Provides a professional, contemporary, and concise review of the current knowledge and advances in biomimetics This book covers the field of biomimicry, an area of science where researchers look to mimic aspects of plants or animals in order to solve problems in aerospace, shipping, building, electronics, and optics, among others. It presents the latest developments in biomimicry and gives readers sufficient grounding to help them understand the current, and sometimes technically complex, research literature. Different themes are covered throughout and text boxes deal with the relevant physics for readers who may lack this knowledge. Biomimetics: Nature-Inspired Design and Innovation examines issues in fluid dynamics such as avoiding sonic booms, reducing train noise, increasing wind turbine efficiency, and more. Next, it looks at optical applications, e.g. how nature generates color without dyes and pigment, and how animals stay cool in desert environments. A chapter on the built environment discusses cooling systems for buildings based on termite mounds; creating self-cleaning paint based on lotus leaves; unobtrusive solar panels based on ivy; and buildings that respond to the environment. Two more sections focus on biomimicry for the creation of smart materials and smart devices. The book finishes with a look at the field s future over the next decade. Presents each topic in sufficient detail in order to enable the reader to comprehend the original scientific papers Emphasizes those examples of biomimicry that have made it into products Features text boxes that provide information on the relevant physics or engineering principles for biologists who do not have a physics background Covers the scientific literature up to July 2019 Biomimetics: Nature-Inspired Design and Innovation is an excellent book for senior undergraduates and post-graduate students in the life sciences, material sciences, and bioengineering. It will also appeal to lay readers with an interest in nature as well as scientists in general.

Provides a professional, contemporary, and concise review of the current knowledge and advances in biomimeticsThis book covers the field of biomimicry, an area of science where researchers look to mimic aspects of plants or animals in order to solve problems in aerospace, shipping, building, electronics, and optics, among others. It presents the latest developments in biomimicry and gives readers sufficient grounding to help them understand the current, and sometimes technically complex, research literature. Different themes are covered throughout and text boxes deal with the relevant physics for readers who may lack this knowledge.Biomimetics: Nature-Inspired Design and Innovation examines issues in fluid dynamics such as avoiding sonic booms, reducing train noise, increasing wind turbine efficiency, and more. Next, it looks at optical applications, e.g. how nature generates color without dyes and pigment, and how animals stay cool in desert environments. A chapter on the built environment discusses cooling systems for buildings based on termite mounds; creating self-cleaning paint based on lotus leaves; unobtrusive solar panels based on ivy; and buildings that respond to the environment. Two more sections focus on biomimicry for the creation of smart materials and smart devices. The book finishes with a look at the field's future over the next decade.* Presents each topic in sufficient detail in order to enable the reader to comprehend the original scientific papers* Emphasizes those examples of biomimicry that have made it into products* Features text boxes that provide information on the relevant physics or engineering principles for biologists who do not have a physics background* Covers the scientific literature up to July 2019Biomimetics: Nature-Inspired Design and Innovation is an excellent book for senior undergraduates and post-graduate students in the life sciences, material sciences, and bioengineering. It will also appeal to lay readers with an interest in nature as well as scientists in general.

1 The Beginnings of Biomimetics 11.1 Early Attempts at Biomimicry: The Influence of Birds on the Development of Aircraft 31.2 The Fathers of Modern Biomimetics: Percy Shaw and George de Mestral 4Relevant Innovations Described in Other Chapters 6Note 6Suggested Reading 72 Transport, Motion, and Energy 92.1 Birds and Bullet Trains 92.2 More Owl-Inspired Noise Reduction 132.3 Humpback Whales and Wind Turbines 142.4 Fish Shoals and Wind Farms 162.5 Liquid Movement in Nature: The Importance of Spirals 172.6 A Tree-Inspired Wind Turbine 202.7 More Fishy Developments 222.8 A Fishy Failure: The Boxfish Car 222.9 Fuel Efficiency Inspired by Sharks 242.10 Using Biology to Counteract Biofouling 252.11 The New Generation of Ornithopters 28Relevant Innovations Described in Other Chapters 30Note 30Suggested Reading 303 Colour and Light 313.1 Photonic Biomimicry 363.2 Structure Can Influence Light Output 383.3 Cephalopods and Camouflage 393.4 Photonic Cooling 433.5 Biomimetic Antireflective Coatings 463.6 A Novel Glass Inspired by Spiders 47Relevant Innovations Described in Other Chapters 49Suggested Reading 494 The Built Environment 514.1 Cooling Buildings the Termite Way 514.2 Functional Structures Inspired by Nature 554.3 Self-Cleaning Surfaces 594.4 Self-Healing Concrete 634.5 New Building Materials 644.6 A Sunshade Modelled on Trees 654.7 Solar Ivy 664.8 The Future: Fully Responsive Buildings 67Relevant Innovations Described in Other Chapters 68Note 68Suggested Reading 685 Smart Materials 715.1 Self-Cleaning Materials 715.1.1 Reducing Bacterial Growth Without Disinfectants 715.1.2 Pitcher Plants and Non-stick Surfaces 745.2 Novel Adhesives 765.2.1 Novel Glues Inspired by Marine Animals 765.2.2 Hierarchical Steels Modelled on Byssal Threads 785.2.3 Glues from Terrestrial Slugs 795.2.4 Gecko-Inspired Dry Adhesives 815.3 Self-Healing Materials 835.4 Novel Textiles 855.4.1 Smart Textiles that Respond to their Surroundings 855.4.2 A Polar Bear-Inspired Material for Heat Insulation 865.4.3 Safety Helmets Inspired by Woodpeckers 86Relevant Material in Other Chapters 87Note 87Suggested Reading 886 Smart Devices 916.1 Burrowing Robots Based on Razor Clams 916.2 Novel Sensors 926.2.1 Bioinspired Underwater Pressure Sensors 926.2.2 Crack-Based Strain Sensors 936.2.3 Ice Plants and Actuators 946.3 Passive Water Collection 966.3.1 Inspiration from the Namib Desert Beetle 966.3.2 Collecting Water with Spiders' Webs 986.3.3 Cactus-Inspired Water Collection 1006.4 Insects and Origami 1006.5 Mosquito Bites and Injection Needles 103Suggested Reading 1047 The Influence of Biology on Computer Science 1077.1 Genetic Algorithms 1087.2 Swarm Intelligence 1107.3 Human Swarming 112Suggested Reading 1138 The Future of Biomimetics 115Suggested Reading 116Index 117