Biomimetic Product Design is an interdisciplinary course focusing on nature-inspired innovation, engineering design, and technology transfer. Building on Professor Julian F. V. Vincent’s long-standing contributions to biomimetics, BioTRIZ, and biomimetic knowledge organization, the course addresses how structural, functional, and process principles found in biological systems can be translated into engineering design concepts and product development strategies.
The course covers the fundamentals of engineering design, biomimetic design guidelines, TRIZ/BioTRIZ, ontology-based design tools, interdisciplinary communication, and the integration of biomimetic approaches into general product development processes. It emphasizes a function-oriented design philosophy: students learn to identify engineering requirements, search for transferable principles in biological systems, and transform these principles into conceptual designs, product solutions, and technology development pathways.
A distinctive feature of the course is its critical perspective on biomimetic design. It helps students distinguish genuine biomimetic engineering, based on biological mechanisms and transferable principles, from superficial nature-inspired storytelling or marketing-oriented claims. By the end of the course, learners are expected to understand the biomimetic product design process, apply bio-inspired creativity tools, and develop systematic thinking from biological principle discovery to design abstraction, engineering implementation, and technology transfer.
This work represents a significant advancement in bionic theory, shifting the research perspective from "unit bionics" to "multi-element coupled bionics." It delves into the mechanisms and principles of how multiple factors within organisms interact synergistically.
Core Value: The book innovatively proposes the concepts of biological coupling and coupled bionics, marking an important enhancement in bionic theory and technology research from conceptual, content, and methodological standpoints. It aims to reveal the mechanisms of biological coupling more objectively and comprehensively.
Content Scope: The 12 chapters are divided into two parts. The first 6 chapters focus on the basic theory of biological coupling, such as coupling elements and generation mechanisms. The latter 6 chapters concentrate on key technologies for bionic coupling, including modeling, design, manufacturing of bioinspired functional products, and efficacy evaluation.
Academic and Practical Value: The research in this book spans multiple disciplines including mechanics, biology, and materials science. It holds significant importance for promoting the development of related disciplines like mechanical bionics and systems biology, while also providing a crucial theoretical basis and methodological guide for solving complex engineering problems.
