Biomimetics and the Application to Devices (Preprint)

Abstract : At first glance, imitating nature via biomimetics seems to be a straightforward proposition. For example, if one is a roboticist, just add legs to the platform instead of wheels. Unfortunately, and as often the case, the devil is in the details. This short synopsis will cover biomimetic examples of material synthesis, sensing and robotics. This overview will attempt to capture some lessons learned, some surprising and unanticipated insights, and some of the potential pitfalls encountered along the way. For a more complete review, recent perspectives on combining biology with other disciplines have recently been published.