Biomimetics: Exploring Nature Inspired Solutions for Advanced Robotics

Chapter 1: Biomimetics

Emulating the models, processes, and components of nature for the aim of finding solutions to difficult human issues is precisely what biomimetics, also known as biomimicry, is all about. Both biomimetics and biomimicry have their origins in Ancient Greek: βίoς (bios), which means life, and μίμησις (mīmēsis), which means imitation. These names originate from the Greek word μιμεῖσθαι (mīmeisthai), which means to imitate, and μῖμος (mimos), which means actor. Bionics is a field that is closely related to this one.

Over the course of the 3.8 billion years that have passed since it is thought that life first evolved on Earth, nature has undergone the process of evolution. It has developed species that are highly effective by making use of resources that are readily available. The properties of materials are derived from the interactions that take place between the surfaces of solids and other surfaces as well as the surroundings. The organization of biological materials is extremely complex, ranging from the molecular to the nano, micro, and macro dimensions. These materials are frequently arranged in a hierarchical fashion, and their nanoarchitecture is sophisticated. In the end, they are composed of a wide variety of diverse functional components. Materials and surfaces have features that are the consequence of a complex interaction between the structure and morphology of the surface, as well as the physical and chemical properties of the material. A wide variety of materials, surfaces, and objects in general are capable of performing many functions.

A wide range of materials, structures, and gadgets have been fabricated for commercial purposes by engineers, material scientists, chemists, and biologists. Additionally, artists and architects have created these things for the sake of beauty, structure, and design through their work. Self-healing capabilities, environmental exposure tolerance and resistance, hydrophobicity, self-assembly, and the ability to capture solar energy are only few of the engineering difficulties that nature has handled. The influence that bioinspired materials and surfaces have on the economy is substantial, with estimates ranging from several hundred billion dollars annually across the rest of the world.

One of the first examples of biomimicry refers to the study of birds in order to develop flight capabilities for humans. Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) was a close observer of the anatomy and flight of birds. He created several notes and sketches on his observations, as well as sketches of flying machines. Despite the fact that he was never successful in developing a flying machine, he was the creator of numerous sketches of flying machines. Observations of pigeons in flight are said to have served as a source of inspiration for the Wright Brothers, who were successful in flying the first heavier-than-air aircraft in the year 1903.

Otto Schmitt, an American biophysicist and polymath, is credited with developing the idea of biomimetics in the 1950s. His dissertation research led to the development of the Schmitt trigger, which he created by analyzing the nerves found in squid. He was seeking to design a device that would imitate the biological system that is responsible for nerve propagation. He continued to concentrate on developing machines that are able to imitate natural processes, and by the year 1957, he had recognized an alternative to the conventional viewpoint of biophysics at the time, which he would later come to refer to as biomimetics.

It is more accurate to say that biophysics is a point of view than it is a collection of facts. In other words, it is a method that applies the theory and technology of the physical sciences to the difficulties that arise in the field of biological research. Biophysics, on the other hand, is also a method that a biologist takes to problems that are associated with physical science and engineering, despite the fact that this element has been generally ignored.

In 1960, Jack E. Steele, who worked at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, came up with a term that was very similar to bionics. Otto Schmitt was also employed there at the time. Steele characterized bionics in terms of the science of systems which have some function copied from nature, or which represent characteristics of natural systems or their analogues . At a later meeting in 1963, Schmitt made the following statement:

For the purpose of making effective use of the technical expertise of scientists who specialize in, or rather, I should say, despecializing in, this field of research, let us take into consideration what the term bionics has come to signify in terms of its operational meaning, as well as what it or a word that is similar to it (I prefer biomimetics) ought to mean.

The term biomimetic was first used by Schmitt in the title of one of his articles in 1969, and by 1974, it had made its way into Webster's Dictionary. Within the same lexicon, bionics was first described as a science concerned with the application of data about the functioning of biological systems to the solution of engineering problems in the year 1960. The term bionic took on a new meaning after Martin Caidin made a reference to Jack Steele and his work in the novel Cyborg, which was then adapted into the television series The Six Million Dollar Man and its spin-offs in 1974. the use of electronically operated artificial body parts and having ordinary human powers increased by or as if by the aid of such devices are two of the definitions that have come to be connected with the term bionic. Due to the fact that the term bionic came to be associated with supernatural power, the scientific community in nations where English is the primary language mainly abandoned it.

Biomimicry was first introduced to the public in the year 1982. In her book published in 1997 titled Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature, scientist and author Janine Benyus is credited with popularizing the concept of biomimicry. Biomimicry is described as a new science that studies nature's models and then imitates or takes inspiration from these designs and processes to solve human problems, according to the book's definition. The concept of looking to nature as a Model, Measure, and Mentor is encouraged by Benyus, who also highlights the importance of sustainability as a goal of biomimicry.

A description of managemANT was developed by Johannes-Paul Fladerer and Ernst Kurzmann, and it is considered to be one of the most recent examples of biomimicry. The phrase management is a combination of the words ant and management, and it refers to the utilization of the behavioral methods of ants in economic and management strategies. Quantification of the possible long-term effects of biomimicry was included in a report that was commissioned by the San Diego Zoo in 2013 and published by the Fermanian Business & Economic Institute. The findings provided evidence of the potential economic and environmental benefits of biomimicry, which can be further observed in the managemANT strategy that was developed by Johannes-Paul Fladerer and Ernst Kurzmann. The economic and management tactics that are utilized in this approach are based on the behavioral strategies that ants employ.

Indeed, biomimicry has the potential to be utilized in a wide variety of domains. There is a huge variety of characteristics that could be imitated in biological systems due to the diversity and complexity of these systems. There are several different stages of development that biomimetic applications are now in, ranging from innovations that could potentially become commercially usable to prototypes. It has been re-derived to provide simple formulae for the pipe or tube diameter, which gives a minimum mass engineering system. Murray's law, which in its usual form determined the optimal diameter of blood vessels, has been re-derived.

Birds and bats are serving as a source of inspiration for the design of aircraft wings and flight techniques. It was the beak of the kingfisher bird that served as the inspiration for the aerodynamics of the streamlined design of the Shinkansen 500 Series, which is an enhanced Japanese high-speed train.

Among the biorobots that are based on the physiology and methods of locomotion of animals are the following: BionicKangaroo, which moves like a kangaroo, saving energy from one jump and transferring it to its next jump; Kamigami Robots, a children's toy, mimics the locomotion of cockroaches to run quickly and efficiently over indoor and outdoor surfaces; and Pleobot, a shrimp-inspired robot that is used to study metachronal swimming and the ecological impacts of this propulsive gait on the environment.

Examples of flying mammals, birds, or insects serve as a source of inspiration for BFRs. When it comes to BFRs, they can either be operated by propellers or have wings that flap, which are responsible for producing lift and thrust. BFRs with flapping wings have increased stroke efficiency, increased maneuverability, and lower energy consumption in contrast to propeller operated BFRs. There are similarities in the flying characteristics and design concerns of BFRs that are influenced by birds and mammals. By enhancing the rigidity of the wing edge and wingtips, for example, BFRs that are inspired by mammals and birds both reduce the amount of edge fluttering and pressure-induced wingtip curl. As a result of their ability to withstand impact, BFRs that are inspired by mammals and insects can be advantageous in situations that are congested.

Bats are often the source of inspiration for bat-like flying raccoons (BFRs), but the flying squirrel has also been the source of inspiration for a prototype. The Bat Bot and the DALER are two examples of bat-inspired ballistic robots (BFRs). BFRs that are inspired by mammals can be developed to be multi-modal, which means that they are able to travel both in the air and on the ground without difficulty. It is possible to install shock absorbers along the wings of the aircraft in order to lessen the impact of landing. An additional option is for the BFR to pitch up, which will result in an increase in the amount of drag it encounters. By increasing the drag force, the BFR will slow down and reduce the impact that it has when it comes into contact with the ground. There is also the possibility of implementing various land gait patterns.

BFRs that are inspired by birds can come from a wide variety of sources, including raptors, gulls, and everything in between. There is the possibility of feathering bird-inspired BFRs in order to expand the angle of attack range that the prototype is capable of operating across before it stalls. Depending on the flying gait, the wings of bird-inspired BFRs are capable of in-plane deformation, and the in-plane wing deformation can be tuned to achieve the highest possible level of flight efficiency. A BFR that was inspired by raptors is the prototype that was developed by Savastano and colleagues. The prototype possesses wings that are fully flexible and flapping, and it is able to carry a cargo of up to 0.8 kilograms while simultaneously completing a parabolic climb, a sharp descent, and a speedy recovery. A prototype that was inspired by gulls was developed by Grant et al., and it closely mimics the rotation of the gull's elbow and wrist. The researchers discovered that the creation of lift is highest when the deformations of the elbow and wrist are opposing but equal.

Beetles and dragonflies are generally the sources of inspiration for BFRs that are inspired by insects. Phan and Park's prototype is an example of a BFR that was inspired by a beetle, and Hu et al.'s prototype might be considered an example of a BFR that was influenced by a dragonfly. The flapping frequency of BFRs that are inspired by insects is significantly higher than that of other BFRs. This is due to the aerodynamics of insect flight, which are unique to insects. Since BFRs that are inspired by insects are significantly smaller than those that are inspired by mammals or birds, they are more suited for habitats that are densely populated. The rhinoceros beetle served as the model for the prototype that Phan and Park developed. This was done so that the prototype could effectively continue flying even after being involved in a collision by deforming its hindwings.

The processes of mutation, recombination, and selection have, throughout the course of evolution, allowed living things to adapt to an environment that is always shifting. The central tenet of the biomimetic philosophy is that the residents of nature, which include animals, plants, and microbes, have the most expertise in finding solutions to issues and have already discovered the most appropriate means to survive on the planet Earth. Likewise, biomimetic architecture is an approach that aims to find solutions for building sustainability that are found in nature. Despite the fact that nature serves as a model, there are not many examples of biomimetic architecture that are designed to be good for