Biomimetics: Reality, Challenges, and Outlook - Biomimetics: Biologically Inspired Technologies - page 495

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Biomimetics: Reality,
Challenges, and Outlook

Yoseph Bar-Cohen

CONTENTS
20.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 495
20.2 Biology as a Model .......................................................................................................................... 496
20.3 Characteristics of Biologically Inspired Mechanisms ..................................................................... 498
20.4 Turning Science Fiction into Engineering Reality .......................................................................... 501
20.4.1 Simulators and Virtual Robots ......................................................................................... 502
20.4.2 Robots as an Integral Part of our Society......................................................................... 503
20.5 Smart Structures and Materials ........................................................................................................ 504
20.6 Impact of Biomimetics on Nonengineering Fields.......................................................................... 504
20.7 Human Deviation from Nature Models ........................................................................................... 506
20.8 Present Technology, Future Possibilities, and Potentials ................................................................ 507
20.9 Areas of Concerns and Challenges to Biomimetics ........................................................................ 509
20.10 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................... 510
Acknowledgment ............................................................................................................................................ 512
References....................................................................................................................................................... 512
Websites.......................................................................................................................................................... 513

20.1 INTRODUCTION

After 3.8 billion years of evolution, nature has learned how to use minimum resources to achieve
maximal performance and come up with numerous lasting solutions (Gordon, 1976). Recognizing
that nature's capability continues to be significantly ahead of many of our technologies, humans
have always sought to mimic nature. The field of study pertaining to this, which is also called
biomimetics, bionics, or biogenesis, has reached impressive levels. It includes imitating some of
the human thinking process in computers by mimicking such human characteristics as making
decisions and operating autonomously. Biology offers a great model for the development of
mechanical tools, computational algorithms, effective materials, as well as novel mechanisms
and information technology. Some of the commercial implementations of the progress in biomi-
metics can be seen in toy stores, where toys seem and behave like living creatures (e.g., dogs, cats,
birds, and frogs). More serious benefits of biomimetics include the development of prosthetic
implants that appear very much like they are of biological origin, and sensory aiding mechanisms
that are interfaced to the brain to assist in hearing, seeing, or controlling instruments. As described
and discussed throughout this topic, the topic of biomimetics is very broad and covers many
disciplines, with applications and implications for numerous areas of our life.

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