This paper analyzes research on biomimicry, including common tools and methods used. It finds that the most frequently used keyword is "biomimetic" and that research publications have been increasing linearly over time. The top fields of research are chemistry, materials science, and engineering, with most work done in China, France, and the US. Challenges include unfamiliarity with biology, gaps in transitioning between domains, and a lack of standardized tools and methods. The conclusion calls for more case studies and education to advance the field of biologically inspired design.

1. Biomimicry: exploring research, challenges, gaps
and tools (Paper ID 102)
Sunil Sharma (Research Scholar)
Dr. Prabir Sarkar (Associate Professor)
Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Ropar, Punjab, India
Sharma S., Sarkar P. (2019) Biomimicry: Exploring Research, Challenges, Gaps, and Tools.
Download at:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330246880_Biomimicry_Exploring_Research_Challenges_Gaps_and_Tools_Pr
oceedings_of_ICoRD_2019_Volume_1

2. • Aims and objectives
• Timeline
• Keywords and Definitions
• Applications
• Tools and Methods
• Challenges and Gaps
• Conclusion
OUTLINE
2

3. • An analysis of the research done in biomimicry
• Description of common tools used in bio-inspired design
methodologies
• Categorize the applications of biomimicry in different
fields
• Various gaps and challenges existing in biomimicry
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
3

4. TIMELINE
4
1957
SCHIMDT
COINED TERM
‘BIOMIMETICS’
1958
JACK STEELE
COINED TERM
‘BIONICS’
1994
BIOLOGICALLY
INSPIRED BY KEPHART
(COMPUTING)
1996
BIOLOGICALLY
INSPIRED
DESIGN -VISSER
1997
JANINE BENYUS
COINED TERM
‘BIOMIMICRY’

5. KEYWORDS AND DEFINITIONS
5
Bioinspiration
General creative approach based on observation
of biological system
Bionics
Discipline that seeks to replace, increase
biological functions by their electronic
and mechanical equivalents
Bioinspired design
Transferring biological principles and
analogies to human engineering for better
designs
Biomimetics
Biomimicry
Interdisciplinary domain of biology
and technology that solves problem
through functional analysis of models
Philosophy and interdisciplinary design
approach using nature as model for
sustainable development solutions

6. • Analysis of the research done in biomimicry
RESEARCH DESIGN FOR AIM I
6
Data gathering
Identify database,
period of literature
review and keywords
Data clean up Data Analysis
 Thomson Reuters
Web of
Knowledge.
 Searched for
research and
proceedings
papers from
1995-2018
 Identified
potential search
keywords.
 Used advanced
search query with
keywords and
their variants
 Search results are
gathered for
knowing most
commonly used
keywords
 To know how
many multiple
keywords are
used together
multiple keyword
(using two, three,
four, five and six)
search was
conducted
 Analysis and
presentation of
data gathered
from WoS
 Indicate the
growth of
research

7. • Most common keyword is ‘biomimetic’
• Further, keywords can be biomimetics, biomimetic design, synthesis,
approach, material, membranes, model, oxidation
• Four combination of keywords was found to exist with multiple
keyword usage as 2% of population
KEYWORD SEARCH RESULTS
7
Sr. No. Keyword Individual search results
Keyword 1 Biomimicry 682
Keyword 2
Variant 1: Biologically inspired design 144
Variant 2: Bio inspired design 195
Variant 3: Bioinspired design 188
Keyword 3 Biomimetic 22381
Keyword 4
Variant 1: Bio inspiration 211
Variant 2: Bioinspiration 209
Keyword 5 Nature inspired 1934
Keyword 6
Variant 1: Learn from nature 47
Variant 2: Learning from nature 86

8. RESULTS FOR AIM I
8
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
Research articles Conference paper
27%
24%18%
10%
7%
6%
4%
4%
Research areas in biomimicry
Chemistry
Materials science
Engineering
Science Technology other topics
Physics
Computer science
Polymer science
Biochemistry molecular biology
21%
17%
16%
8%
7%
7%
6%
6%
6%
6%
Organization's research contribution
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Centre National dela Recherche Scientifique
University of California System
Max Planck Society
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
United States Department of Energy DOE
Harvard University
Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche CNR
Jilin University
Indian Institute of Technology IIT
*
* Till may, 2018

9. APPLICATIONS
9
Applications
of
biomimicry
Materials
Robotics
Medicine
Energy
Structures
Sensors and
communication
Architecture
Agriculture
Transportation
Tissue repair
Surface modification
Stiffness change
Nano materials
Winged micro airplanes
Mini hexapodal robot
Swimming robots
Humanoid locomotion
Needle design
Increase vaccine life
Drug delivery
Gecko tape in surgery
Wind turbine
Energy managing software
Jet fuel savings
Improve energy efficiency
Low weight strong material
More tough low weight
Efficient structure
Ecofriendly structure
Biochemical communication
Embedded sensor
Distributed sensing
Remote sensor
Buildings based on
2. Thigh bone
1. Termite mound
Low weight domes
Natural Polyculture
Fog harvesting
Sea water desalination
Sustainable agriculture
Crash avoidance system
Buoyant systems
Bee inspired efficient route
Kingfisher beak on train

10. TOOLS AND METHODS
Identify
the
problem
Abstract
and
biologize
the
problem
Identify
potential
biological
models
Select
biological
models
Abstract
biological
strategies
Transfer to
technology
Implement
and
evaluate
solution
MEMICDANE
IDEA-
INSPIRE
AskNature T ChartsBio Cards
Functional modelling
Systematic reverse
engineering of
biological systems
Natural language
analysis
Biological
meaningful
keywords
Ontology for
bioinspired design
Biomimicry
Taxonomy
Engineering to
biology thesaurus
BioTRIZ SAPPhIRE
A generic bioinspired design process
Support tools for bioinspired design process
Concept generation methods in bioinspired design process 10

11. • Unfamiliar tools and methods
• Introductory training
• Sources of biological models
• Providing free, online resources
• Capturing meaningful information from biological entities
• Correct analogy selection
• Difficult cross domain knowledge transfer
• Understanding and knowledge of biology and extraction
• Selecting best analogy from multiple entities
• Well-defined problem, selection criteria, correct analogy
• To make bioinspired design scalable and repeatable.
• Streamlined process supported by methods and tools
• Lack of appropriate documentation
• Detailed case studies
• Educate the would-be-designers biologically inspired design process
• Education
RESEARCH CHALLENGES
11

12. • Unfamiliarity with biology
• Thinly populated bioinspired repositories
• Transition gaps
• Methodological multimodal representation
• Logical reasoning system for verifying best analogy
• Sureshot commercialization strategy
• Unorganised tools and methods
• Effects of constraints and design fixation
RESEARCH GAPS
12

13. • Clarifies the underlining distinction among various similar words by which
‘biomimicry’ is being referred
• Researchers often use these terms interchangeably with commonly used
word is ‘biomimetic
• Literature analysis concludes that the numbers of publications in this field
are linearly increasing every year
• Publications in proceedings, however, seem to be stagnant for last 2-3 years.
• Chemistry, materials and engineering are the fields where most of the
research is going on.
• Most of this research is conducted in China, France and the US
CONCLUSION
13

14. 1. Titotto, S.: Models and prototypes of biomimetic devices to architectural purposes.SCIRES-IT, vol. 4, pp. 55-62 (2014)
2. Aziz, M.S.: Biomimicry as an approach for bio-inspired structure with the aid of computation. Alexandria Engineering Journal 55, vol. 1, pp. 707-714 (2016)
3. Lehn, J.M., Benyus, J.: Bioinspiration and biomimicry in chemistry: reverse-engineering nature. John Wiley & Sons (2012)
4. Wanieck, K., Fayemi,P.E., Shoshanah, J.: Biomimetics and its tools. Bioinspired, Biomimetic and Nanobiomaterials, pp. 1-15 (2017)
5. Lepora, N.F., Verschure, P., Prescott, T.J.: The state of the art in biomimetics. Bioinspiration & biomimetics , vol. 8, pp. 1-11 (2013)
6. Gurtu, A., Searcy, C., Jaber, M.Y.: An analysis of keywords used in the literature on green supply chain management. Management Research Review, vol. 38, pp. 166-
194 (2015)
7. Luke, E.L.: Product and technology innovation: What can biomimicry inspire? Biotechnology Advances, vol. 32, pp. 1494-1505 (2014)
8. www.asknature.org (visited on 16/05/2018)
9. Nagel, J.K.S., Nagel, R.L., Stone, R.B., McAdams, D.A.: Function-based, biologically inspired concept generation. AI EDAM, vol. 24, pp. 521-535 (2010)
10. Helms, M., Vattam, S.S., Goel, A.K.: Biologically inspired design: process and products. Design Studies, vol. 30, pp. 606-622 (2009)
11. Rowland, R.: Biomimicry step-by-step. Bioinspired, Biomimetic and Nanobiomaterials, vol. 6, pp.102-112 (2017)
12. Fayemi, P.E., Wanieck, K., Zollfrank, C., Maranzana, N., Aoussat, A.: Biomimetics: process, tools and practice. Bioinspiration & biomimetics, vol. 12, pp. 1-20 (2017)
13. Glier, M.W., McAdams, D.A., Linsey, J.S.: Concepts in biomimetic design: methods and tools to incorporate into a biomimetic design course. ASME 2011, pp. 655-660
(2011)
14. Nagel, J.K.S.: Systematic bio‐inspired design: how far along are we? Insight, vol. 19, pp. 32-35 (2016)
15. Bogatyrev, N., Bogatyreva, O.: BioTRIZ: a win-win methodology for eco-innovation. Eco-innovation and the Development of Business Models, pp. 297-314. Springer
(2014)
16. Fu, K., Moreno, D., Yang, M., Wood, K.L.: BID: an overview investigating open questions from the broader field of design-by-analogy. Jour. of Mech. Des., vol. 136,
pp. 1-18 (2014)
17. Vandevenne, D., Verhaegen,P.A., Dewulf, S., Duflou, J.R.: A scalable approach for ideation in biologically inspired design. AI EDAM, vol. 29, pp. 19-31 (2015)
18. Chakrabarti, A., Sarkar, P., Leelavathamma, B., Nataraju, B.S.: A functional representation for aiding biomimetic and artificial inspiration of new ideas. AI EDAM, vol.
19, pp.113-132 (2005)
19. Vattam, S., Wiltgen, B., Helms, M., Goel, A.K., Yen, J.: DANE: fostering creativity in and through biologically inspired design. Design Creativity 2010, pp. 115-122.
Springer, London (2011)
20. Lenau, T.A., Metze, A.L., Hesselberg, T.: Paradigms for biologically inspired design. Bioinspiration, Biomimetics, and Bioreplication, vol. 10593, pp. 1-20 (2018)
21. Goel, A.K., McAdams, D.A., Stone, R.B.: Biologically inspired design. Springer (2015)
22. Goel, A.K.: Is Biologically Inspired Invention Different? ICCC, pp. 47-54 (2015)
23. Wilson, J.: A systematic approach to bio-inspired conceptual design. Georgia Tech. (2008)
24. Vincent, J.F.V., Bogatyreva, O.A., Bogatyrev, N.R., Bowyer, A., Pahl, A.K.: Biomimetics: its practice and theory. Journal of the Royal Society Interface, vol. 3, pp.
471-482 (2006)
25. Tinsley, A., Nagel, R.L., Midha, P.A., Stone, R.B., McAdams, D.A., Shu, L.H.: Exploring the use of functional models in biomimetic conceptual design. Journal of
Mechanical Design, vol. 130, pp. 79-92 (2008)
26. Cheong, H., Chiu, I., Shu, L.H., Stone, R.B., McAdams, D.A.: Biologically meaningful keywords for functional terms of the functional basis. Jour. of Mech. Des., vol.
133 (2011)
27. Yim, S., Wilson, J.O., Rosen, D.W.: Development of an ontology for bioinspired design using description logic. International Conference on Product Lifecycle
Management (2008)
28. Hooker, G., Smith, E.: AskNature and the Biomimicry Taxonomy. Insight, vol. 19, pp. 46-49 (2016)
29. Nagel, J.K.S., Stone, R.B., McAdams, D.A.: An engineering-to-biology thesaurus for engineering design. ASME 2010, pp. 117-128 (2010)
REFERENCES
14

15. 1. Titotto, S.: Models and prototypes of biomimetic devices to architectural purposes.SCIRES-IT, vol. 4, pp. 55-62 (2014)
2. Aziz, M.S.: Biomimicry as an approach for bio-inspired structure with the aid of computation. Alexandria Engineering Journal 55, vol. 1, pp. 707-714 (2016)
3. Lehn, J.M., Benyus, J.: Bioinspiration and biomimicry in chemistry: reverse-engineering nature. John Wiley & Sons (2012)
4. Wanieck, K., Fayemi,P.E., Shoshanah, J.: Biomimetics and its tools. Bioinspired, Biomimetic and Nanobiomaterials, pp. 1-15 (2017)
5. Lepora, N.F., Verschure, P., Prescott, T.J.: The state of the art in biomimetics. Bioinspiration & biomimetics , vol. 8, pp. 1-11 (2013)
6. Gurtu, A., Searcy, C., Jaber, M.Y.: An analysis of keywords used in the literature on green supply chain management. Management Research Review, vol. 38, pp. 166-
194 (2015)
7. Luke, E.L.: Product and technology innovation: What can biomimicry inspire? Biotechnology Advances, vol. 32, pp. 1494-1505 (2014)
8. www.asknature.org (visited on 16/05/2018)
9. Nagel, J.K.S., Nagel, R.L., Stone, R.B., McAdams, D.A.: Function-based, biologically inspired concept generation. AI EDAM, vol. 24, pp. 521-535 (2010)
10. Helms, M., Vattam, S.S., Goel, A.K.: Biologically inspired design: process and products. Design Studies, vol. 30, pp. 606-622 (2009)
11. Rowland, R.: Biomimicry step-by-step. Bioinspired, Biomimetic and Nanobiomaterials, vol. 6, pp.102-112 (2017)
12. Fayemi, P.E., Wanieck, K., Zollfrank, C., Maranzana, N., Aoussat, A.: Biomimetics: process, tools and practice. Bioinspiration & biomimetics, vol. 12, pp. 1-20 (2017)
13. Glier, M.W., McAdams, D.A., Linsey, J.S.: Concepts in biomimetic design: methods and tools to incorporate into a biomimetic design course. ASME 2011, pp. 655-660
(2011)
14. Nagel, J.K.S.: Systematic bio‐inspired design: how far along are we? Insight, vol. 19, pp. 32-35 (2016)
15. Bogatyrev, N., Bogatyreva, O.: BioTRIZ: a win-win methodology for eco-innovation. Eco-innovation and the Development of Business Models, pp. 297-314. Springer
(2014)
16. Fu, K., Moreno, D., Yang, M., Wood, K.L.: BID: an overview investigating open questions from the broader field of design-by-analogy. Jour. of Mech. Des., vol. 136,
pp. 1-18 (2014)
17. Vandevenne, D., Verhaegen,P.A., Dewulf, S., Duflou, J.R.: A scalable approach for ideation in biologically inspired design. AI EDAM, vol. 29, pp. 19-31 (2015)
18. Chakrabarti, A., Sarkar, P., Leelavathamma, B., Nataraju, B.S.: A functional representation for aiding biomimetic and artificial inspiration of new ideas. AI EDAM, vol.
19, pp.113-132 (2005)
19. Vattam, S., Wiltgen, B., Helms, M., Goel, A.K., Yen, J.: DANE: fostering creativity in and through biologically inspired design. Design Creativity 2010, pp. 115-122.
Springer, London (2011)
20. Lenau, T.A., Metze, A.L., Hesselberg, T.: Paradigms for biologically inspired design. Bioinspiration, Biomimetics, and Bioreplication, vol. 10593, pp. 1-20 (2018)
21. Goel, A.K., McAdams, D.A., Stone, R.B.: Biologically inspired design. Springer (2015)
22. Goel, A.K.: Is Biologically Inspired Invention Different? ICCC, pp. 47-54 (2015)
23. Wilson, J.: A systematic approach to bio-inspired conceptual design. Georgia Tech. (2008)
24. Vincent, J.F.V., Bogatyreva, O.A., Bogatyrev, N.R., Bowyer, A., Pahl, A.K.: Biomimetics: its practice and theory. Journal of the Royal Society Interface, vol. 3, pp.
471-482 (2006)
25. Tinsley, A., Nagel, R.L., Midha, P.A., Stone, R.B., McAdams, D.A., Shu, L.H.: Exploring the use of functional models in biomimetic conceptual design. Journal of
Mechanical Design, vol. 130, pp. 79-92 (2008)
26. Cheong, H., Chiu, I., Shu, L.H., Stone, R.B., McAdams, D.A.: Biologically meaningful keywords for functional terms of the functional basis. Jour. of Mech. Des., vol.
133 (2011)
27. Yim, S., Wilson, J.O., Rosen, D.W.: Development of an ontology for bioinspired design using description logic. International Conference on Product Lifecycle
Management (2008)
28. Hooker, G., Smith, E.: AskNature and the Biomimicry Taxonomy. Insight, vol. 19, pp. 46-49 (2016)
29. Nagel, J.K.S., Stone, R.B., McAdams, D.A.: An engineering-to-biology thesaurus for engineering design. ASME 2010, pp. 117-128 (2010)
REFERENCES
15