Biomimetics - Biologically Inspired Technology


Over the 3.8 billion years since life is estimated to have begun to appear on Earth, evolution has resolved many of nature’s challenges leading to lasting solutions with maximal performance using minimal resources. Nature’s inventions have always inspired human achievement and have led to effective algorithms, methods, materials, processes, structures, tools, mechanisms, and systems. There are numerous examples of biomimetic successes including some that are simple copies of nature, such as the use of fins for swimming. Others examples were inspired by biological capabilities with greater complexity including the mastery of flying that became possible only after the principles of aerodynamics were better understood. Some commercial implementations of biomimetics can be readily found in toy stores, where robotic toys are increasingly appearing and behaving like living creatures. More substantial benefits of biomimetics include the development of prosthetics that closely mimic real limbs as well as sensory-enhancing microchips that are being used to interface with the brain to assist in hearing, seeing, and controlling instruments. In this course, various aspects of the field of biomimetics will be reviewed, examples of inspiring biological models and practical applications of biomimetics will be described, and challenges and potential directions of the field will be discussed.

We offer this and all courses as On Site Training



WHAT THE COURSE COVERS:
  • Introduction - why mimic nature?
  • Nature’s inventions as an inspiring model for biomimetics
  • Technology of artificial nature (including artificial organs, artificial materials, and artificial muscles)
  • Mechanical engineering in nature and related technologies (including mechanisms, structures, parts, defense and attack tools, nastic structures, scaling issues, mobility techniques, manipulators and devices)
  • Mimicking natures’ materials and processes (including multifunctional materials, silks, just in time fabrication, materials as integrated systems, and ink-printing for 3D rapid prototyping)
  • Current and potential applications (including bio-sensors, haptics, robotics, and user friendly systems)
  • Summary and expectations for the future of biomimetics

This course includes a Biomimetics course manual.


INSTRUCTOR:
Dr. Yoseph Bar-Cohen is a physicist specializing in electroactive materials/mechanism and ultrasonic NDE. He is a Senior Research Scientist and Group Supervisor, Advanced Technologies and the Nondestructive Evaluation and Advance Actuators (NDEAA) Lab., at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). He received his Ph. D. in Physics (1979) and M.Sc. in Materials Science (1973) from the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel. Currently, he is responsible for developing electroactive polymer actuators (artificial muscles), ultrasonic drill, piezoelectric motors, piezoelectric pump, ultrasonic NDE methods, real time sensing, geophysical probing techniques, haptic interfaces, multi-radiation ferrosource, and high power ultrasonic techniques. The NDEAA lab is listed on the JPL’s Chief Technologies as one of the JPL unique facilities. This lab, which he established in 1991, has been responsible for a series of innovative concepts and mechanisms for planetary explorations, medical, commercial and other applications. Two notable discoveries of Dr. Bar-Cohen are the leaky Lamb waves (LLW) and polar backscattering phenomena in composite materials. His scientific and engineering accomplishments have earned him the 2001 NASA Honor Award: NASA Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal, two SPIE’s Lifetime Achievement Awards - NDE (2001) and Smart Materials and Structures (2005), the ASNT’s 2002 Lester Honor Lecture Award and many other honors and awards. Moreover, the book on the subject of EAP, for which he is the Editor and co-author, was published in March 2001 by SPIE Press. This book 2nd edition was published in March 2004. Also, he co-editing a book that is entitled "Biologically-Inspired Intelligent Robots" examining the scientific and engineering states as well as the future possibilities of making such robots. In October 2005, his edited and coauthored book entitled "Biomimetics - Biologically Inspired Technologies" is expected to be published by CRC Press. Dr. Bar-Cohen’s research and accomplishments with his teams received extensive media coverage including NASA Press Releases, JPL's Universe, and media articles in daily newspapers. Dr. baer-Cohen is listed on 27 Who Is Who Biographic Directories (including Nov. 2001 Who’s Who in NASA). For his contributions to the field of electroactive polymers, Business Week named him in April 2003 as one of five technology gurus who are "Pushing Tech's Boundaries" He made about 280 publications, numerous presentations at national and international conferences, Chaired/CoChaired 27 Conferences, has 16-registered and 2 pending patents and Editor/Co-Editor of 3 books (with one having the 2nd edition) and 13 conference proceedings. Moreover, he is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Institute for the Acceleration Studies Foundation (ASF) and an Associate Editor of the International Journal of Structural Health Monitoring (IJSHM). Also, he is a member of the International Journal of Advanced Robotic Systems Editorial Advisory Board (since 2004).


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