people who are part of the increasingly vigorous biomimetics movement have many things to be proud of. They have achieved a wide range of designs with utility in our daily lives inspired from nature :
- a self-cleaning, water repellent surface from a lotus leaf;
- better aerodynamics for cars from a boxfish
- the 500-series Shinkansen Japanese bullet train from the beak of a kingfisher bird
- more efficient eolian blades from the flippers of whales
- high quality texture for professional swimsuits from sharkskin
- lower reflection on computer monitors and solar cells from the eyes of a fly
- a resistant structure within aircrafts from honeycombs
- the fishing net from spider webs
- walking robots from crabs
- smart fabric which opens up when it is warm, and shuts tight when cold from pine cones which shed their seeds
- gecko tape from the gecko feet
- human body defense armors from shelled creatures
- the Velcro material from burs These are barely some of the outputs of biomimetics. Many more can be named and many more are to come. In fact, engineers in England are studying the bumps on the leading edges of humpback whales flukes to learn how to make better airplane wings, architects in Zimbabwe are observing how termites regulate temperature, humidity and airflow in their mounds to apply the knowledge in building more comfortable buildings and Japanese medical researchers are using the tiny serrations pattern from the mosquito’s proboscis to minimize the nerve stimulation of a needle. Massachussetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has recently developed small fish robots (between 13 and 45 cm long) with about 10 components, made of a sintetic material with a cost of only a few hundred dollars each. They are highly flexible and need only one small engine to generate an interior wave in order for the fish robots to move naturally. A lot more must be done in order to see a gang of fish robots in the sea detecting leackages and reaching places humans cannot reach but the first stone has been cast.

3. Outlook for the future

All in all, biomimetics has not yet reached its high peak. This revolutionary science requires time, serious financial support and a very good coordination between diverse academic and industrial disciplines. Because of the high involvement of the flawed human factor in this complex process, it is easy to lose track of the goal and be blinded by short-term expectations. Regardless of the multitude of knowledge we have acumulated until now and the tehnology we possess nowadays some things overwhelm us, some phenomena just cannot be explained or reproduced. For instance, we can see in slow motion the beats of the wings of an insect and the number of muscles it uses to fly but we cannot figure out why it uses only some of its muscles at a precise wing beat. The truth is that what has been perfected during milions and milions of years of evolution cannot be discovered in a simple humanity existence. We must not surrender and be defetead by the simple thought of our insignificance in this world but struggle to fully profit of our 1350 to 1400 cc brain volume.

Bibliography :

National Geographic Romania – February Issue 2010
National Geographic Romania – April Issue 2008 http://scienceray.com www.wikipedia.org
www.nationalgeographic.com