What Is Biomimetics?

Biomimetics, also known as biomimicry, is observing the models of nature (birds in the case of daVinci and the Wright brothers) and synthetically imitating it to solve problems and improve the society. [5] 

 

History

Biomimetics first appeared in the late 1400s when Leonardo da Vinci observed bird flight and made notes and sketches of "flying machines," but it wasn't until 1903 that the Wright brothers successfully created a heavier-than-air aircraft inspired by pigeons. Biomimetics officially became a term in Webster's Dictionary by 1974, after American biophysicist and polymath doctor Otto Schmitt used the word to title one of his papers. [5] 

 

Read more about the history of biomimetics here.

 

Mobile Screens

Mobile screens have been improved through biomimetics by scientists observing the reflective property in the scales of butterfly wings. Qualcomm® designed a color screen that uses reflected light and interferometric modulation (IMOD). [12] 

 

Read more about products improved by biomimicry here.

 

Robots

Robots are also on the rise. "Initially, robots were not well received because they were too bulky and too expensive... Solving these problems by making robots more biomimetic became feasible when powerful lightweight microprocessors were introduced. These improvements included high computation speed, very large memory, wireless communication, effective control algorithms, miniature position indicators using GPS, and powerful software tools" (pg 496). Scientists hope to make robots which will save lives and replace people in certain jobs. [4]