Biomimetics or biomimicry is the imitation of the models, systems, and elements of nature for the purpose of solving complex human problems.
Living organisms have evolved well-adapted structures and materials over geological time through natural selection. Biomimetics has given rise to new technologies inspired by biological solutions at macro and nanoscales. Humans have looked at nature for answers to problems throughout our existence. Nature has solved engineering problems such as self-healing abilities, environmental exposure tolerance and resistance, hydrophobicity, self-assembly, and harnessing solar energy.
One of the early examples of biomimicry was the study of birds to enable human flight. Although never successful in creating a "flying machine", Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) was a keen observer of the anatomy and flight of birds, and made numerous notes and sketches on his observations as well as sketches of "flying machines". The Wright Brothers, who succeeded in flying the first heavier-than-air aircraft in 1903, allegedly derived inspiration from observations of pigeons in flight.
Leonardo da Vinci's design for a flying machine with wings based closely upon the structure of bat wings.
During the 1950s the American biophysicist and polymath Otto Schmitt developed the concept of "biomimetics". During his doctoral research he developed the Schmitt trigger by studying the nerves in squid, attempting to engineer a device that replicated the biological system of nerve propagation. He continued to focus on devices that mimic natural systems and by 1957 he had perceived a converse to the standard view of biophysics at that time, a view he would come to call biomimetics.
Biomimicry is an approach to innovation that seeks sustainable solutions to human challenges by emulating nature’s time-tested patterns and strategies.
The etymological meaning of Biomimicry gives us the most basic definition of Biomimicry: to imitate life. It is also sometimes referred as biomimetics, and is often used to describe man-made processes and substances that imitate nature. According to the Biomimicry Institute, the goal is “to create products, processes, and policies—new ways of living—that are well-adapted to life on earth over the long haul.” The reason why biomimicry has became more popular with time is because people are looking for more sustainable ways to do things and organisms know how to do it.Even though we as humans are clever and thinking beings, without intending to, we have created massive sustainability problems for future generations. Some of these damages cannot be fixed, but if we look carefully, we can realize that the solution to some of these problems are just across our eyes, taking place nature.
If we look closer, animals, plants, and microbes are consummate engineers. Here is the proof: if you think about it, after 3.8 billion years failures are fossils and what surrounds us is the secret to survival. The more the human world functions like the natural world, the more likely we are to endure on this home that is ours, but not ours alone. Emulating life is a survival strategy for the human race (Janine Benyus)
Nature takes distinct approaches for coping with the environment. For example, a spider produces a waterproof silk that beats the pants off Kevlar for toughness and elasticity. When compared to steel it turns to be five times stronger! How does a spider do such a thing? The spider manufactures it in water, at room temperature, without needing any chemical or special process. And what is even more, it does not need to drill offshore for petroleum; it takes flies and crickets at one end and produces this miracle material at the other. When we realize it, a fiber industry can easily use this processing strategy, can’t it? The truth is that all organisms around us have managed to do even more than what we wish to do, without guzzling fossil fuels or polluting the planet.
Living organisms have evolved well-adapted structures and materials over geological time through natural selection. Biomimetics has given rise to new technologies inspired by biological solutions at macro and nanoscales. Humans have looked at nature for answers to problems throughout our existence. Nature has solved engineering problems such as self-healing abilities, environmental exposure tolerance and resistance, hydrophobicity, self-assembly, and harnessing solar energy.
One of the early examples of biomimicry was the study of birds to enable human flight. Although never successful in creating a "flying machine", Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) was a keen observer of the anatomy and flight of birds, and made numerous notes and sketches on his observations as well as sketches of "flying machines". The Wright Brothers, who succeeded in flying the first heavier-than-air aircraft in 1903, allegedly derived inspiration from observations of pigeons in flight.
Leonardo da Vinci's design for a flying machine with wings based closely upon the structure of bat wings.
During the 1950s the American biophysicist and polymath Otto Schmitt developed the concept of "biomimetics". During his doctoral research he developed the Schmitt trigger by studying the nerves in squid, attempting to engineer a device that replicated the biological system of nerve propagation. He continued to focus on devices that mimic natural systems and by 1957 he had perceived a converse to the standard view of biophysics at that time, a view he would come to call biomimetics.
Biomimicry is an approach to innovation that seeks sustainable solutions to human challenges by emulating nature’s time-tested patterns and strategies.
The etymological meaning of Biomimicry gives us the most basic definition of Biomimicry: to imitate life. It is also sometimes referred as biomimetics, and is often used to describe man-made processes and substances that imitate nature. According to the Biomimicry Institute, the goal is “to create products, processes, and policies—new ways of living—that are well-adapted to life on earth over the long haul.” The reason why biomimicry has became more popular with time is because people are looking for more sustainable ways to do things and organisms know how to do it.Even though we as humans are clever and thinking beings, without intending to, we have created massive sustainability problems for future generations. Some of these damages cannot be fixed, but if we look carefully, we can realize that the solution to some of these problems are just across our eyes, taking place nature.
If we look closer, animals, plants, and microbes are consummate engineers. Here is the proof: if you think about it, after 3.8 billion years failures are fossils and what surrounds us is the secret to survival. The more the human world functions like the natural world, the more likely we are to endure on this home that is ours, but not ours alone. Emulating life is a survival strategy for the human race (Janine Benyus)
Nature takes distinct approaches for coping with the environment. For example, a spider produces a waterproof silk that beats the pants off Kevlar for toughness and elasticity. When compared to steel it turns to be five times stronger! How does a spider do such a thing? The spider manufactures it in water, at room temperature, without needing any chemical or special process. And what is even more, it does not need to drill offshore for petroleum; it takes flies and crickets at one end and produces this miracle material at the other. When we realize it, a fiber industry can easily use this processing strategy, can’t it? The truth is that all organisms around us have managed to do even more than what we wish to do, without guzzling fossil fuels or polluting the planet.
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