Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
3.5
3.4
Journals
Biomimetics
Special Issues
The Latest Progress in Bionics Research
share announcement

The Latest Progress in Bionics Research

A special issue of Biomimetics (ISSN 2313-7673).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 August 2024) | Viewed by 7919

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Giuseppe Carbone

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Mechanics, Mathematics and Management, Polytechnic University of Bari, Bari, Italy
Interests: tribology; biomimetics; viscoelastic materials; contact mechanics; adhesion
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue “The Latest Progress in Bionics Research” is focused on deepening biomimicry and bionics, and it is dedicated to research that relates to the most basic aspects of living organisms and the transfer of their properties to human applications and man-made devices. The main topics of this Special Issue include:

  • Biomimetics of Materials and Structures;
  • Biomimetic Design, Constructions, and Devices;
  • Biomimetic Surfaces and Interfaces;
  • Design and Control of Bioinspired Robotics;
  • Bioinspired Sensorics, Information Processing, and Control.

Equality and inclusion principles will be respected, as well as access to the wider and more diverse scientific community. We encourage submissions from scientists at all career stages and from all backgrounds and aim for an equal gender balance.

We look forward to receiving your contributions to this Special Issue and would like to thank you in advance for your active support.

Prof. Dr. Giuseppe Carbone
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomimetics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biomimetics of materials and structures
  • biomimetic design, constructions, and devices
  • biomimetic surfaces and interfaces
  • design and control of bioinspired robotics
  • bioinspired sensorics, information processing, and control

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

12 pages, 22317 KiB  
Article
Biomimetic Cooling: Functionalizing Biodegradable Chitosan Films with Saharan Silver Ant Microstructures
by Markus Zimmerl, Richard W. van Nieuwenhoven, Karin Whitmore, Wilfried Vetter and Ille C. Gebeshuber
Biomimetics 2024, 9(10), 630; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics9100630 - 17 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1430
Abstract
The increasing occurrence of hot summer days causes stress to both humans and animals, particularly in urban areas where temperatures can remain high, even at night. Living nature offers potential solutions that require minimal energy and material costs. For instance, the Saharan silver [...] Read more.
The increasing occurrence of hot summer days causes stress to both humans and animals, particularly in urban areas where temperatures can remain high, even at night. Living nature offers potential solutions that require minimal energy and material costs. For instance, the Saharan silver ant (Cataglyphis bombycina) can endure the desert heat by means of passive radiative cooling induced by its triangular hairs. The objective of this study is to transfer the passive radiative cooling properties of the micro- and nanostructured chitin hairs of the silver ant body to technically usable, biodegradable and bio-based materials. The potential large-scale transfer of radiative cooling properties, for example, onto building exteriors such as house facades, could decrease the need for conventional cooling and, therefore, lower the energy demand. Chitosan, a chemically altered form of chitin, has a range of medical uses but can also be processed into a paper-like film. The procedure consists of dissolving chitosan in diluted acetic acid and uniformly distributing it on a flat surface. A functional structure can then be imprinted onto this film while it is drying. This study reports the successful transfer of the microstructure-based structural colors of a compact disc (CD) onto the film. Similarly, a polyvinyl siloxane imprint of the silver ant body shall make it possible to transfer cooling functionality to technically relevant surfaces. FTIR spectroscopy measurements of the reflectance of flat and structured chitosan films allow for a qualitative assessment of the infrared emissivity. A minor decrease in reflectance in a relevant wavelength range gives an indication that it is feasible to increase the emissivity and, therefore, decrease the surface temperature purely through surface-induced functionalities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Latest Progress in Bionics Research)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

13 pages, 4803 KiB  
Article
Design and Demonstration of Hingeless Pneumatic Actuators Inspired by Plants
by Xiangli Zeng, Yingzhe Wang and Keisuke Morishima
Biomimetics 2024, 9(10), 597; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics9100597 - 1 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1063
Abstract
Soft robots have often been proposed for medical applications, creating human-friendly machines, and dedicated subject operation, and the pneumatic actuator is a representative example of such a robot. Plants, with their hingeless architecture, can take advantage of morphology to achieve a predetermined deformation. [...] Read more.
Soft robots have often been proposed for medical applications, creating human-friendly machines, and dedicated subject operation, and the pneumatic actuator is a representative example of such a robot. Plants, with their hingeless architecture, can take advantage of morphology to achieve a predetermined deformation. To improve the modes of motion, two pneumatic actuators that mimic the principles of the plants (the birds-of-paradise plant and the waterwheel plant) were designed, simulated, and tested using physical models in this study. The most common deformation pattern of the pneumatic actuator, bending deformation, was utilized and hingeless structures based on the plants were fabricated for a more complex motion of the lobes. Here, an ABP (actuator inspired by the birds-of-paradise plant) could bend its midrib downward to open the lobes, but an AWP (actuator inspired by the waterwheel plant) could bend its midrib upward to open the two lobes. In both the computational and physical models, the associated movements of the midrib and lobes could be observed and measured. As it lacks multiple parts that have to be assembled using joints, the actuator would be simpler to fabricate, have a variety of deformation modes, and be applicable in more fields. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Latest Progress in Bionics Research)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

26 pages, 20942 KiB  
Article
Aerodynamic Noise Simulation of a Super-High-Rise Building Facade with Shark-Like Grooved Skin
by Xueqiang Wang, Guangcai Wen and Yangyang Wei
Biomimetics 2024, 9(9), 570; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics9090570 - 19 Sep 2024
Viewed by 981
Abstract
The wind-driven aerodynamic noise of super-high-rise building facades not only affects the experience of use inside the building but also reduces the life cycle of building facade materials to some extent. In this paper, we are inspired by the micro-groove structure of shark [...] Read more.
The wind-driven aerodynamic noise of super-high-rise building facades not only affects the experience of use inside the building but also reduces the life cycle of building facade materials to some extent. In this paper, we are inspired by the micro-groove structure of shark skin with damping and noise reduction properties and apply bionic skin to reduce the aerodynamic noise impact of super-high-rise buildings. The aerodynamic noise performance of smooth and super-high-rise building models with bionic grooves is simulated via CFD to investigate the noise reduction performance of different bionic groove patterns, such as I-shape, ∪-shape, V-shape, and ∩-shape patterns, and their corresponding acoustic noise reduction mechanisms. This study showed that the bionic shark groove skin has a certain noise reduction effect, and the I-shaped groove has the best noise reduction effect. By applying bionic skin, the aerodynamic noise of super-high-rise buildings can be effectively reduced to improve the use experience and environmental quality of the buildings and provide a new research idea and application direction for the aerodynamic noise reduction design of building facades. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Latest Progress in Bionics Research)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

14 pages, 11147 KiB  
Article
Harmonizing Nature, Education, Engineering and Creativity: An Interdisciplinary Educational Exploration of Engineered Living Materials, Artistry and Sustainability Using Collaborative Mycelium Brick Construction
by Richard W. van Nieuwenhoven, Matthias Gabl, Ruth Mateus-Berr and Ille C. Gebeshuber
Biomimetics 2024, 9(9), 525; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics9090525 - 31 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1577
Abstract
This study presents an innovative approach to interdisciplinary education by integrating biology, engineering and art principles to foster holistic learning experiences for middle-schoolers aged 11–12. The focus lies on assembling mycelium bricks as engineered living materials, with promising applications in sustainable construction. Through [...] Read more.
This study presents an innovative approach to interdisciplinary education by integrating biology, engineering and art principles to foster holistic learning experiences for middle-schoolers aged 11–12. The focus lies on assembling mycelium bricks as engineered living materials, with promising applications in sustainable construction. Through a collaborative group task, children engage in the hands-on creation of these bricks, gaining insights into mycology, biomaterials engineering and artistic expression. The curriculum introduces fundamental concepts of mycelial growth and its potential in sustainable material development. Children actively participate in fabricating 3D forms (negative and positive) using mycelium bricks, thereby gaining practical knowledge in shaping and moulding living materials. This hands-on experience enhances their understanding of biological processes and cultivates an appreciation for sustainable design principles. The group task encourages teamwork, problem-solving and creativity as children collaboratively compose structures using mycelium bricks. Integrating art into the activity adds a creative dimension, allowing participants to explore aesthetic aspects while reinforcing the project’s interdisciplinary nature. Conversations about the material’s end-of-life and decomposition are framed within the broader context of Nature’s cycles, facilitating an understanding of sustainability. This interdisciplinary pedagogical approach provides a model for educators seeking to integrate diverse fields of knowledge into a cohesive and engaging learning experience. The study contributes to the emerging field of nature-inspired education, illustrating the potential of integrating living materials and 3D-understanding activities to nurture a holistic understanding of science, engineering and artistic expression in young learners. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Latest Progress in Bionics Research)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop