Biomimetic bio-inspired biomorph sustainable? An attempt to classify and clarify biology-derived technical developments. (24th January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Speck, Olga; Speck, David; Horn, Rafael; Gantner, Johannes; Sedlbauer, Klaus Peter
• Is Part Of: Bioinspiration & biomimetics. Volume 12:Number 1(2017:Mar.)
• Publication Date: 2017-01-24
• Subjects: sustainability -- decision tree -- descriptive/normative/emotional content -- supervised learning -- bio-inspiration -- biomimetics -- biomimicry; Biomimetics -- Periodicals; Biomedical materials -- Periodicals; Medical innovations -- Periodicals; Biomedical engineering -- Periodicals; 600
• DOI: 10.1088/1748-3190/12/1/011004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1748-3182

Abstract

Abstract: Over the last few decades, the systematic approach of knowledge transfer from biological concept generators to technical applications has received increasing attention, particularly because marketable bio-derived developments are often described as sustainable. The objective of this paper is to rationalize and refine the discussion about bio-derived developments also with respect to sustainability by taking descriptive, normative and emotional aspects into consideration. In the framework of supervised learning, a dataset of 70 biology-derived and technology-derived developments characterised by 9 different attributes together with their respective values and assigned to one of 17 classes was created. On the basis of the dataset a decision tree was generated which can be used as a straightforward classification tool to identify biology-derived and technology-derived developments. The validation of the applied learning procedure achieved an average accuracy of 90.0%. Additional extraordinary qualities of technical applications are generally discussed by means of selected biology-derived and technology-derived examples with reference to normative (contribution to sustainability) and emotional aspects (aesthetics and symbolic character). In the context of a case study from the building sector, all aspects are critically discussed.