Bio-Inspired Engineering

by Christopher H.M. Jenkins

More and more, the patterns and scientific principles of natural living systems are being mimicked and exploited in man-made engineered systems and products. That trend is now starting to appear in the curricula design of engineering schools. This will be the first broad-based introduction to the influence of nature and biological systems in how things are designed and made, from new design paradigms and structural systems to self-healing materialsA" and smartA" systems and robotics. Presented as a traditional textbook, with accompanying Solutions and Instructor's Manuals, it will offer both students and professionals new to the subject a window into the new world of engineering. The reader will * A general overview of the relationship between living systems and engineering and how biosystems can and do affect engineering design, from structural materials to thermal-fluid behavior to systems engineering * Applications of bio-systems to robotics and biomedical engineering * End-of-chapter problems and exercises to reinforce design concepts and expand understanding

172 pages, Hardcover

First published November 15, 2011

Reviews

[Jacob Hartzer]

Dr. Jenkins' Bio-Inspired Engineering is written as an introduction to bio-inspired design, but reads like a seminar series given over a few days. There are numerous examples, equations, and models, but the book overall does not do a good job pulling them together as a collective source for students to refer to or be inspired from. There are distracting tangents that appear out of no where, which attributes to the overall lack of flow in this book. It was good to read for the examples and a few of the methods, but one must look elsewhere for methods or inspiration that is applicable to the modern day.