Biomimicry ─ A Functional Approach

Biomimetics, Bionics, Bioinspiration, Biomimetics, and Biomimicry are terms describing the branch of science between the studies of nature’s solutions and their inspiration on engineering sciences and technologies. Bioinspiration is viewed as using almost all biological phenomena to stimulate research in non-biological sciences and technologies for modifying and improving human life and welfare. Within the last three decades, these topics are covered by a large number of publications (journals, books). These scientific topics are developed through a myriad of studies that cover different biomimetics fields ranging from structures, materials, behavior, and performances, to architecture and management. These topics undoubtedly play a major role in our attempts to establish sustainable development. Many books either present a compilation of examples or treat one specific topic. Our book provides an integrative functional approach linking biological questions and the engineering applications supported by numerous studies at various levels, from a large diversity of organisms (and their components) to diverse responses to the constraints of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. This book makes a significant contribution to some of the questions related to functional studies associated with bioinspiration. 

In this book, we decided to build a consortium of editors involved in the two main disciplines that play essential roles in our holistic approach of bioinspiration and must be integrated to optimize the bioinspired solutions: biology and physics. The main objective of the volume is to summarize the field of research from a large number of key examples, and to integrate functional studies with the bio-inspired technologies. It is increasingly clear that we must develop an integrative approach—one that brings together biologists’ understanding of how and why organisms function with the guiding principles that drive progress in the engineering sciences.