Establishing Analogy Categories for Bio-Inspired Design
Biological systems have evolved over billions of years and cope with changing conditions through the adaptation of morphology, physiology, or behavior. Learning from these adaptations can inspire engineering innovation. Several bio-inspired design tools and methods prescribe the use of analogies, bu...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2018-11-01
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| Series: | Designs |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2411-9660/2/4/47 |
| _version_ | 1819162401801502720 |
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| author | Jacquelyn K.S. Nagel Linda Schmidt Werner Born |
| author_facet | Jacquelyn K.S. Nagel Linda Schmidt Werner Born |
| author_sort | Jacquelyn K.S. Nagel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Biological systems have evolved over billions of years and cope with changing conditions through the adaptation of morphology, physiology, or behavior. Learning from these adaptations can inspire engineering innovation. Several bio-inspired design tools and methods prescribe the use of analogies, but lack details for the identification and application of promising analogies. Further, inexperienced designers tend to have a more difficult time recognizing or creating analogies from biological systems. This paper reviews biomimicry literature to establish analogy categories as a tool for knowledge transfer between biology and engineering to aid bio-inspired design that addresses the common issues. Two studies were performed with the analogy categories. A study of commercialized products verifies the set of categories, while a controlled design study demonstrates the utility of the categories. The results of both studies offer valuable information and insights into the complexity of analogical reasoning and transfer, as well as what leads to biological inspiration versus imitation. The influence on bio-inspired design pedagogy is also discussed. The breadth of the analogy categories is sufficient to capture the knowledge transferred from biology to engineering for bio-inspired design. The analogy categories are a design method independent tool and are applicable for professional product design, research, and teaching purposes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T17:27:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-55bb953c1f6841ec9c94ffa1d0337e46 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2411-9660 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T17:27:39Z |
| publishDate | 2018-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Designs |
| spelling | doaj.art-55bb953c1f6841ec9c94ffa1d0337e462022-12-21T18:18:40ZengMDPI AGDesigns2411-96602018-11-01244710.3390/designs2040047designs2040047Establishing Analogy Categories for Bio-Inspired DesignJacquelyn K.S. Nagel0Linda Schmidt1Werner Born2Department of Engineering, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807, USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USABiological systems have evolved over billions of years and cope with changing conditions through the adaptation of morphology, physiology, or behavior. Learning from these adaptations can inspire engineering innovation. Several bio-inspired design tools and methods prescribe the use of analogies, but lack details for the identification and application of promising analogies. Further, inexperienced designers tend to have a more difficult time recognizing or creating analogies from biological systems. This paper reviews biomimicry literature to establish analogy categories as a tool for knowledge transfer between biology and engineering to aid bio-inspired design that addresses the common issues. Two studies were performed with the analogy categories. A study of commercialized products verifies the set of categories, while a controlled design study demonstrates the utility of the categories. The results of both studies offer valuable information and insights into the complexity of analogical reasoning and transfer, as well as what leads to biological inspiration versus imitation. The influence on bio-inspired design pedagogy is also discussed. The breadth of the analogy categories is sufficient to capture the knowledge transferred from biology to engineering for bio-inspired design. The analogy categories are a design method independent tool and are applicable for professional product design, research, and teaching purposes.https://www.mdpi.com/2411-9660/2/4/47bio-inspired designbiomimicryanalogyclassification |
| spellingShingle | Jacquelyn K.S. Nagel Linda Schmidt Werner Born Establishing Analogy Categories for Bio-Inspired Design Designs bio-inspired design biomimicry analogy classification |
| title | Establishing Analogy Categories for Bio-Inspired Design |
| title_full | Establishing Analogy Categories for Bio-Inspired Design |
| title_fullStr | Establishing Analogy Categories for Bio-Inspired Design |
| title_full_unstemmed | Establishing Analogy Categories for Bio-Inspired Design |
| title_short | Establishing Analogy Categories for Bio-Inspired Design |
| title_sort | establishing analogy categories for bio inspired design |
| topic | bio-inspired design biomimicry analogy classification |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2411-9660/2/4/47 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jacquelynksnagel establishinganalogycategoriesforbioinspireddesign AT lindaschmidt establishinganalogycategoriesforbioinspireddesign AT wernerborn establishinganalogycategoriesforbioinspireddesign |