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Biomimicry: Learning from Nature Dr Vol 11, Issue 6,June/ 2020 ISSN NO: 0377-9254 BIOMIMICRY: LEARNING FROM NATURE DR. PUSHPRAJ SINGH Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, Govt. Girls Degree College, Chhibramau, Kannauj-209721, (Affiliated to CSJM University, Kanpur), Uttar Pradesh, India Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT architecture. Imagine it as the combination of Biomimicry or biomimetics is the imitation biology, nature and architecture into one of the models, systems and elements of nature for the composition. Biomimetic is involved with artificial purpose of solving complex human problems. Living mechanisms to produce materials similar to ones that organisms have evolved well-adapted structures and exist in nature3. Papanek4 believes that bionic is more materials over geological time through natural related to ‘cybernetics’ and Vogel5 claims that it selection. Biomimetics has given rise to new focuses on artificial intelligence. Bionic design technologies inspired by biological solutions at considers taking control of nature6 and seeks macro and nanoscales. Humans have looked at nature resolving engineering problems using data related to for answers to problems throughout our existence. biological functions7 has also defined a set of Nature has solved engineering problems such as self- dimensions for biomimicry: nature as model, nature healing abilities, environmental exposure tolerance as measure and nature as mentor. Some researchers and resistance, hydrophobicity, self-assembly and believe that these dimensions form the basis for harnessing solar energy. It means, biomimicry is an classifying the different approaches to biomimicry8. old approach, but in the scientific conceptualization Janine Benyus argues that looking at nature and is new. Today Biomimicry is widely studied in imitating its existing models, systems, and process material science, in automotive industry, in can solve design problems sustainably9. Biomimicry engineering, in architectural design and in climate is argued to serve two main purposes: innovation and issues. This paper mainly focuses on the imitation of sustainability. Pawlyn suggests biological organisms ideas of nature for the wellfare of mankind. can be considered as embodying technologies which Keywords: Biomimicry, nature, architecture, design, offer sustainable solutions10. Technological innovation, technology etc. innovations and sustainability criteria could be 1. INTRODUCTION interrelated aspects of biomimicry as Rao explains: Biomimicry (from bios, meaning life, and "biomimicry uses an ecological standard to judge the mimesis, meaning to imitate) is a new discipline that sustainability of our innovations11". studies nature's best ideas and then imitates these 2. LEVELS OF BIOMIMICRY designs and processes to solve human problems1. It is By examining the biomimetic ideologies and also known as Biomimetics, Bionics, Bio-inspiration implementations from other scientists, designers and and Biognosis2. Biomimicry, defined as a new writers; Maibritt Pedersen Zari12 was able to break engineering inspired by Nature, for innovation in down Biomimicry into three different "categories" or different fields, design, transportation and "levels"; Organism, Behaviour and Ecosystem. www.jespublication.com Page No:533 Vol 11, Issue 6,June/ 2020 ISSN NO: 0377-9254 1) The Level of the Organism: The organism whale fins over millennia, adapting their functions to level corresponds to a biomimetic shape or be as efficient and effective as possible for each surface. It is a question of the inspiration particular set of circumstances and environments. So from forms found in nature. The organisms it’s no surprise that designers, architects and in nature and their morphology are perfectly engineers are taking cues from nature when they set adapted to the environment in which they out to create buildings, trains, prosthetics, robots and live. fashionable accessories. There are so many examples 2) The Level of Behaviour: The behaviour of biomimicry in design, engineering, architecture level corresponds to the function. It's about and technology inspired by the sea, plants, insects, observing how nature performs a function. animals and other organisms. 1) Kingfisher-Inspired Bullet Train 3) The Level of Ecosystem: The ecosystem The fastest train in the world at speeds of up to 200 level corresponds to imitate ecosystems miles per hour, Japan’s Shinkansen Bullet Train found in nature and considered as a means was a marvel of modern technology. But there was of increasing the sustainability of an one major problem after its initial debut: noise. Each architectural project. It is about time the train emerged from the tunnel, it caused a understanding, how relationships between change in air pressure that caused thunder-like species and their environment produce an sounds that were a nuisance from a quarter of a mile ecosystem and It is characterized by his away. The train’s chief engineer, a bird-watcher, had organization, hierarchy, interdependence, an idea: taking inspiration from the shape of a bird’s dynamic, adapted. The world’s ecosystems beak to make it more aerodynamic. The resulting are very complex and those characteristics design was based on the narrow profile of a what keep the planet as a whole in balance. kingfisher’s beak, resulting in a quieter train that also 3. EXAMPLES OF BIOMIMICRY consumes 15% less electricity and goes 10% faster Mother Nature has perfected the than before. biomechanics of everything from tiny leaf cells to www.jespublication.com Page No:534 Vol 11, Issue 6,June/ 2020 ISSN NO: 0377-9254 2) Gecko Climbing Feet climbing pads capable of supporting a How do geckos climb up vertical surfaces human’s weight. Each pad is covered with without falling off? The secret lies within adhesive tiles bearing sawtooth-shaped tiny little hairs covering their toes. polymer structures about the width of a Researchers have managed to mimic the human hair that create an adhesion force biomechanics of gecko feet in a pair of when they’re pulled on. 3) Baobab Tree Inspired Treehouses resembles that of the baobab tree, which has The beautiful Embryo Treehouse by Antony a massive, swollen-looking trunk. Not only Gibbon Designs aims to look like a part of does it honor nature in its appearance, it also the tree that it uses for support, wrapping has a very small impact on its forest around the trunk like a natural growth. The environment, attaching with a set of braces shape of this beautiful treehouse closely so the tree can continue to grow. www.jespublication.com Page No:535 Vol 11, Issue 6,June/ 2020 ISSN NO: 0377-9254 4) Armadillo Backpack take cues from the scaled mammals of the The hide of an armadillo is rigid yet flexible, Manidae family, joining sections of recycled offering protection but enabling the animals rubber inner tubes around a central axis to to remain nimble. This backpack from make them durable and adaptable. Cylus and others in the Pangolin collection 5) Survivor Locating Spider cheaply reproduced using 3D printers. "This The ability to squeeze through tight spaces high-tech assistant is still a prototype, but and turn on a dime makes the spider an ideal future plans envision its use as an model for life-saving robots that could make exploratory tool in environments that are too their way through rubble after a disaster to hazardous for humans, or too difficult to get locate survivors. Normally, seeing a gigantic to. After natural catastrophes and industrial arthropod making its way toward you would or reactor accidents, or in fire department be terrifying, but in this case, it would be a sorties, it can help responders, for instance relief. Researchers at Germany’s by broadcasting live images or tracking Frauenhofer Institute say this robot can be down hazards or leaking gas". www.jespublication.com Page No:536 Vol 11, Issue 6,June/ 2020 ISSN NO: 0377-9254 6) Biomimicry Heliotrope Follows the phenomenon with silvery artificial flowers Movements of the Sun with LED light bulbs in the center. Powered Did you know that sunflowers turn by solar panels, the flowers are fitted with themselves throughout the day to follow the tiny pistons that use evaporation of alcohol movement of the sun? This lighting to move the petals, closing them up during device by designer Jonathan Ota copies that the day and opening them at night. 7) Tree-Climbing Robot Mimics Inch the development of Treebot is to assist or Worms replace human being in performing forestry The Treebot uses tactile sensors to find its tasks on trees. Although the information way up a tree trunk in the same way that obtained by tactile sensors is not rich, it is inchworms do, feeling around to determine reliable. Furthermore, the processing of where it should grasp for the best grip. It can tactile information is much simpler than that even haul loads up sharply inclined of visual information". branches. Say the creators, "The objective of www.jespublication.com Page No:537 Vol 11, Issue 6,June/ 2020 ISSN NO: 0377-9254 8) Bird Skull Shoe architect Kostika Spaho to create The aesthetics and shape of a bird skull 'Biomimicry Shoe,' which offers lots of inspired this highly unusual, lightweight, support with less material for "optimal sculptural shoe design by Mariek Ratsma. efficiency, strength and elegance". The Dutch designer collaborated with 9) Tentacle Inspired Prosthetic Arm found that the prosthetic functioned as an Why would a prosthetic arm for humans assistant to the dominant functioning hand. take its shape from the appendage of another The prosthetic needed to be both flexible creature? For Kaylene Kau, designer of this and adjustable in order to accommodate a fascinating concept, it comes down to study variety of different grips". Tentacles of the way prosthetics are actually used. provided an ideal model, gripping objects Says Kau, "Through extensive research, I with a simple curling motion. www.jespublication.com Page No:538 Vol 11, Issue 6,June/ 2020 ISSN NO: 0377-9254 10) Lotus Inspired Hydrophobia protrusions coated in waxy hydrophobic Water spilled on a lotus leaf, does not wet its materials repel the water.
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