Bionics, also known as biologically inspired engineering, involves the application of natural biological methods and systems to the research and development of engineering systems and contemporary technology.
Bionics or biologically inspired engineering is the application of biological methods and systems found in nature to the study and design of engineering systems and modern technology.
The term bionic, a portmanteau derived from biology and electronics, was introduced by Jack E. Steele in August 1958. Its popularization occurred through the 1970s U.S. television series The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman, both adapted from Martin Caidin's novel Cyborg. These narratives depict individuals endowed with superhuman capabilities via electromechanical implants.
Advocates of bionic technology assert that the transference of technological principles from living organisms to manufactured artifacts is advantageous, given that evolutionary pressures generally lead to the optimization and efficiency of flora and fauna. Illustratively, the development of dirt- and water-repellent coatings was inspired by the hydrophobic characteristics of the lotus flower, known as the lotus effect.
The designation "biomimetic" is favored when referring to chemical reactions, particularly those naturally involving biological macromolecules like enzymes or nucleic acids, whose chemical processes can be reproduced in vitro with significantly smaller molecules.
Engineering applications of bionics encompass boat hulls designed to emulate the thick skin of dolphins, as well as sonar, radar, and medical ultrasound imaging systems that mimic animal echolocation.
Within computer science, bionic research has led to the development of artificial neurons, artificial neural networks, and swarm intelligence. Bionics has also influenced evolutionary computation, extending the concept by simulating evolution computationally to generate optimized solutions not observed in natural systems.
A research article published in 2006 estimated that the current overlap between biological and technological mechanisms is merely 12%.
History
The designation "biomimetics" was originated by Otto Schmitt during the 1950s. Subsequently, Jack E. Steele introduced the term "bionics" in August 1958 while affiliated with the Aeronautics Division House at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. Nevertheless, "biomimicry" or "biomimetics" are now often preferred to prevent ambiguity with the medical application of "bionics." Intriguingly, Martin Caidin employed the term for his 1972 novel Cyborg, which later became the basis for the television film and series The Six Million Dollar Man. Caidin had a distinguished career as an aviation industry writer prior to dedicating himself entirely to fiction.
Methods
Bionic research frequently prioritizes the implementation of natural functions over the direct imitation of biological structures. For instance, within computer science, cybernetics focuses on modeling the feedback and control mechanisms intrinsic to intelligent behavior, whereas artificial intelligence aims to model intelligent function irrespective of its specific realization.
The deliberate replication of examples and mechanisms observed in natural organisms and ecosystems constitutes a form of applied case-based reasoning, effectively utilizing nature as a repository of proven solutions. Advocates contend that the selective pressures acting upon all natural life forms inherently minimize and eliminate suboptimal designs.
While nearly all engineering endeavors could be considered a form of biomimicry, the contemporary genesis of this discipline is generally ascribed to Buckminster Fuller, with its subsequent formalization as a distinct field of study attributed to Janine Benyus.
Technology can generally be modeled after three distinct biological levels observed in fauna and flora:
- Emulating natural manufacturing processes.
- Replicating natural mechanisms (e.g., Velcro).
- Investigating organizational principles derived from the social behaviors of organisms, including avian flocking, the optimized foraging strategies of ants and bees, and the swarm intelligence (SI)-driven dynamics of fish schools.
Examples
- Within robotics, bionics and biomimetics are employed to integrate animal locomotion principles into robot design. For instance, the BionicKangaroo project drew inspiration from the movements and physiology of kangaroos.
- Velcro stands as a prominent illustration of biomimetics. In 1948, Swiss engineer George de Mestral observed how burrs adhered to his dog's fur after a walk, leading him to recognize the clinging mechanism of their hooks.
- At the turn of the 19th century, lumberjack blades, designed for manual tree felling, adopted a horn-shaped, saw-tooth pattern inspired by wood-burrowing beetles. This biomimetic design significantly enhanced efficiency, thereby revolutionizing the timber industry.
- Percy Shaw invented cat's eye reflectors in 1935, drawing inspiration from the reflective mechanism of feline eyes. His research revealed that cats possess a system of reflective cells, termed the tapetum lucidum, which can reflect even minimal light.
- Leonardo da Vinci's designs for flying machines and ships represent early instances of biomimicry in engineering.
- Resilin, a rubber substitute, was developed through the study of a material naturally occurring in arthropods.
- In 2004, Julian Vincent developed "smart" clothing capable of adapting to temperature fluctuations, a design inspired by the study of pinecones. Vincent stated, "I wanted a nonliving system which would respond to changes in moisture by changing shape." He further noted, "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 naturally open their scales in response to increased humidity to facilitate seed dispersal. Analogously, the biomimetic fabric expands when the wearer is warm and perspiring, and contracts when exposed to cold.
- In 2004, biomimetic scientists at Penn State University engineered "morphing aircraft wings" designed to alter their shape based on flight speed and duration. These wings drew inspiration from various bird species, whose wing configurations vary with flight velocity. To enable the transformation of the wing's shape and internal structure, researchers developed an adaptable outer skin. This was achieved by covering the wings with fish-inspired scales capable of sliding over one another. This innovation represents a refinement of the traditional swing-wing design.
- Certain paints and roof tiles have been engineered for self-cleaning properties, replicating the mechanism observed in the Nelumbo lotus.
- Cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) constitute a thin-film material frequently employed in the manufacture of fish tank thermometers and mood rings, which exhibit color changes in response to temperature variations. Their color-shifting property stems from the helical or chiral arrangement of their molecules; temperature fluctuations alter the pitch of this helical structure, thereby reflecting different light wavelengths. Chiral Photonics, Inc. has adapted the self-assembled structure of organic CLCs to create analogous optical devices utilizing minute segments of inorganic, twisted glass fiber.
- The nanostructures and physical mechanisms responsible for the iridescent coloration of butterfly wings were computationally replicated (in silico) by Greg Parker, Professor of Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Southampton, and research student Luca Plattner. Their work was conducted within the field of photonics, which involves electronics utilizing photons as information carriers rather than electrons.
- Research into the wing structure of the blue morpho butterfly and its light-reflecting properties led to the development of an RFID tag capable of being read through water and on metal surfaces.
- Furthermore, the intricate wing structure of butterflies has served as inspiration for the development of novel nanosensors designed for explosive detection.
- Neuromorphic chips and silicon retinae feature wiring architectures that emulate biological neural networks.
- Techno Ecosystems, also known as 'Eco Cyborg' systems, integrate natural ecological processes with technological counterparts that mimic ecological functions. This integration facilitates the creation of self-regulating hybrid systems. Howard T. Odum pioneered research in this domain, conceptualizing the structural and energetic dynamics of ecosystems as analogous to energy flow within an electrical circuit.
- Medical adhesives, incorporating both glue and microscopic nano-hairs, are currently under development, drawing inspiration from the unique physical structures present on gecko feet.
- Computer viruses exhibit parallels with biological viruses, targeting program-oriented information for self-replication and dissemination.
- The Eastgate Centre building in Harare incorporates a cooling system modeled after termite mounds, achieving highly efficient passive cooling.
- The adhesive properties enabling mussels to adhere to rocks, piers, and boat hulls have inspired the development of bioadhesive gels for blood vessels.
- Bionics has stimulated the development of novel aircraft designs, yielding enhanced agility and additional benefits. This phenomenon was detailed by Geoff Spedding, Måns Rosén, and Anders Hedenström in an article published in Journal of Experimental Biology. John Videler and Eize Stamhuis presented comparable observations in their book Avian Flight, and in their article on LEVs featured in Science. Furthermore, bionics research holds potential for developing more efficient helicopters or miniature Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), a prospect highlighted by Bret Tobalske in a Science article focusing on hummingbirds. Institutions such as UC Berkeley and ESA have pursued similar research trajectories, resulting in the creation of the Robofly, a miniature UAV, and the Entomopter, a UAV capable of walking, crawling, and flying.
- A bio-inspired mechanical apparatus is capable of generating plasma in water through cavitation, leveraging the morphologically precise design of a snapping shrimp claw. This mechanism was comprehensively elucidated by Xin Tang and David Staack in an article published in Science Advances.
Particular Applications of the Terminology
In Medicine
Bionics encompasses the bidirectional transfer of concepts between biology and engineering. Consequently, the term's definition is subject to two subtly distinct interpretations.
Within the medical domain, bionics denotes the substitution or augmentation of organs or other anatomical structures with mechanical counterparts. Bionic implants are distinguished from conventional prostheses by their capacity to closely replicate, or even exceed, the original biological function.
The German counterpart to bionics, Bionik, consistently maintains a broader interpretation, focusing on the derivation of engineering solutions from biological models. This methodology is underpinned by the understanding that biological solutions are typically optimized through evolutionary processes.
Although the technologies enabling bionic implants are undergoing progressive development, several successful bionic devices are currently operational. A prominent example is the Australian-developed multi-channel cochlear implant, commonly known as the bionic ear, which assists individuals with profound hearing loss. Following the advent of the bionic ear, numerous other bionic devices have been introduced, and ongoing efforts are focused on developing bionic solutions for additional sensory impairments, including vision and balance. Recent advancements in bionic research have also yielded therapeutic interventions for various medical conditions, such as neurological and psychiatric disorders like Parkinson's disease and epilepsy.
In 1997, Alvaro Rios Poveda, a researcher from Colombia, engineered an upper limb and hand prosthesis incorporating sensory feedback. This innovation enables amputee patients to manipulate prosthetic hand systems with enhanced naturalness.
By 2004, fully functional artificial hearts had been successfully developed. Substantial advancements are anticipated with the emergence of nanotechnology. A notable conceptual nanodevice is the respirocyte, an artificial red blood cell designed by Robert Freitas, though it has not yet been constructed.
In 2007, the Scottish enterprise Touch Bionics introduced the "i-Limb Hand," the inaugural commercially available bionic hand. The company reported that by May 2010, this device had been implanted in over 1,200 patients globally.
During his eight-year tenure in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania, Kwabena Boahen engineered a silicon retina capable of processing images in a manner analogous to a biological retina. He validated these findings by comparing the electrical signals generated by his silicon retina with those produced by a salamander eye when both were exposed to identical visual stimuli.
On July 21, 2015, Fergus Walsh, a medical correspondent for the BBC, reported that surgeons in Manchester had successfully performed the first bionic eye implant in a patient suffering from the most prevalent cause of sight loss in developed nations. The patient, 80-year-old Ray Flynn, experienced complete central vision loss due to dry age-related macular degeneration. He utilizes a retinal implant that translates video images from a miniature camera mounted on his glasses, enabling him to discern the orientation of white lines on a computer screen. This implant, designated as the Argus II and produced in the United States by Second Sight Medical Products, had previously been employed in patients blinded by retinitis pigmentosa, a rare inherited degenerative eye condition.
In 2016, Tilly Lockey, born on October 7, 2005, received a pair of bionic "Hero Arms" developed by OpenBionics, a UK-based bionics company. This lightweight myoelectric prosthesis is designed for individuals aged eight and older with below-elbow amputations. Lockey, whose arms were amputated at 15 months due to meningococcal sepsis strain B, characterized the Hero Arms as "remarkably realistic, almost to a disconcerting degree."
On February 17, 2020, military veteran Darren Fuller became the inaugural recipient of a bionic arm through a public healthcare system. Fuller sustained the loss of his lower right arm in 2008 during a mortar ammunition incident while deployed in Afghanistan.
Other Applications
Business biomimetics represents a recent advancement in biomimetics application. This discipline specifically adapts principles and practices derived from biological systems to inform business strategy, process optimization, organizational design, and strategic conceptualization. Its successful implementation spans diverse sectors, including fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), defense, central government, packaging, and business services. Originating from research conducted by Phil Richardson at the University of Bath, this methodology was formally introduced at the House of Lords in May 2009.
Generally, biometrics is employed as a creative technique that involves examining biological prototypes to generate concepts for engineering solutions.
Within the field of chemistry, biomimetic synthesis refers to a chemical synthesis process that draws inspiration from biochemical mechanisms.
A more contemporary interpretation of bionics involves the integration of biological organisms with mechanical systems. This methodology yields a hybrid system, often termed a cybernetic organism or cyborg, which amalgamates biological and engineered components. Kevin Warwick's implant experiments, which facilitated ultrasound input through his nervous system, provided a practical demonstration of this concept.
References
References
Sources
- Benyus, Janine. 1997. Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature.
- Passino, Kevin M. 2005. Biomimicry for Optimization, Control, and Automation. London: Springer-Verlag.
- Wired. "Ideas Stolen Right from Nature."
- Steele, Jill E. 1983. Bionics and Engineering: The Relevance of Biology to Engineering. Paper presented at the Society of Women Engineers Convention, Seattle, WA.
- PRO FUTURA Verlag GmbH, München, and Umweltstiftung WWF Deutschland. 1993. Bionics: Nature as a Model.
- Lipov, A.N. 2010. "At the Origins of Modern Bionics: Bio-morphological Formation in an Artificial Environment." Polygnosis, no. 1–2, ch. 1–2: 126–136.
- Lipov, A.N. 2010. "At the Origins of Modern Bionics: Bio-morphological Formation in an Artificial Environment." Polygnosis, no. 3, part 3: 80–91.
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- Bio Inspired Engineering at the Applied University Kufstein, Austria Archived 20 December 2018 at the Wayback Machine
- Laboratory for Nature Inspired Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University