Biology doesn't waste energy - That's really smart

Julian F V Vincent; Olga Bogatyreva; Nikolaj Bogatyrev

doi:10.1117/12.682174

Biology doesn't waste energy - That's really smart

Julian F V Vincent, Olga Bogatyreva, Nikolaj Bogatyrev

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper

4 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Biology presents us with answers to design problems that we suspect would be very useful if only we could implement them successfully. We use the Russian theory of problem solving - TRIZ - in a novel way to provide a system for analysis and technology transfer. The analysis shows that whereas technology uses energy as the main means of solving technical problems, biology uses information and structure. Biology is also strongly hierarchical. The suggestion is that smart technology in hierarchical structures can help us to design much more efficient technology. TRIZ also suggests that biological design is autonomous and can be defined by the prefix "self-" with any function. This autonomy extends to the control system, so that the sensor is commonly also the actuator, resulting in simpler systems and greater reliability.

Original language	English
Pages	616801
Number of pages	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/12.682174
Publication status	Published - 2006
Event	Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering - San Diego, CA, USA United States Duration: 1 Jan 2006 → …

Conference

Conference	Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Country/Territory	USA United States
City	San Diego, CA
Period	1/01/06 → …

Keywords

Biosensors
Actuators
Control systems
Technological forecasting
Energy conservation
Problem solving
Biomimetic materials
Biotechnology

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1117/12.682174

Cite this

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title = "Biology doesn't waste energy - That's really smart",

abstract = "Biology presents us with answers to design problems that we suspect would be very useful if only we could implement them successfully. We use the Russian theory of problem solving - TRIZ - in a novel way to provide a system for analysis and technology transfer. The analysis shows that whereas technology uses energy as the main means of solving technical problems, biology uses information and structure. Biology is also strongly hierarchical. The suggestion is that smart technology in hierarchical structures can help us to design much more efficient technology. TRIZ also suggests that biological design is autonomous and can be defined by the prefix {"}self-{"} with any function. This autonomy extends to the control system, so that the sensor is commonly also the actuator, resulting in simpler systems and greater reliability.",

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year = "2006",

doi = "10.1117/12.682174",

language = "English",

pages = "616801",

note = "Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering ; Conference date: 01-01-2006",

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AU - Vincent, Julian F V

AU - Bogatyreva, Olga

AU - Bogatyrev, Nikolaj

PY - 2006

Y1 - 2006

N2 - Biology presents us with answers to design problems that we suspect would be very useful if only we could implement them successfully. We use the Russian theory of problem solving - TRIZ - in a novel way to provide a system for analysis and technology transfer. The analysis shows that whereas technology uses energy as the main means of solving technical problems, biology uses information and structure. Biology is also strongly hierarchical. The suggestion is that smart technology in hierarchical structures can help us to design much more efficient technology. TRIZ also suggests that biological design is autonomous and can be defined by the prefix "self-" with any function. This autonomy extends to the control system, so that the sensor is commonly also the actuator, resulting in simpler systems and greater reliability.

AB - Biology presents us with answers to design problems that we suspect would be very useful if only we could implement them successfully. We use the Russian theory of problem solving - TRIZ - in a novel way to provide a system for analysis and technology transfer. The analysis shows that whereas technology uses energy as the main means of solving technical problems, biology uses information and structure. Biology is also strongly hierarchical. The suggestion is that smart technology in hierarchical structures can help us to design much more efficient technology. TRIZ also suggests that biological design is autonomous and can be defined by the prefix "self-" with any function. This autonomy extends to the control system, so that the sensor is commonly also the actuator, resulting in simpler systems and greater reliability.

KW - Biosensors

KW - Actuators

KW - Control systems

KW - Technological forecasting

KW - Energy conservation

KW - Problem solving

KW - Biomimetic materials

KW - Biotechnology

U2 - 10.1117/12.682174

DO - 10.1117/12.682174

M3 - Paper

SP - 616801

T2 - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

Y2 - 1 January 2006

ER -

Biology doesn't waste energy - That's really smart

Abstract

Conference

Keywords

UN SDGs

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