Bio inspired design

Hyper-Morphology is an on-going research outlining a bottom-up evolutionary design process based on autonomous cellular building components. The research interfaces critical operational traits of the natural world (Evolutionary Development Biology, Embryology and Cellular Differentiation) with Evolutionary Computational techniques driven design methodologies. In the Hyper-Morphology research, genetic sequences are considered as sets of locally coded relational associations between multiple factors such as the amount of components, material based constraints, and geometric adaptation/degrees of freedom based adaptation abilities etc, which are embedded autonomously within each HyperCell component. Collective intelligence driven decision-making processes are intrinsic to the Hyper-Morphology logic for intelligently operating with autonomous componential systems (akin to swarm systems). This subsequently results in user and activity centric global morphology generation in real-time. Pr...

Growth of ice on surfaces poses a challenge for both organisms and for devices that come into contact with liquids below the freezing point. Resistance of some organisms to ice formation and growth, either in subtidal environments (e.g., Antarctic anchor ice), or in environments with moisture and cold air (e.g., plants, intertidal) begs examination of how this is accomplished. Several factors may be important in promoting or mitigating ice formation. As a start, here we examine the effect of surface texture alone. We tested four candidate surfaces, inspired by hard-shelled marine invertebrates and constructed using a three-dimensional printing process. We examined sub-polar marine organisms to develop sample textures and screened them for ice formation and accretion in submerged conditions using previous methods for comparison to data for Antarctic organisms. The sub-polar organisms tested were all found to form ice readily. We also screened artificial 3-D printed samples using the ...

Understanding is a common term used to describe comprehension. Comprehension is the act of grasping the meaning, nature or, importance of; in a more formal context. Understanding is classified as science in the field of psychological studies, where one has a firm acquirement of a specific topic, subject matter, situation and, or emotional consideration of which they seek, want and need to know. In an executive environment, a clear understanding is a crucial factor in the process of formation and strategic planning for the execution of a work flow. A thorough comprehension or understanding produces effective thinking process towards achieving the desired result. In the context of this research, the understanding process is being measured from the point of understanding the process of the biomimicry approach in the design process in particular. With the application of the Likert Measurement Method, this research will measure the level of individual understanding of the biomimicry approach in the design process. Biomimicry is a field that explores the human understanding of nature and its functions with the aim of producing a sustainable solution to human challenges by imitating nature's tested patterns and strategies. In the context of this study, explanations and discussions will focus on the importance of comprehension in the implementation of biomimicry approach in design. The process of understanding will focus on finding the important attributes vis-à-vis the biomimicry approach.

By the increase of earth's surface roughness over cities, forests, hills and mountains, the airflow is displaced largely from its original level. It may result in triggering convection, gravity waves, or tend to return to its original level causing standing waves. For aircrafts, it may cause the wind to change its direction; changing the lift and drag, and the aircrafts may be unstable due to the strong updrafts and downdrafts. Air travel becomes more complicated than usual when a large storm-front is formed somewhere in the world. Air routes are closed, holding patterns are established, flights get delayed and some are unfortunately cancelled. Hurricanes present a massive problem if they are standing between you and your destination, even if the area, they affect, is relatively small. Hurricanes, however, are a beast of the whole nature. Hurricanes are massive, spanning hundreds or thousands of miles and affecting flights on a regional scale. On the other hand, a thunderstorm/tornado develops and moves through an area quickly, the effects of a hurricane extends for days. This affects air traffic and may cause it to stop for several days. Considering the previous challenges, this paper investigates the flight performance of the AIRBUS BELUGA-XL, one of the largest transport aircrafts based on the AIRBUS A330-200 Freighter airliner. Also, a bio-inspired modification of the aircraft wings was applied based on the tubercles of the humpback whale fins.

" …The body says what words cannot..."
                                                                                                                        --- Martha Graham
This pioneering research focuses on Biomimetic Interactive Architecture using “Computation”, “Embodiment” and “Biology” to generate an intimate embodied convergence to propose a novel rule-based design framework for creating organic architectures composed of swarm-based intelligent components. Furthermore, the research boldly claims that Interactive Architecture should emerge as the next truly Organic Architecture. As the world and society are dynamically changing, especially in this digital era, the research dares to challenge the Utilitas, Firmitas, and Venustas of the traditional architectural Weltanschauung, and rejects them by adopting the novel notion that architecture should be dynamic, fluid, and interactive. This project reflects a trajectory from the 1960’s with the advent of the avant-garde architectural design group, Archigram, and its numerous intriguing and pioneering visionary projects. Archigram’s non-standard, mobile, and interactive projects profoundly influenced a new generation of architects to explore the connection between technology and their architectural projects. This research continues this trend of exploring novel design thinking and the framework of Interactive Architecture by discovering the interrelationship amongst three major topics: "Computation", "Embodiment", and “Biology". The project aims to elucidate pioneering research combining these three topics in one discourse: “Bio-inspired digital architectural design”. These three major topics will be introduced in this Summary.
“Computation”, is any type of calculation that includes both arithmetical and non-arithmetical steps and follows a well-defined model understood and described as, for example, an algorithm . But, in this research, refers to the use of data storage, parametric design application, and physical computing for developing informed architectural designs. “Form” has always been the most critical focus in architectural design, and this focus has also been a major driver behind the application computational design in Architecture. Nonetheless, this research will interpret the term “Form” in architecture as a continual “information processor” rather than the result of information processing. In other words, “Form” should not be perceived only as an expressive appearance based computational outcome but rather as a real-time process of information processing, akin to organic “Formation”. Architecture embodying kinetic ability for adjusting or changing its shape with the ability to process the surroundings and feedback in accordance with its free will with an inherent interactive intelligent movement of a living body. Additionally, it is also crucial to address the question of whether computational technologies are being properly harnessed, if they are only used for form-generating purposes in architecture design, or should this be replaced with real-time information communication and control systems to produce interactive architectures, with embodied computation abilities?
“Embodiment” in the context of this research is embedded in Umberto Eco’s vision on Semiotics, theories underlying media studies in Marshall McLuhan’s “Body Extension” (McLuhan, 1964), the contemporary philosophical thought of “Body Without Organs” (Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari, 1983), the computational Logic of ‘Swarm Behavior’ and the philosophical notion of “Monadology” proposed by Gottfried Leibniz (Leibniz, 1714). Embodied computation and design are predominant today within the wearable computing and smart living domains, which combine Virtual and Real worlds. Technical progress and prowess in VR development also contribute to advancing 3D smart architectural design and display solutions. The proposed ‘Organic body-like architectural spaces’ emphasize upon the realization of a body-like interactive space. Developing Interactive Architecture will imply eliciting the collective intelligence prevalent in nature and the virtual world of Big Data. Interactive Architecture shall thus embody integrated Information exchange protocols and decision-making systems in order to possess organic body-like qualities.
“Biology”, in this research explores biomimetic principles intended to create purpose-driven kinetic and organic architecture. This involves a detailed study/critique of organic architecture, generating organic shapes, performance optimization based digital fabrication techniques and kinetic systems.  A holistic bio-inspired architecture embodies multiple performance criteria akin to natural systems, which integrate structural, infrastructure performances throughout the growth of an organic body.  Such a natural morphogenesis process of architectural design explores what Janine M. Benyus described as “learning the natural process” . Profoundly influenced by the processes behind morphogenesis, the research further explores Evolutionary Development Biology (Evo-Devo) explaining how embryological regulation strongly affect the resulting formations. Evo-Devo in interactive architecture, implies the development of architecture based on three fundamental principles: “Simple to Complex”, “Geometric Information Distribution”, and “On/Off Switch and Trigger.”
The research seeks to create a relatively intelligent architectural body, and tactile interactive spatial environment by applying the extracted knowledge from the study of the aforementioned principles of Evo-Devo in the following fashion:
a. Extract a Self-Similar Componential System based approach from the “Simple to Complex” principle of Evo-Devo
b. Extract the idea of “Collective Intelligence” from “Geometric information Distribution” principle of Evo-Devo
c. Extract the principle of “Assembly Regulation” from “On/Off switch and trigger” principle of Evo-Devo

The “HyperCell” research, through an elaborate investigation on the three aforementioned topics, develops a design framework for developing real-time adaptive spatial systems. HyperCell does this, by developing a system of transformable cubic elements which can self-organize, adapt and interact in real-time. These Hypercells shall comprise an organic space which can adjust itself in relation to our human bodies. The furniture system is literally reified and embodied to develop an intra-active space that proactively provokes human movement. The space thus acquires an emotive dimension and can become your pet, partner, or even friend, and might also involve multiple usabilities of the same space. The research and its progression were also has actively connected with a 5-year collaborative European Culture project: “MetaBody”.   

The research thus involves exploration of Interactive Architecture from the following perspectives: architectural design, digital architectural history trajectory, computational technology, philosophical discourse related to embodiment, media and digital culture, current VR and body-related technology, and Evolutionary Developmental Biology. “HyperCell” will encourage young architects to pursue interdisciplinary design initiatives via the fusion of computational design, embodiment, and biology for developing bio-inspired organic architectures.

Hyper-Morphology is an on-going research outlining a bottom-up evolutionary design process based on autonomous cellular building components. The research interfaces critical operational traits of the natural world (Evolutionary Development Biology, Embryology and Cellular Differentiation) with Evolutionary Computational techniques driven design methodologies. In the Hyper-Morphology research, genetic sequences are considered as sets of locally coded relational associations between multiple factors such as the amount of components, material based constraints, and geometric adaptation/degrees of freedom based adaptation abilities etc, which are embedded autonomously within each HyperCell component. Collective intelligence driven decision-making processes are intrinsic to the Hyper-Morphology logic for intelligently operating with autonomous componential systems (akin to swarm systems). This subsequently results in user and activity centric global morphology generation in real-time. Practically, the Hyper-Morphology research focuses on a 24/7 economy loop wherein real-time adaptive spatial usage interfaces with contemporary culture of flexible living within spatial constraints in a rapidly urbanizing world.

The significance of design thinking is strongly influenced by design work circumstances. But nowadays many research fieldworks use design thinking process to solve problems. Design thinking is an epistemology process to understand how designers think. The knowledge of design thinking will help to develop teaching and learning process and will improve the qualities of educational experience and also enhancing the capabilities to learn for designers. Biomimicry study was highlighted when many solutions have been successfully implemented in various fields of work nowadays. Biomimicry has been formed by two different Greek root words which are 'bios' meant life and 'mimesis 'is imitate. Biomimicry is also known as one of multidisciplinary studies in sustainable development. Thus the significance of inspirations of nature design is becoming the foremost issue nowadays, when a lot of efforts have been researched to find the best way to understand about nature design. This is including a number of terminologies which have been created to classify the nature in the design area. This conceptual paper will involve the analysis of existing design thinking and understanding of basic terminologies in Biomimicry concepts. KJ method analysis is adopted by extracting keywords from literature review and brainstorming process and categorizes those keywords into respective groups to form a new conceptual framework. The practical implication of this concept paper is to determine the significance of design thinking process for Biomimicry concepts and application for design development.

Bio-inspired design was introduced as an alternative method to encourage breakthrough innovations during design projects by stimulating analogical reasoning and thinking of designers. However, the method did not perform as well as researchers expected because most designers, who are novices in the fields of biology and ecology, cannot infer the proper analogue (i.e. biological system) from nature. To resolve this fundamental problem, a causal model based representation framework for 'analogical reasoning' – searching and selecting the biological systems to apply – have been developed. In addition, ontology based repository structures and retrieval systems have been proposed to support 'analogical thinking' of designers. Nevertheless, these systematic approaches still restrict the candidates and inevitably lose potential biological systems relevant to the design project, due to the 'physical relation' biased problem and the ambiguity of the indexing mechanism of both current representation frameworks and retrieval systems. For example, the causality based support system known as a robust representation framework for a single biological system, stores information of a biological system only by its internal 'physical relations' and retrieves biological systetabms only by the physical relevance. However, from the perspective of ecological thinking, the further relatedness of 'physical, biological, and ecological relations' composes the holistic concept used to identify an organism in the flow of evolution because the 'biological and ecological relations' are also involved in the traits that designers may be interested in. Therefore, the supplementary information for 'biological and ecological relations' must be added to index the biological and environmental interactions, and to use the connectivity among entire organisms in the retrieval process. In this research, a causality based holistic representation framework for biological systems and an 'all-connected' ontology based repository and retrieval system are developed as a knowledge-based recommendation system to support bio-inspired design. The knowledge-based system we developed allows engineering designers to search and select a particular biological system and extract design strategy without much biological knowledge. This effort provides more opportunities in a bio-inspired design process by adding potential biological systems that might previously not have been considered.

Töre Yargın, Gülşen and Nathan Crilly. "Information and interaction requirements for software tools supporting analogical design." Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Design, Analysis and Manufacturing 29.02 (2015): 203-214.

One mode of creative design is for designers to draw analogies that connect the design domain (e.g., a mechanical device) to some other domain from which inspiration is drawn (e.g., a biological system). The identification and application of analogies can be supported by software tools that store, structure, present, or propose source domain stimuli from which such analogies might be constructed. For these tools to be effective and not impact the design process in negative ways, they must fit well with the information and interaction needs of their users. However, the user requirements for these tools are seldom explicitly discussed. Furthermore, the literature that supports the identification of such requirements is distributed across a number of different domains, including those that address analogical design (especially biomimetics), creativity support tools, and human–computer interaction. The requirements that these literatures propose can be divided into those that relate to the information content that the tools provide (e.g., level of abstraction or mode of representation) and those that relate to the interaction qualities that the tools support (e.g., accessibility or shareability). Examining the relationships between these requirements suggests that tool developers should focus on satisfying the key requirements of open-endedness and accessibility while managing the conflicts between the other requirements. Attention to these requirements and the relationships between them promises to yield analogical design support tools that better permit designers to identify and apply source information in their creative work.

In recent years, a number of patents have been devoted to designing micro robots for minimally invasive therapies
inspired by Paramecium. Paramecium changes its swimming direction due to application of an external magnetic or
electric field. Changing ciliary beat direction and frequency have been identified as possible methods for maneuvering
through water; however, effects of variations in ciliary spacing on swimming trajectory have been poorly studied. In this
work, it is aimed to analyze the effects of adjusting the ciliary spacing on swimming trajectory. For determining the
swimming trajectory, Paramecium membrane is discretized to boundary elements with length of 15􀀁m on which there are
5 cilia beating in an effective and a recovery stroke. It is observed that increasing the ciliary spacing on the upper boundary
by 5% for 0.35 seconds leads to a mean 10 degrees of Paramecium rotation. This proves that even a slight error in
measuring this parameter leads to great errors in determining the swimming trajectory. Also, due to lower energy consumption,
variations in ciliary spacing could be an optimum means for micro robotic maneuvering.

A new bio-inspired honeycomb sandwich beam (BHSB) based on the woodpecker’s head configuration was developed for repeated low-velocity impact resistance improvement. The new design contains four
main layers: carbon fiber reinforced plastic top and bottom skins sandwiching rubber and aluminum honeycomb cores. Impact loadings were performed numerically and experimentally in a repeated manner with a hemispherical steel impactor for three energy levels: 7.28 J, 9.74 J, and 12.63 J. In all cases, stresses developed at the bottom skin of BHSB were significantly smaller with substantially lower damage area while sustaining more number of impact than those of conventional honeycomb sandwich beam (HSB). Also, the impact resistance efficiency indices, Ie, which assess overall performance, of both beam designs were compared. Ie of BHSB were 1.65–16.22 times higher, conclusively exhibiting its superiority to HSB in repeated impact resisting performance.

Growth of ice on surfaces poses a challenge for both organisms and for devices that come into contact with liquids below the freezing point. Resistance of some organisms to ice formation and growth, either in subtidal environments (e.g., Antarctic anchor ice), or in environments with moisture and cold air (e.g., plants, intertidal) begs examination of how this is accomplished. Several factors may be important in promoting or mitigating ice formation. As a start, here we examine the effect of surface texture alone. We tested four candidate surfaces, inspired by hard-shelled marine invertebrates and constructed using a three-dimensional printing process. We examined sub-polar marine organisms to develop sample textures and screened them for ice formation and accretion in submerged conditions using previous methods for comparison to data for Antarctic organisms. The sub-polar organisms tested were all found to form ice readily. We also screened artificial 3-D printed samples
using the same previous methods, and developed a new test to examine ice formation from surface droplets as might be encountered in environments with moist, cold air. Despite limitations inherent to our techniques, it appears surface texture plays only a small role in delaying the onset of ice formation: a stripe feature (corresponding to patterning found on valves of blue mussels, Mytilus edulis, or on the spines of
the Antarctic sea urchin Sterechinus neumayeri) slowed ice formation an average of 25% compared to a grid feature (corresponding to patterning found on sub-polar butterclams, Saxidomas nuttalli). The geometric dimensions of the features have only a small (∼6%) effect on ice formation. Surface texture affects ice formation, but does not explain by itself the large variation in ice formation and species-specific ice resistance observed in other work. This suggests future examination of other factors, such as material elastic properties and surface coatings, and their interaction with surface pattern.