Bionics

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other uses, see Bionic (disambiguation).

gecko
(middle)

Bionics or biologically inspired engineering is the application of biological methods and systems found in nature to the study and design engineering systems and modern technology.[1]

The word bionic, coined by

electromechanical
implants.

According to proponents of bionic technology, the transfer of technology between lifeforms and manufactured objects is desirable because evolutionary pressure typically forces living organisms—fauna and flora—to become optimized and efficient. For example, dirt- and water-repellent paint (coating) was inspired by the hydrophobic properties of the lotus flower plant (the lotus effect).[3]

The term "

macromolecules (e.g., enzymes or nucleic acids) whose chemistry can be replicated in vitro using much smaller molecules.[4]

Examples of bionics in engineering include the hulls of boats imitating the thick skin of dolphins or sonar, radar, and medical ultrasound imaging imitating animal echolocation.

In the field of

artificial neurons, artificial neural networks,[5] and swarm intelligence. Bionics also influenced Evolutionary computation but took the idea further by simulating evolution in silico
and producing optimized solutions that had never appeared in nature.

A 2006 research article estimated that "at present there is only a 12% overlap between biology and technology in terms of the mechanisms used".[6][clarification needed]

History

The name "biomimetics" was coined by Otto Schmitt in the 1950s. The term "bionics" was later introduced by Jack E. Steele in August 1958 while working at the Aeronautics Division House at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.[7] However, terms like biomimicry or biomimetics are preferred in order to avoid confusion with the medical term "bionics." Coincidentally, Martin Caidin used the word for his 1972 novel Cyborg, which was adapted into the television film and subsequent series The Six Million Dollar Man. Caidin was a long-time aviation industry writer before turning to fiction full-time.

Methods

Velcro was inspired by the tiny hooks found on the surface of burs.

The study of bionics often emphasizes implementing a function found in nature rather than imitating biological structures. For example, in computer science, cybernetics

models the feedback and control mechanisms that are inherent in intelligent behavior, while artificial intelligence models the intelligent function regardless of the particular way it can be achieved.

The conscious copying of examples and mechanisms from natural organisms and ecologies is a form of applied

selective pressure placed on all natural life forms
minimizes and removes failures.

Although almost all

biomimicry, the modern origins of this field are usually attributed to Buckminster Fuller and its later codification as a house or field of study to Janine Benyus
.

There are generally three biological levels in the fauna or flora after which technology can be modeled:

Examples

  • In robotics, bionics and biomimetics are used to apply the way animals move to the design of robots. BionicKangaroo was based on the movements and physiology of kangaroos.
  • burrs
    clung to the fur.
  • The horn-shaped, saw-tooth design for lumberjack blades used at the turn of the 19th century to cut down trees when it was still done by hand was modeled after observations of a wood-burrowing beetle. The blades were significantly more efficient and thus revolutionized the timber industry.
  • Cat's eye reflectors were invented by Percy Shaw in 1935 after studying the mechanism of cat eyes. He had found that cats had a system of reflecting cells, known as tapetum lucidum, which was capable of reflecting the tiniest bit of light.
  • Leonardo da Vinci's flying machines and ships are early examples of drawing from nature in engineering.
  • Resilin is a replacement for rubber that has been created by studying the material also found in arthropods.
  • Julian Vincent drew from the study of pinecones when he developed in 2004 "smart" clothing that adapts to changing temperatures. "I wanted a nonliving system which would respond to changes in moisture by changing shape," he said. "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 respond to higher humidity by opening their scales (to disperse their seeds). The "smart" fabric does the same thing, opening up when the wearer is warm and sweating and shutting tight when cold.
  • "Morphing aircraft wings" that change shape according to the speed and duration of flight were designed in 2004 by biomimetic scientists from
    swing-wing
    design.
Lotus leaf surface, rendered: microscopic view

Specific uses of the term

Induced sensorimotor brain plasticity controls pain in phantom limb.

In medicine

Bionics refers to the flow of concepts from biology to engineering and vice versa. Hence, there are two slightly different points of view regarding the meaning of the word.

In medicine, bionics means the replacement or enhancement of

organs or other body parts by mechanical versions. Bionic implants differ from mere prostheses
by mimicking the original function very closely, or even surpassing it.

The German equivalent of bionics, Bionik, always adheres to the broader meaning, in that it tries to develop engineering solutions from biological models. This approach is motivated by the fact that biological solutions will usually be optimized by

evolutionary
forces.

While the technologies that make bionic implants possible are developing gradually, a few successful bionic devices exist, a well known one being the Australian-invented multi-channel cochlear implant (bionic ear), a device for deaf people. Since the bionic ear, many bionic devices have emerged and work is progressing on bionics solutions for other sensory disorders (e.g. vision and balance). Bionic research has recently provided treatments for medical problems such as neurological and psychiatric conditions, for example Parkinson's disease and epilepsy.[23]

In 1997,

sensory feedback. This technology allows amputee patients to handle prosthetic hand systems in a more natural way.[24]

By 2004 fully functional artificial hearts were developed. Significant progress is expected with the advent of nanotechnology. A well-known example of a proposed nanodevice is a respirocyte, an artificial red cell designed (though not yet built) by Robert Freitas.

During his eight years in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania, Kwabena Boahen developed a silicon retina that was able to process images in the same manner as a living retina. He confirmed the results by comparing the electrical signals from his silicon retina to the electrical signals produced by a salamander eye while the two retinas were looking at the same image.

On July 21, 2015, the

Second Sight Medical Products, had been used previously in patients who were blind as the result of the rare inherited degenerative eye disease retinitis pigmentosa.[25]

In 2016,Tilly Lockey (born October 7, 2005) was fitted with a pair of bionic "Hero Arms" manufactured by OpenBionics, a UK bionics enterprise. The Hero Arm is a lightweight myoelectric prosthesis for below-elbow amputee adults and children aged eight and above. Tilly Lockey, who at 15 months had both her arms amputated after being diagnosed with meningococcal sepsis strain B, describes the Hero Arms as “really realistic, to the point where it was quite creepy how realistic they were.” [26]

On February 17, 2020, Darren Fuller, a military veteran, became the first person to receive a bionic arm under a public healthcare system.[27] Fuller lost the lower section of his right arm while serving term in Afghanistan during an incident that involved mortar ammunition in 2008.

Other uses

Business biomimetics is the latest development in the application of biomimetics. Specifically it applies principles and practice from biological systems to business strategy, process, organization design, and strategic thinking. It has been successfully used by a range of industries in FMCG, defense, central government, packaging, and business services. Based on the work by Phil Richardson at the University of Bath[28] the approach was launched at the House of Lords in May 2009.

Generally, biometrics is used as a creativity technique that studies biological prototypes to get ideas for engineering solutions.

In chemistry, a biomimetic synthesis is a chemical synthesis inspired by biochemical processes.

Another, more recent meaning of the term bionics refers to merging organism and machine. This approach results in a hybrid system combining biological and engineering parts, which can also be referred as a cybernetic organism (cyborg). Practical realization of this was demonstrated in Kevin Warwick's implant experiments bringing about ultrasound input via his own nervous system.

See also

References

  1. ISBN 9781471734311
    .
  2. ^ "bionics". Online Etymology Dictionary.
  3. doi:10.1016/j.mattod.2015.01.001
    .
  4. S2CID 254094123
    .
  5. ^ Research Interests Archived 15 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Duke.edu. Retrieved on 23 April 2011.
  6. PMID 16849244
    .
  7. S2CID 39473215
    .
  8. ^ Sto Lotusan – Biomimicry Paint. TreeHugger. Retrieved on 23 April 2011.
  9. ^ "Chiral Photonics". Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  10. ^ "Butterflies' wings dazzle with science | University of Southampton". www.southampton.ac.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  11. ^ RFID Through Water and on Metal with 99.9% Reliability (Episode 015), RFID Radio
  12. ^ Nanosensors inspired by butterfly wings (Wired UK) Archived 17 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Wired.co.uk. Retrieved on 23 April 2011.
  13. doi:10.1016/S0952-1976(99)00010-X. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on 18 August 2011.
  14. ISBN 978-0-87081-320-7
    . Retrieved 23 April 2011.
  15. ^ Beciri, Damir (14 December 2012). "Mussel glue inspires bioadhesive gel for blood vessels". RobAid. Archived from the original on 20 August 2014.
  16. PMID 12796450
    .
  17. ISBN 978-0-19-929992-8
    . Retrieved 23 April 2011.
  18. S2CID 28650231
    .
  19. ^ Cartier, Stephanie (Fall 2005). "The Flight of the Hummingbird Decoded". Northwest Science & Technology.
  20. ^ How Do Flies Turn? Archived 16 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Journalism.berkeley.edu. Retrieved on 23 April 2011.
  21. ^ Design inspired by nature Archived 21 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine, ESA
  22. PMID 30899783
    .
  23. ^ "Bionic devices". Bionics Queensland. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  24. ISBN 1-55131-029-5
    .
  25. ^ Walsh, Fergus (22 July 2015). "Bionic eye implant world first". BBC News Online. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  26. ^ "Tilly Lockey, bionic arm girl: "My difference is my superpower"". URevolution. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  27. ISSN 0307-1235
    . Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  28. ^ Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bath Archived 17 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Bath.ac.uk (21 February 2009). Retrieved on 23 April 2011.

Sources

  • Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature. 1997. Janine Benyus.
  • Biomimicry for Optimization, Control, and Automation, Springer-Verlag, London, 2005, Kevin M. Passino
  • "Ideas Stolen Right from Nature" (Wired)
  • Bionics and Engineering: The Relevance of Biology to Engineering, presented at Society of Women Engineers Convention, Seattle, WA, 1983, Jill E. Steele
  • Bionics: Nature as a Model. 1993. PRO FUTURA Verlag GmbH, München, Umweltstiftung WWF Deutschland
  • Lipov A.N. "At the origins of modern bionics. Bio-morphological formation in an artificial environment" Polygnosis. No. 1–2. 2010. Ch. 1–2. pp. 126–136.
  • Lipov A.N. "At the origins of modern bionics. Bio-morphological formation in an artificial environment." Polygnosis. No. 3. 2010. Part 3. pр. 80–91.

External links

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