Paleomimetics: A Conceptual Framework for a Biomimetic Design Inspired by Fossils and Evolutionary Processes

In biomimetic design, functional systems, principles, and processes observed in nature are used for the development of innovative technical systems. The research on functional features is often carried out without giving importance to the generative mechanism behind them: evolution. To deeply understand and evaluate the meaning of functional morphologies, integrative structures, and processes, it is imperative to not only describe, analyse, and test their behaviour, but also to understand the evolutionary history, constraints, and interactions that led to these features. The discipline of palaeontology and its approach can considerably improve the efficiency of biomimetic transfer by analogy of function; additionally, this discipline, as well as biology, can contribute to the development of new shapes, textures, structures, and functional models for productive and generative processes useful in the improvement of designs. Based on the available literature, the present review aims to exhibit the potential contribution that palaeontology can offer to biomimetic processes, integrating specific methodologies and knowledge in a typical biomimetic design approach, as well as laying the foundation for a biomimetic design inspired by extinct species and evolutionary processes: Paleomimetics. A state of the art, definition, method, and tools are provided, and fossil entities are presented as potential role models for technical transfer solutions

Paleomimetics: A Conceptual Framework for a Biomimetic Design Inspired by Fossils and Evolutionary Processes

In biomimetic design, functional systems, principles, and processes observed in nature are used for the development of innovative technical systems. The research on functional features is often carried out without giving importance to the generative mechanism behind them: evolution. To deeply understand and evaluate the meaning of functional morphologies, integrative structures, and processes, it is imperative to not only describe, analyse, and test their behaviour, but also to understand the evolutionary history, constraints, and interactions that led to these features. The discipline of palaeontology and its approach can considerably improve the efficiency of biomimetic transfer by analogy of function; additionally, this discipline, as well as biology, can contribute to the development of new shapes, textures, structures, and functional models for productive and generative processes useful in the improvement of designs. Based on the available literature, the present review aims to exhibit the potential contribution that palaeontology can offer to biomimetic processes, integrating specific methodologies and knowledge in a typical biomimetic design approach, as well as laying the foundation for a biomimetic design inspired by extinct species and evolutionary processes: Paleomimetics. A state of the art, definition, method, and tools are provided, and fossil entities are presented as potential role models for technical transfer solutions

Digital Architectural Design Inspired by and Created with Nature

Since the industrial revolution, the human world has been dominated by eco-systemically unintegrated and non-sustainable manufacturing and mass production leading to natural disasters and extinctions. However, a new perspective is now emerging: an architectural design that does not impose itself on nature but is born, inspired, and integrated with it. Over millions of years of evolution, high-performance strategies and materials have been developed in nature, providing valuable sources of inspiration. This contribution aims to provide a new vision in which the "learning from nature" approach combined with bio-based/biohybrid materials and with a coherent use of computational design and fabrication can be configured as a future direction of human design that can imitate and integrate nature through multiple dimensions. A research project is proposed: BioArch 3.8 in which bio-inspired/bio-based design and robotic fabrication are used to realize adaptive shelters for emergency contexts

Constructional design of echinoid endoskeleton: main structural components and their potential for biomimetic applications

The endoskeleton of echinoderms (Deuterostomia: Echinodermata) is of mesodermal origin and consists of cells, organic components, as well as an inorganic mineral matrix. The echinoderm skeleton forms a complex lattice-system, which represents a model structure for naturally inspired engineering in terms of construction, mechanical behaviour and functional design. The sea urchin (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) endoskeleton consists of three main structural components: test, dental apparatus and accessory appendages. Although, all parts of the echinoid skeleton consist of the same basic material, their microstructure displays a great potential in meeting several mechanical needs according to a direct and clear structure–function relationship. This versatility has allowed the echinoid skeleton to adapt to different activities such as structural support, defence, feeding, burrowing and cleaning. Although, constrained by energy and resource efficiency, many of the structures found in the echinoid skeleton are optimized in terms of functional performances. Therefore, these structures can be used as role models for bio-inspired solutions in various industrial sectors such as building constructions, robotics, biomedical and material engineering. The present review provides an overview of previous mechanical and biomimetic research on the echinoid endoskeleton, describing the current state of knowledge and providing a reference for future studies

Flexible sutures reduce bending moments in shells: from the echinoid test to tessellated shell structures

In the field of structural engineering, lightweight and resistant shell structures can be designed by efficiently integrating and optimizing form, structure and function to achieve the capability to sustain a variety of loading conditions with a reduced use of resources. Interestingly, a limitless variety of high-performance shell structures can be found in nature. Their study can lead to the acquisition of new functional solutions that can be employed to design innovative bioinspired constructions. In this framework, the present study aimed to illustrate the main results obtained in the mechanical analysis of the echinoid test in the common sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816) and to employ its principles to design lightweight shell structures. For this purpose, visual survey, photogrammetry, three-dimensional modelling, three-point bending tests and finite-element modelling were used to interpret the mechanical behaviour of the tessellated structure that characterize the echinoid test. The results achieved demonstrated that this structural topology, consisting of rigid plates joined by flexible sutures, allows for a significant reduction of bending moments. This strategy was generalized and applied to design both freeform and form-found shell structures for architecture exhibiting improved structural efficiency

Mechanical design of the echinoid test and its biomimetic potentialities

Echinoids, known as sea urchins, are invertebrates populating the seas since the late Ordovician. During their evolution, they underwent a relevant adaptive radiation leading to a variety of specialized forms and lifestyles. Most of the evolutionary success of echinoids is certainly due to the strategic employment of their endoskeleton, with particular reference to the coherent shell-structure of the test adapted to resist both biotic and abiotic stresses related to marine environments. This optimized structure, which minimizes both energy and materials employed, could also represent an ideal model for transferring functional bio-inspired solutions to building constructions and different industrial sectors. The present contribution intends to provide a short overview on the echinoid strategic morpho-functional adaptation of the test and its potential in the biomimetic field.Los equinoides, conocidos como erizos de mar, son invertebrados que pueblan los mares desde finales del Ordovícico. Durante su evolución, se sometieron a una radiación adaptativa relevante que condujo a una variedad de formas y estilos de vida especializados. La mayor parte del éxito evolutivo de los equinoides se debe sin duda al empleo estratégico de su endoesqueleto, con especial referencia a la estructura coherente de la capa de la prueba adaptada para resistir las tensiones bióticas y abióticas relacionadas con los entornos marinos. Esta estructura optimizada, que minimiza tanto la energía como los materiales empleados, también podría representar un modelo ideal para transferir soluciones funcionales bioinspiradas a construcciones de edificios y diferentes sectores industriales. La presente contribución pretende proporcionar una breve descripción de la adaptación morfofuncional estratégica equinoide de la prueba y su potencial en el campo biomimético.Equinóides, conhecidos como ouriços-do-mar, são invertebrados que povoam os mares desde o final do Ordoviciano. Durante sua evolução, eles sofreram uma radiação adaptativa relevante levando a uma variedade de formas e estilos de vida especializados. A maior parte do sucesso evolutivo dos equinoides é certamente devido ao emprego estratégico de seu endoesqueleto, com particular referência à estrutura de concha coerente do teste adaptada para resistir a estresses bióticos e abióticos relacionados a ambientes marinhos. Esta estrutura otimizada, que minimiza a energia e os materiais empregados, também pode representar um modelo ideal para a transferência de soluções funcionais bioinspiradas para construções de edifícios e diferentes setores industriais. A presente contribuição pretende fornecer uma breve visão geral sobre a adaptação morfofuncional estratégica equinoide do teste e seu potencial no campo biomimético

Temperature effects on larval growth and survival in five species of Caribbean Echinoids

Under the global change scenario, the possible effects of ocean warming were investigated on the larvae of five species of Caribbean Echinoids: Echinometra lucunter, Echinometra viridis, Clypeaster rosaceus, Tripneustes ventricosus and Lytechinus williamsi. Their thermal tolerance was evaluated rearing them for six days under different temperature regimes (26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36°C). The larval sensitivity to the treatments was evaluated on the base of survival and growth. The rearing at higher temperatures has revealed a great suffering state of the larvae by inducing both reduction of live larvae and abnormality in their development. The extent of impact of the treatments varied from species to species, evidencing different levels of thermal tolerance. Anyway, higher temperature treatments have shown a general lethal threshold at about 34°C for most of the species. As an exception, the lethal threshold of Echinometra species was 36°C, few larvae of which being still capable of survive at the temperature of 34°C. The studies have also analyzed the effect of water warming on the larvae growth in terms of size and symmetry. The results put in evidence the presence of a critical upper temperature (about 32°C) at which the larvae of all species reveal a great suffering state that translates in the reduction of size (i.e., of body, stomach and postero-dorsal arm) and abnormalities (i.e., strong difference in the lengths of the two postero-dorsal arms). As sea surface temperatures are predicted to increase of 4-5°C by 2100, the high percentage of abnormal larvae and their scarce survival observed at 32- 34°C treatments indicate that the early stages of these species could be affected by future global warming

Hybrid biomimetic design for sustainable development through multiple perspectives.

In the bio-technological era the boundary between the biological world and synthetic world is increasingly fading, as well as, the limit between different disciplines in the perspective of multidisciplinary and anti-disciplinary. Conversely, the overcoming of barriers is not to be considered as a symptom of homogenization or loss of complexity, but rather, as a paradigm, in which new forms of connection and intersection between design and science are created. In this vision, hybrid products can be generated in which nature and artifice co-exist: a change of paradigm that deeply revises the concept of environmental sustainability. This paper aims to illustrate activities, methods and results of the Hybrid Design Lab-(HDL)- Department of the Campania University "Luigi Vanvitelli"- specifically dedicated to different forms of collaboration and intersection between design and bio-sciences, specifically aimed to environmental sustainability

Il bambino con tumore tra vincoli della malattia e possibilità dello sviluppo

Il contributo propone una riflessione sulle potenzialità che la “ricerca-servizio” offre all’assessment e alla presa in carico dello sviluppo del bambino con patologia oncologica. In tal senso, viene proposto un modello di lettura della ricerca-servizio come percorso metodologico che risponde a un bisogno del contesto, che si contestualizza nei tempi e negli spazi della cure-care, che ha ricadute sulle scelte trattamentali, che ha una funzione di mediazione e che è sempre in interazione con l’intervento psicologico; una ricerca, dunque, che finisce con il facilitare la presa in carico multidisciplinare del bambino, veicolando una lettura di ogni caso di bambino affetto da tumore come condizione pediatrica, così come, finisce con il migliorare la comunicazione tra operatori e tra questi e gli utenti. Questa tipologia di ricerca allora, si identifica nei termini di un modello gestionale del rapporto tra operatori coinvolti nel processo cure-care in oncoematologia pediatrica. Viene, in tal senso, presentato un modello gestionale che ha caratterizzato e che sta caratterizzando uno specifico percorso di ricerca che vede coinvolti l’unità di ricerca in Psicologia Pediatrica del Dipartimento di Psicologia e l’U.O. di Oncoematologia pediatrica dell’A.R.N.A.S. di Palermo. Il report su questa esperienza, in corso di realizzazione, fa riferimento a tempi e azioni di un percorso che chiama in causa il “campo” costituito dalla quotidianità del processo di cure-care e che, metaforicamente, possono essere rappresentati da alcune tipologie di ponti: dal ponte autostradale al Ponte Vecchio…