Biomimetics or biomimicry is the imitation of the models, systems, and elements of nature for the purpose of solving complex human problems. The terms “biomimetics” and “biomimicry” derived from (bios), life, and μίμησις (mīmēsis), imitation, from μιμεῖσθαι (mīmeisthai), to imitate, from μῖμος (mimos), actor. A closely related field is bionics. Living organisms have evolved well-adapted structures and materials over geological time through natural selection. Biomimetics has given rise to new technologies inspired by biological solutions at macro and nanoscale. Humans have looked at nature for answers to problems throughout our existence. Nature has solved engineering problems such as self-healing, environmental exposure tolerance and resistance, hydrophobicity, self-assembly, and harnessing solar energy.

One of the early examples of biomimicry would be the study of birds to enable human flight. Although never successful in creating a “flying machine”, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) was a keen observer of the anatomy and flight of birds, and made numerous notes and sketches on his observations and sketches of flying machines. The Wright Brothers, who succeeded in flying the first heavier-than-air aircraft in 1903, allegedly derived inspiration from observations of pigeons in flight. During the 1950s the American biophysicist and polymath Otto Schmitt developed the concept of “biomimetics”. During his doctoral research he developed the Schmitt trigger by studying the nerves in squid, attempting to engineer a device that replicated the biological system of nerve propagation. He continued to look at biophysics at that time, a view he would like to call biomimetics. In 1960 Jack E. Steele was a similar, bionics, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, where Otto Schmitt also worked. The term “bionics” is defined as “the science of systems which have some function of nature, or which represent features of natural systems or their analogues”. Schmitt stated, In 1969 Schmitt used the term “biomimetic” in the title one of his papers, and by 1974 it had found its way into Webster’s Dictionary, bionics entered the same dictionary earlier in 1960 as ” Innovation Inspired by Nature. Biomimicry is defined in the book as “new science that studies nature’s models and then imitates or takes inspiration from these designs and processes to solve human problems”. Benyus suggests looking at Nature as a “Model, Measure, and Mentor” and emphasizes sustainability as an objective of biomimicry.

Biomorphic mineralization is a technique that produces materials with morphologies and structures resembling those of natural living organisms using bio-structures as templates for mineralization. Compared to other methods of material production, biomorphic mineralization is easy, environmentally benign and economic.

Morpho butterfly wings contain microstructures that create its coloring effect through structural coloration rather than pigmentation. Incident light waves are reflected at specific wavelengths to create vibrating colors due to multilayer interference, diffraction, thin film interference, and scattering properties. The scales of these butterflies consist of microstructures such as ridges, cross-ribs, ridge-lamellae, and microribs that have been shown to be responsible for staining. The structural color has been explained to others by the interaction of a multilayer interference. The same principles behind the coloring of bubbles apply to butterfly wings. The color of butterfly wings is due to multiple instances of constructive interference from structures such as this. The photonic microstructure of butterfly wings can be replicated through biomorphic mineralization to yield similar properties. The photonic microstructures can be replicated using metal oxides or metal alkoxides such as titanium sulfate (TiSO 4), zirconium oxide (ZrO 2), and aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3). An alternative method of vapor-phase oxidation of SiH4 has been found on the surface of the microstructure. A display technology (“Mirasol”) based on the reflective properties of Morpho butterfly wings was marketed by Qualcomm in 2007. The technology uses Interferometric Modulation to reflect light in the color of the display. The photonic microstructures can be replicated using metal oxides or metal alkoxides such as titanium sulfate (TiSO 4), zirconium oxide (ZrO 2), and aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3). An alternative method of vapor-phase oxidation of SiH4 has been found on the surface of the microstructure. A display technology (“Mirasol”) based on the reflective properties of Morpho butterfly wings was marketed by Qualcomm in 2007. The technology uses Interferometric Modulation to reflect light in the color of the display. The photonic microstructures can be replicated using metal oxides or metal alkoxides such as titanium sulfate (TiSO 4), zirconium oxide (ZrO 2), and aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3). An alternative method of vapor-phase oxidation of SiH4 has been found on the surface of the microstructure. A display technology (“Mirasol”) based on the reflective properties of Morpho butterfly wings was marketed by Qualcomm in 2007. The technology uses Interferometric Modulation to reflect light in the color of the display. An alternative method of vapor-phase oxidation of SiH4 has been found on the surface of the microstructure. A display technology (“Mirasol”) based on the reflective properties of Morpho butterfly wings was marketed by Qualcomm in 2007. The technology uses Interferometric Modulation to reflect light in the color of the display. An alternative method of vapor-phase oxidation of SiH4 has been found on the surface of the microstructure. A display technology (“Mirasol”) based on the reflective properties of Morpho butterfly wings was marketed by Qualcomm in 2007. The technology uses Interferometric Modulation to reflect light in the color of the display.

Biomimetics could be applied in many fields. Because of the complexity of biological systems, the number of features that may be imitated is large. Biomimetic applications are at various stages of development of technologies that may become commercially usable to prototypes.

Researchers studied the termite’s ability to maintain constant temperature and humidity in their termite mounds in temperatures ranging from 1.5 ° C to 40 ° C (35 ° F to 104 ° F). Researchers initially scanned termite mound and created 3-D images of the mound structure, which revealed construction that could influence human building design. The Eastgate Center, a mid-rise office complex in Harare, Zimbabwe, is a 10-minute walk away. In structural engineering, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) has incorporated biomimetic features in an adaptive deployable “tensegrity” bridge. The bridge can carry out self-diagnosis and self-repair.

Practical underwater adhesion is an engineering challenge since current technology is unable to stick surface strongly underwater because of such a barrier and contaminants on surfaces. However, marine mussels can easily and easily be used under the conditions of the ocean. They use strong filaments to adhere to rocks in the inter-tidal zones of wave-swept beaches, preventing them from being swept away in strong sea currents. Mussel foot proteins attaches to the filaments to rocks, boats and practically any surface in nature including other mussels. These proteins contain a mixture of amino acid residues which have been adapted specifically for adhesive purposes. Researchers from the University of California Santa Barbara borrowed and simplified chemistry that the mussel foot uses to overcome this challenge of wet adhesion to create copolyampholytes, and one-component adhesive systems with potential for employment in nanofabrication protocols. Spider web silk is as strong as Kevlar used in bulletproof vests. Engineers could use this principle if it was possible for long-term survival, for parachute lines, suspension bridge cables, artificial ligaments for medicine, and other purposes. Other research has proposed adhesive glue from mussels, solar cells made like leaves, fabric that emulates shark skin, harvesting water from fog like a beetle, and more. Murray’s law, which in their opinion determines the optimum diameter of blood vessels, has been re-derived to provide simple equations for the pipe or tube which gives a minimum mass engineering system. Aircraft wing design and flight techniques are being inspired by birds and bats. BionicKangaroo based on the physiology and methods of locomotion of animals. Kamigami Robots, a child’s toy, mimic cockroach locomotion to run quickly and efficiently over indoor and outdoor surfaces. Nanotechnology surfaces that allow for more efficient movement through water. Treads have been inspired by the toe pads of tree frogs. The self-sharpening teeth of many animals have been copied to make better cutting tools. Protein folding has been used to control material formation for self-assembled functional nanostructures. The structural color of butterfly has been adapted to provide interferometric modulator displays and everlasting colors. New ceramics copy the properties of seashells. Polar bear has inspired the design of thermal collectors and clothing. The arrangement of leaves has been adapted for better solar power collection. The light refractive properties of the moth’s eye has been studied to reduce the reflectivity of solar panels. Self-healing materials, polymers and composite materials can be produced based on biological materials. The Bombardier beetle ‘ s powerful repellent spray inspired a Swedish company to develop a “micro mist” spray technology, which is claimed to have a low carbon impact (compared to aerosol sprays). The beetle mixes chemicals and releases its spray via a steerable nozzle at the end of its abdomen, stinging and confusing the victim. Most viruses have an outer capsule 20 to 300 nm in diameter. Virus capsules are remarkably robust and capable of withstanding temperatures as high as 60 ° C; they are stable across the pH range 2-10. Viral capsules can be used to create nanowires, nanotubes, and quantum dots. Tubular virus particles such as the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) can be used to create nanofibers and nanotubes, since both the inner and outer layers of the virus are present surfaces which can induce nucleation of crystal growth. This nanotube is a product of the production of platinum and gold using TMV as a template. Mineralized viruses have been shown to be different with other types of silicon, PbS, and CdS. A spherical plant virus called cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV) has increased when exposed to pH 6.5. Above this pH, 60 independent pores with diameters about 2 nm. The structural transition of the viral capsid can be used in Biomorphic mineralization for selective uptake and deposition of minerals by controlling the pH solution. Possible applications include the viral cage to produce uniformly shaped and quantum dot semiconductor nanoparticles through a series of pH washes. This is an alternative to the technical cage apoferritin currently used to synthesize uniform CdSe nanoparticles. Such materials could also be used for specific pH levels. Surface tension biomimetics are being researched for such technologies as hydrophobic or hydrophilic coatings and microactuators. Biomimetic materials are gaining increasing attention in the field of optics and photonics. For example, the chiral self-assembly of cellulose inspired by the Pollia condensata berry has been exploited to make optically active films. Similarly, phase-separation has been used to fabricate ultra-white scattering membranes from polymethylmethacrylate, mimicking the extraordinary properties of the Cyphochilus beetle.