Camels and Fennec Foxes: A Case Study on Biologically Inspired Design of Sand Traction Systems

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth J. Gendreau ◽  
Andrew W. Shumaker ◽  
Eric M. Joiner ◽  
Alix C. Griffin ◽  
Chase A. Pritchett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biologically Inspired ◽  
Design Concepts ◽  
Biological Inspiration ◽  
Texture Material ◽  
New Concepts ◽  
Biologically Inspired Design ◽  
Biological Solutions

This paper presents a demonstration of how biological solutions to mobility in the desert can be used to drive new concepts for sand-traction tires. Biological inspiration is used to translate both camel hooves (shape) and Fennec Fox paw texture (material) into design concepts for tire traction that are prototyped and tested. The steps used in this are captured in a case study of bio-inspired design, with the resulting concepts compared in terms of their performance. It was found that the camel hoof inspired “concave” shaped tire improved traction that the Fennec Fox paw textured “miner’s moss” surface on tires improved traction, and that the integrated solution of the two also improved traction. The greatest improvement was seen with the Fennec Fox textured concepts. Recommendations are made for improvements to steps of bio-inspiration for ideation and future traction concepts.

A computational approach to biologically inspired design

2012 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacquelyn K.S. Nagel ◽  
Robert B. Stone
Keyword(s):  
Computational Design ◽  
Natural World ◽  
Computational Approach ◽  
Concept Generation ◽  
Biologically Inspired ◽  
Biological Inspiration ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
Innovative Solutions ◽  
Biological Domain ◽  
Biologically Inspired Design

AbstractThe natural world provides numerous cases for analogy and inspiration in engineering design. During the early stages of design, particularly during concept generation when several variants are created, biological systems can be used to inspire innovative solutions to a design problem. However, identifying and presenting the valuable knowledge from the biological domain to an engineering designer during concept generation is currently a somewhat disorganized process or requires extensive knowledge of the biological system. To circumvent the knowledge requirement problem, we developed a computational approach for discovering biological inspiration during the early stages of design that integrates with established function-based design methods. This research defines and formalizes the information identification and knowledge transfer processes that enable systematic development of biologically inspired designs. The framework that supports our computational design approach is provided along with an example of a smart flooring device to demonstrate the approach. Biologically inspired conceptual designs are presented and validated through a literature search and comparison to existing products.

scholarly journals Biologically Inspired Design and Development of a Variable Stiffness Powered Ankle-Foot Prosthesis

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Agboola-Dobson ◽  
Guowu Wei ◽  
Lei Ren
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Sagittal Plane ◽  
Frontal Plane ◽  
Variable Stiffness ◽  
Plane Motion ◽  
Biologically Inspired ◽  
Passive Rotation ◽  
Ground Conditions ◽  
Biologically Inspired Design

Recent advancements in powered lower limb prostheses have appeased several difficulties faced by lower limb amputees by using a series-elastic actuator (SEA) to provide powered sagittal plane flexion. Unfortunately, these devices are currently unable to provide both powered sagittal plane flexion and two degrees of freedom (2-DOF) at the ankle, removing the ankle’s capacity to invert/evert, thus severely limiting terrain adaption capabilities and user comfort. The developed 2-DOF ankle system in this paper allows both powered flexion in the sagittal plane and passive rotation in the frontal plane; an SEA emulates the biomechanics of the gastrocnemius and Achilles tendon for flexion while a novel universal-joint system provides the 2-DOF. Several studies were undertaken to thoroughly characterize the capabilities of the device. Under both level- and sloped-ground conditions, ankle torque and kinematic data were obtained by using force-plates and a motion capture system. The device was found to be fully capable of providing powered sagittal plane motion and torque very close to that of a biological ankle while simultaneously being able to adapt to sloped terrain by undergoing frontal plane motion, thus providing 2-DOF at the ankle. These findings demonstrate that the device presented in this paper poses radical improvements to powered prosthetic ankle-foot device (PAFD) design.

scholarly journals Beyond analogy: A model of bioinspiration for creative design

2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camila Freitas Salgueiredo ◽  
Armand Hatchuel
Keyword(s):  
Design Process ◽  
Design Theory ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Knowledge Bases ◽  
Biologically Inspired ◽  
Concept Knowledge ◽  
Bioinspired Design ◽  
Aerodynamic Properties ◽  
Biologically Inspired Design ◽  
The Impact

AbstractIs biologically inspired design only an analogical transfer from biology to engineering? Actually, nature does not always bring “hands-on” solutions that can be analogically applied in classic engineering. Then, what are the different operations that are involved in the bioinspiration process and what are the conditions allowing this process to produce a bioinspired design? In this paper, we model the whole design process in which bioinspiration is only one element. To build this model, we use a general design theory, concept–knowledge theory, because it allows one to capture analogy as well as all other knowledge changes that lead to the design of a bioinspired solution. We ground this model on well-described examples of biologically inspired designs available in the scientific literature. These examples include Flectofin®, a hingeless flapping mechanism conceived for façade shading, and WhalePower technology, the introduction of bumps on the leading edge of airfoils to improve aerodynamic properties. Our modeling disentangles the analogical aspects of the biologically inspired design process, and highlights the expansions occurring in both knowledge bases, scientific (nonbiological) and biological, as well as the impact of these expansions in the generation of new concepts (concept partitioning). This model also shows that bioinspired design requires a special form of collaboration between engineers and biologists. Contrasting with the classic one-way transfer between biology and engineering that is assumed in the literature, the concept–knowledge framework shows that these collaborations must be “mutually inspirational” because both biological and engineering knowledge expansions are needed to reach a novel solution.

A clash with volunteer tourists? An extreme case study in Guatemala

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ferdi R.M. Klaver
Keyword(s):  
Extreme Case ◽  
Host Community ◽  
Cultural Dimension ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Governmental Organization ◽  
Volunteer Organization ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
New Concepts ◽  
Volunteer Organizations

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine value change and changed consciousness with reference to three projects operated by a Guatemalan volunteer organization. Design/methodology/approach – An extreme case field study design is used. It was extreme in terms of Hofstede’s cultural dimension individualism versus collectivism. Semi-structural interviews were held with 28 staff members in local projects, 43 volunteer tourists and the Guatemalan Country Manager. Two tests to measure cultural psychological concepts were held with 151 children (M = 12.26, SD = 2.96) and the volunteer tourists (M = 25.54 years old, SD = 13.07 years). Finally, an ethnographical analysis was made through volunteering at each of the three projects for one month. Findings – All but two volunteer tourists had positive volunteer experiences. The culture clash did not influence the positive experience of each other, but neither did value exchange occur. Research limitations/implications – It is crucial for volunteer tourists to address the needs of the host community, for the volunteer organization to offer projects wherein people really are in need and for researchers, media and non-governmental organization watchers to generate more transparency at the volunteer organizations. Originality/value – This paper focuses on all stakeholders in relation to the volunteering experience. More specifically, it focuses on the cultural differences of stakeholders to examine the relative influence on volunteering. Furthermore, this paper introduces new concepts like the hidden fact and awareness change.

Biologically Inspired Design: A Macrocognitive Account

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Swaroop S. Vattam ◽  
Michael Helms ◽  
Ashok K. Goel
Keyword(s):  
Biological Sciences ◽  
Information Processing ◽  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Patterns ◽  
Information Processing Model ◽  
Biologically Inspired ◽  
Design Problems ◽  
Engineering Design Problems ◽  
Other Information ◽  
Biologically Inspired Design

Biologically inspired engineering design is an approach to design that espouses the adaptation of functions and mechanisms in biological sciences to solve engineering design problems. We have conducted an in situ study of designers engaged in biologically inspired design. Based on this study we develop here a macrocognitive information-processing model of biologically inspired design. We also compare and contrast the model with other information-processing models of analogical design such as TRIZ, case-based design, and design patterns.

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