Biomimicry



Biomimicry

Introduction

We can bring revolutionary changes in our society by changing the way of thinking about designing, producing, delivering and distributing goods and services. Biomimcry is a one of this kind; it can play a vital role in boosting up ones economy and saving resources. To gain the benefits from our nature we must think differently and consider the nature as a guider.

Description

What is Biomimicry

Biomimicry is relatively a new discipline, the word Biomimcry is derived from two words “bio” which means life and “mimic” which means to copy. This science is inspired from nature and involves imitating the nature's best ideas to solve problems related to humanity.Biomimicry is also called as biomimetics; it can also be defined as the study of the function and structure of biological systems considered as models for the design and engineering of materials (Biomimicry Institute 2007-2013) It is basically an innovation which is inspired from nature, various objects and processes which we use in our daily process can be made more effective by using the tools of nature for example a leaf can be examined to make a solar cell more efficient, a sea shell can be examined to minimize the heat transfer from the surroundings to the roof of a house, similarly an eagle and the whale can be studied to solve the problems related to the phenomenon like lift and drag, sand castle worm can be used to create a powerful medical adhesive for human bones.

Organizations are innovating through Biomimicry

Many organizations nowadays are innovating through biomimicry. One example of such type is Mercedes-Benz Bionic concept car, the outer design of this car was modeled after a tropical fish called yellow box fish (Ostracion Cubicus) it lives in coral reefs, the point which was inspired from this fish was its shape having less coefficient of drag and the rigidity of its exoskeleton, this car has received a drag coefficient of 0.19, fuel consumption was reduced around 20%, nitrogen oxide emissions were also reduced and this has been regarded as the aerodynamically most efficient car of such size.Another example of this kind is Whale Power Corporation; being inspired from whale, it is making innovation at the leading edges of the rotor blades of fans, compressors, turbines and pumps. A beetle inspired water harvester called the Pose is also a product of biomimicry. Sto AG is a German company has also innovated through biomimicry; lotus leaf is the source of inspiration in this case, this company has developed exterior coating with a water-repellant base to get rid of the toxic chemicals and detergents that are hazardous to the environment (Biomimicry 3.8, 2012). Air conditioning in certain buildings is inspired by termites, a building called East Gate is constructed at Harare, Zimbabwe which is inspired from termite mounds, this building uses less than 10% of the energy of a conventional building of its size and its owners have saved around $3.5 million from this air-conditioning project (M. Rasha 16 July 2012). Beckman Institute, University of Illinois is inspired ...