Biomimetics: Innovations and robotics

This paper introduces biomimetics as an emerging discipline that studies and examines nature, its models, elements, processes, systems, structures, mechanisms, etc. to take inspiration from, or emulate, nature\u27s best biological ideas in order to solve scientific and engineering problems. Biomimetics incorporates materials, concepts and techniques drawn from naturally made substances, and resembles the aspiration of biological systems in structure, mechanism and/or function. Biologically inspired approaches will create new reality with great potential. It has been utilised to advance the development of innovative robotics through the integration of bioinspired ideas and solutions into engineered systems. However, engineering such biomimetic intelligent creatures was hampered by physical limitations and technological constraint, and it is still a challenge. This paper provides the importance and underlines the potential of biomimetics as an interdisciplinary field, as well as introduces and discusses scientific ideas and directions of research activities in the field. The paper presents key development in the field of biomimetic robots. Copyright © 2011 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd