Biomimetics for Space Engineering

Paper number

IAC-06-D3.P.03

Author

Prof. Carlo Menon, Simon Fraser University, Canada

Coauthor

Mr. Nicholas Lan, European Space Agency (ESA), The Netherlands

Year

2006

Abstract

The success of biological organisms in solving problems encountered in their environments is attributed to the process of natural selection, the rigors of this process ensuring the efficacy of the results. Biological systems represent the fruits of optimisation through trial-and-error that has been in progress over billions of years, and the 1.7 million species that have been catalogued so far can be seen as a vast resource for the inspiration of scientists and engineers. 
Biomimetics tries to extract concepts from biological systems that will allow the design of better, novel solutions, not merely imitating organisms' characteristics but distilling aspects that can be applied effectively from complex integrated systems. Problems that biological systems face are often similar to those faced by engineers. Given the effectiveness with which some of these have been overcome, biologically-inspired concepts should be seriously considered when designing new solutions.
Although humans have been being inspired by nature for a long time, this process has been on an ad hoc basis. With the continuing emergence of biomimetics as a distinct scientific discipline, the systematic search for biomimetic solutions to particular problems is an increasingly important focus. Adaptability, autonomy, miniaturisation, holistic design, reliability, robustness, self-repair, self-replication are the main traits that can be found in many biological organisms that are of particular interest in space systems design, with its particular requirements and constraints.
This paper investigates and discusses the potential advantages of an interdisciplinary and systematic biomimetic approach in the design of space systems. A critical assessment is performed and drawbacks of this new approach are highlighted to assess the realistic benefits in investing in Biomimetics for space engineering. Space applications considered include structures, materials, mechanisms, control, sensing and actuation. For each of these, solutions exhibited by nature are discussed and biomimetic engineering examples are presented and compared to traditional technological systems. Both near and far future perspectives of this promising discipline are presented and discussed. 

Abstract document

IAC-06-D3.P.03.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-06-D3.P.03.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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