Natural innovation: The growing discipline of biomimetics

To examine how inventors are using natural systems and structures as models for technological innovation and design.

Looks at specific cases of how nature has been used in the invention of products.

The examples show that there are vast potential advantages to be gained from the mimicry of nature ranging from new applications opening up new markets, to improvements in performance, reduced manufacturing costs, and reduced pollution. Yet, despite all the successes and the growing acceptance of the principle, transplanting natural designs into man‐made technologies is still hit‐or‐miss affair.

This paper is useful to those who are investigating biomimetics.