biomimetia

Biomimetia, or biomimetics, is the practice of drawing inspiration from biological systems to develop new materials, devices, and processes. It involves studying how natural organisms solve problems and translating those principles into engineered solutions.

The term biomimetics was popularized in the mid-20th century by Otto Schmitt; the field has since expanded across disciplines, from materials science to robotics and architecture. It covers both understanding biological strategies and applying them in design, sometimes called biomimicry or bioinspiration.

Common methods include observing biology, abstracting functions, and implementing them through modeling, prototyping, and testing.

Notable examples: Velcro inspired by burrs; the Shinkansen train nose modeled after the kingfisher beak reducing sonic boom; lotus leaf surfaces produce self-cleaning properties; gecko-inspired adhesives replicating dry adhesion; nacre-inspired ceramic composites for toughness; shark-skin riblets for drag reduction.

Applications span aerospace, automotive, construction, consumer products, healthcare, and energy. Challenges include translating living efficiencies into scalable technologies, cost, regulatory hurdles, and maintaining performance across conditions.

Further reading and related topics include biomimicry, bioinspired engineering, and metamaterials.