Biomimetics: Biologically Inspired Technologies (Bar-Cohen, Y., Ed.; 2006) [Book Review]

Various aspects of the field of biomimetics are covered in this 20-chapter, 42-contributor, 65-reviewer, single-editor textbook. The book starts with a very good overview of biomimetics and several of the applications humans have made that have parallels in nature. Among the topics covered are: sarcomere design, arrangement, and muscle function; mechanization of cognition; evolutionary robotics and open-ended design automation; genetic algorithms; robotic biomimesis of intelligent mobility, manipulation, and expression; bio-nanorobotics; biologically inspired optical systems; biological materials in engineering mechanisms; interfacing microelectronics and the human visual system; artificial support and replacement of human organs; and nastic structures. The book concludes with a summary of where the state of the art is on biomimicry and potential applications thereof. The textbook is very well referenced and reasonably well illustrated, with a 32-page color insert for the grey tone imbedded illustrations. Portions of the text could be used as introductory-level material for discussions of biomimetics' value in design. The text could possibly be used for a special topics course in biomimicry, but some parts are especially discipline-specific. The book is recommended as a reference text for many departments of biomedical, biological, and perhaps agricultural engineering.