Leftover Parts in the Biomimetic Agenda

摘要

Biological systems have proven a rich source of inspiration for engineered systems with highly desirable properties, such as distribution, decentralization, and dynamic adaptation. However, the inspiration has been selective. Certain features, such as interaction through a shared environment, are very widely imitated. Others are less frequently exploited. These include the process of speciation, courtship signals, and death. Based on twenty-five years of experience in engineering biomimetic systems for real-world applications, this paper considers the potential contributions of some of these less-used mechanisms to solving real-world problems.