Biomimicry: exploring research, challenges, gaps

and tools (Paper ID 102)

Sharma S., Sarkar P. (2019) Biomimicry: Exploring Research, Challenges, Gaps, and Tools.

Sunil Sharma (Research Scholar)

Dr. Prabir Sarkar (Associate Professor)
Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Ropar, Punjab, India

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roceedings_of_ICoRD_2019_Volume_1
OUTLINE
• Aims and objectives

• Timeline

• Keywords and Definitions

• Applications

• Tools and Methods

• Challenges and Gaps

• Conclusion
2
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
• An analysis of the research done in biomimicry

• Description of common tools used in bio-inspired design

methodologies

• Categorize the applications of biomimicry in different

fields

• Various gaps and challenges existing in biomimicry

3
TIMELINE

JACK STEELE BIOLOGICALLY

COINED TERM INSPIRED
‘BIONICS’ DESIGN -VISSER

1957 1994 1997

1958 1996

SCHIMDT BIOLOGICALLY JANINE BENYUS

COINED TERM INSPIRED BY KEPHART COINED TERM
‘BIOMIMETICS’ (COMPUTING) ‘BIOMIMICRY’

4
KEYWORDS AND DEFINITIONS
Discipline that seeks to replace, increase General creative approach based on observation
biological functions by their electronic of biological system
and mechanical equivalents

Bioinspiration

Transferring biological principles and

analogies to human engineering for better
Bionics
designs

Bioinspired design

Interdisciplinary domain of biology

and technology that solves problem Biomimetics
through functional analysis of models

Philosophy and interdisciplinary design

Biomimicry approach using nature as model for
sustainable development solutions

5
RESEARCH DESIGN FOR AIM I
• Analysis of the research done in biomimicry

Identify database,
period of literature Data gathering Data clean up Data Analysis
review and keywords

 Thomson Reuters
Web of  Used advanced  To know how
Knowledge. search query with many multiple  Analysis and
 Searched for keywords and keywords are presentation of
research and their variants used together data gathered
proceedings  Search results are multiple keyword from WoS
papers from gathered for (using two, three,  Indicate the
1995-2018 knowing most four, five and six) growth of
 Identified commonly used search was research
potential search keywords conducted
keywords.

6
KEYWORD SEARCH RESULTS
Sr. No. Keyword Individual search results
Keyword 1 Biomimicry 682
Variant 1: Biologically inspired design 144
Keyword 2 Variant 2: Bio inspired design 195
Variant 3: Bioinspired design 188
Keyword 3 Biomimetic 22381
Variant 1: Bio inspiration 211
Keyword 4
Variant 2: Bioinspiration 209
Keyword 5 Nature inspired 1934
Variant 1: Learn from nature 47
Keyword 6
Variant 2: Learning from nature 86

• Most common keyword is ‘biomimetic’

• Further, keywords can be biomimetics, biomimetic design, synthesis,
approach, material, membranes, model, oxidation
• Four combination of keywords was found to exist with multiple
keyword usage as 2% of population

7
RESULTS FOR AIM I
3000

2500

2000

1500

1000 *

500

0
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
* Till may, 2018
Research articles Conference paper
Research areas in biomimicry Organization's research contribution
Chinese Academy of Sciences

4% Centre National dela Recherche

4% 6% Scientifique
Chemistry 6%
6% 21% University of California System
27% Materials science 6%
7% Max Planck Society
Engineering 6% Massachusetts Institute of Technology
9% Science Technology other topics United States Department of Energy
7% DOE
17%
Physics
7% Harvard University
23% Computer science
18% 8% Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche CNR
Polymer science 16% Jilin University
Biochemistry molecular biology Indian Institute of Technology IIT 8
APPLICATIONS
Tissue repair Stiffness change
Materials Surface modification Nano materials

Winged micro airplanes Swimming robots

Robotics Mini hexapodal robot Humanoid locomotion

Needle design Drug delivery

Medicine Increase vaccine life Gecko tape in surgery

Applications Energy
Wind turbine Jet fuel savings
Energy managing software Improve energy efficiency
of
Low weight strong material Efficient structure
biomimicry Structures More tough low weight Ecofriendly structure

Sensors and Biochemical communication Distributed sensing

communication Embedded sensor Remote sensor

Buildings based on 1. Termite mound

Architecture 2. Thigh bone Low weight domes

Natural Polyculture Sea water desalination

Agriculture Fog harvesting Sustainable agriculture

Crash avoidance system Bee inspired efficient route

Transportation Buoyant systems Kingfisher beak on train
9
TOOLS AND METHODS

Abstract
Identify Implement
Identify and Select Abstract
potential Transfer to and
the biologize biological biological
biological technology evaluate
problem the models strategies
models solution
problem

A generic bioinspired design process

Biomimicry IDEA-
AskNature DANE MEMIC Bio Cards T Charts
Taxonomy INSPIRE
Support tools for bioinspired design process

Systematic reverse Biological

Natural language
Functional modelling engineering of meaningful
analysis
biological systems keywords

Ontology for Engineering to

BioTRIZ SAPPhIRE
bioinspired design biology thesaurus

Concept generation methods in bioinspired design process 10

RESEARCH CHALLENGES
• Unfamiliar tools and methods
• Introductory training
• Sources of biological models
• Providing free, online resources
• Capturing meaningful information from biological entities
• Correct analogy selection
• Difficult cross domain knowledge transfer
• Understanding and knowledge of biology and extraction
• Selecting best analogy from multiple entities
• Well-defined problem, selection criteria, correct analogy
• To make bioinspired design scalable and repeatable.
• Streamlined process supported by methods and tools
• Lack of appropriate documentation
• Detailed case studies
• Educate the would-be-designers biologically inspired design process
• Education
11
RESEARCH GAPS
• Unfamiliarity with biology

• Thinly populated bioinspired repositories

• Transition gaps

• Methodological multimodal representation

• Logical reasoning system for verifying best analogy

• Sureshot commercialization strategy

• Unorganised tools and methods

• Effects of constraints and design fixation

12
CONCLUSION
• Clarifies the underlining distinction among various similar words by which
‘biomimicry’ is being referred

• Researchers often use these terms interchangeably with commonly used word
is ‘biomimetic

• Literature analysis concludes that the numbers of publications in this field

are linearly increasing every year

• Publications in proceedings, however, seem to be stagnant for last 2-3 years.

• Chemistry, materials and engineering are the fields where most of the
research is going on.

• Most of this research is conducted in China, France and the US

13
REFERENCES
1. Titotto, S.: Models and prototypes of biomimetic devices to architectural purposes.SCIRES-IT, vol. 4, pp. 55-62 (2014)
2. Aziz, M.S.: Biomimicry as an approach for bio-inspired structure with the aid of computation. Alexandria Engineering Journal 55, vol. 1, pp. 707-714 (2016)
3. Lehn, J.M., Benyus, J.: Bioinspiration and biomimicry in chemistry: reverse-engineering nature. John Wiley & Sons (2012)
4. Wanieck, K., Fayemi,P.E., Shoshanah, J.: Biomimetics and its tools. Bioinspired, Biomimetic and Nanobiomaterials, pp. 1-15 (2017)
5. Lepora, N.F., Verschure, P., Prescott, T.J.: The state of the art in biomimetics. Bioinspiration & biomimetics , vol. 8, pp. 1-11 (2013)
6. Gurtu, A., Searcy, C., Jaber, M.Y.: An analysis of keywords used in the literature on green supply chain management. Management Research Review, vol. 38, pp. 166-
194 (2015)
7. Luke, E.L.: Product and technology innovation: What can biomimicry inspire? Biotechnology Advances, vol. 32, pp. 1494-1505 (2014)
8. www.asknature.org (visited on 16/05/2018)
9. Nagel, J.K.S., Nagel, R.L., Stone, R.B., McAdams, D.A.: Function-based, biologically inspired concept generation. AI EDAM, vol. 24, pp. 521-535 (2010)
10. Helms, M., Vattam, S.S., Goel, A.K.: Biologically inspired design: process and products. Design Studies, vol. 30, pp. 606-622 (2009)
11. Rowland, R.: Biomimicry step-by-step. Bioinspired, Biomimetic and Nanobiomaterials, vol. 6, pp.102-112 (2017)
12. Fayemi, P.E., Wanieck, K., Zollfrank, C., Maranzana, N., Aoussat, A.: Biomimetics: process, tools and practice. Bioinspiration & biomimetics, vol. 12, pp. 1-20 (2017)
13. Glier, M.W., McAdams, D.A., Linsey, J.S.: Concepts in biomimetic design: methods and tools to incorporate into a biomimetic design course. ASME 2011, pp. 655-660
(2011)
14. Nagel, J.K.S.: Systematic bio‐inspired design: how far along are we? Insight, vol. 19, pp. 32-35 (2016)
15. Bogatyrev, N., Bogatyreva, O.: BioTRIZ: a win-win methodology for eco-innovation. Eco-innovation and the Development of Business Models, pp. 297-314. Springer
(2014)
16. Fu, K., Moreno, D., Yang, M., Wood, K.L.: BID: an overview investigating open questions from the broader field of design-by-analogy. Jour. of Mech. Des., vol. 136,
pp. 1-18 (2014)
17. Vandevenne, D., Verhaegen,P.A., Dewulf, S., Duflou, J.R.: A scalable approach for ideation in biologically inspired design. AI EDAM, vol. 29, pp. 19-31 (2015)
18. Chakrabarti, A., Sarkar, P., Leelavathamma, B., Nataraju, B.S.: A functional representation for aiding biomimetic and artificial inspiration of new ideas. AI EDAM, vol.
19, pp.113-132 (2005)
19. Vattam, S., Wiltgen, B., Helms, M., Goel, A.K., Yen, J.: DANE: fostering creativity in and through biologically inspired design. Design Creativity 2010, pp. 115-122.
Springer, London (2011)
20. Lenau, T.A., Metze, A.L., Hesselberg, T.: Paradigms for biologically inspired design. Bioinspiration, Biomimetics, and Bioreplication, vol. 10593, pp. 1-20 (2018)
21. Goel, A.K., McAdams, D.A., Stone, R.B.: Biologically inspired design. Springer (2015)
22. Goel, A.K.: Is Biologically Inspired Invention Different? ICCC, pp. 47-54 (2015)
23. Wilson, J.: A systematic approach to bio-inspired conceptual design. Georgia Tech. (2008)
24. Vincent, J.F.V., Bogatyreva, O.A., Bogatyrev, N.R., Bowyer, A., Pahl, A.K.: Biomimetics: its practice and theory. Journal of the Royal Society Interface, vol. 3, pp. 471-
482 (2006)
25. Tinsley, A., Nagel, R.L., Midha, P.A., Stone, R.B., McAdams, D.A., Shu, L.H.: Exploring the use of functional models in biomimetic conceptual design. Journal of
Mechanical Design, vol. 130, pp. 79-92 (2008)
26. Cheong, H., Chiu, I., Shu, L.H., Stone, R.B., McAdams, D.A.: Biologically meaningful keywords for functional terms of the functional basis. Jour. of Mech. Des., vol.
133 (2011)
27. Yim, S., Wilson, J.O., Rosen, D.W.: Development of an ontology for bioinspired design using description logic. International Conference on Product Lifecycle
Management (2008)
28. Hooker, G., Smith, E.: AskNature and the Biomimicry Taxonomy. Insight, vol. 19, pp. 46-49 (2016)
29. Nagel, J.K.S., Stone, R.B., McAdams, D.A.: An engineering-to-biology thesaurus for engineering design. ASME 2010, pp. 117-128 (2010)
14
REFERENCES
1. Titotto, S.: Models and prototypes of biomimetic devices to architectural purposes.SCIRES-IT, vol. 4, pp. 55-62 (2014)
2. Aziz, M.S.: Biomimicry as an approach for bio-inspired structure with the aid of computation. Alexandria Engineering Journal 55, vol. 1, pp. 707-714 (2016)
3. Lehn, J.M., Benyus, J.: Bioinspiration and biomimicry in chemistry: reverse-engineering nature. John Wiley & Sons (2012)
4. Wanieck, K., Fayemi,P.E., Shoshanah, J.: Biomimetics and its tools. Bioinspired, Biomimetic and Nanobiomaterials, pp. 1-15 (2017)
5. Lepora, N.F., Verschure, P., Prescott, T.J.: The state of the art in biomimetics. Bioinspiration & biomimetics , vol. 8, pp. 1-11 (2013)
6. Gurtu, A., Searcy, C., Jaber, M.Y.: An analysis of keywords used in the literature on green supply chain management. Management Research Review, vol. 38, pp. 166-
194 (2015)
7. Luke, E.L.: Product and technology innovation: What can biomimicry inspire? Biotechnology Advances, vol. 32, pp. 1494-1505 (2014)
8. www.asknature.org (visited on 16/05/2018)
9. Nagel, J.K.S., Nagel, R.L., Stone, R.B., McAdams, D.A.: Function-based, biologically inspired concept generation. AI EDAM, vol. 24, pp. 521-535 (2010)
10. Helms, M., Vattam, S.S., Goel, A.K.: Biologically inspired design: process and products. Design Studies, vol. 30, pp. 606-622 (2009)
11. Rowland, R.: Biomimicry step-by-step. Bioinspired, Biomimetic and Nanobiomaterials, vol. 6, pp.102-112 (2017)
12. Fayemi, P.E., Wanieck, K., Zollfrank, C., Maranzana, N., Aoussat, A.: Biomimetics: process, tools and practice. Bioinspiration & biomimetics, vol. 12, pp. 1-20 (2017)
13. Glier, M.W., McAdams, D.A., Linsey, J.S.: Concepts in biomimetic design: methods and tools to incorporate into a biomimetic design course. ASME 2011, pp. 655-660
(2011)
14. Nagel, J.K.S.: Systematic bio‐inspired design: how far along are we? Insight, vol. 19, pp. 32-35 (2016)
15. Bogatyrev, N., Bogatyreva, O.: BioTRIZ: a win-win methodology for eco-innovation. Eco-innovation and the Development of Business Models, pp. 297-314. Springer
(2014)
16. Fu, K., Moreno, D., Yang, M., Wood, K.L.: BID: an overview investigating open questions from the broader field of design-by-analogy. Jour. of Mech. Des., vol. 136,
pp. 1-18 (2014)
17. Vandevenne, D., Verhaegen,P.A., Dewulf, S., Duflou, J.R.: A scalable approach for ideation in biologically inspired design. AI EDAM, vol. 29, pp. 19-31 (2015)
18. Chakrabarti, A., Sarkar, P., Leelavathamma, B., Nataraju, B.S.: A functional representation for aiding biomimetic and artificial inspiration of new ideas. AI EDAM, vol.
19, pp.113-132 (2005)
19. Vattam, S., Wiltgen, B., Helms, M., Goel, A.K., Yen, J.: DANE: fostering creativity in and through biologically inspired design. Design Creativity 2010, pp. 115-122.
Springer, London (2011)
20. Lenau, T.A., Metze, A.L., Hesselberg, T.: Paradigms for biologically inspired design. Bioinspiration, Biomimetics, and Bioreplication, vol. 10593, pp. 1-20 (2018)
21. Goel, A.K., McAdams, D.A., Stone, R.B.: Biologically inspired design. Springer (2015)
22. Goel, A.K.: Is Biologically Inspired Invention Different? ICCC, pp. 47-54 (2015)
23. Wilson, J.: A systematic approach to bio-inspired conceptual design. Georgia Tech. (2008)
24. Vincent, J.F.V., Bogatyreva, O.A., Bogatyrev, N.R., Bowyer, A., Pahl, A.K.: Biomimetics: its practice and theory. Journal of the Royal Society Interface, vol. 3, pp. 471-
482 (2006)
25. Tinsley, A., Nagel, R.L., Midha, P.A., Stone, R.B., McAdams, D.A., Shu, L.H.: Exploring the use of functional models in biomimetic conceptual design. Journal of
Mechanical Design, vol. 130, pp. 79-92 (2008)
26. Cheong, H., Chiu, I., Shu, L.H., Stone, R.B., McAdams, D.A.: Biologically meaningful keywords for functional terms of the functional basis. Jour. of Mech. Des., vol.
133 (2011)
27. Yim, S., Wilson, J.O., Rosen, D.W.: Development of an ontology for bioinspired design using description logic. International Conference on Product Lifecycle
Management (2008)
28. Hooker, G., Smith, E.: AskNature and the Biomimicry Taxonomy. Insight, vol. 19, pp. 46-49 (2016)
29. Nagel, J.K.S., Stone, R.B., McAdams, D.A.: An engineering-to-biology thesaurus for engineering design. ASME 2010, pp. 117-128 (2010)
15