Biomimetics and Orthotics Derek Jones PhD., MBA A Bridge To New Insight And Inspiration
Bio-inspired engineering Be-inspired engineering
Its Fashionable..but is it just hype
Wananga “School of life” ✤
the Sky is the Roof
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the Earth is the Floor
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all Life Forms are Teachers
A pattern to encircle, envelop and crush.. A Metaphor to Solve a Problem Encircle it. Look at it from different directions. View from different perspectives. Upside down - Back to front. Zoom in - Zoom out. Watch a Solution Grow!
What are you trying to achieve? Keep focused on the goal
Orthosis - added to the body Start with the fundamentals - What is the problem?
Static Structures Progress through new materials and methods
New Horizons Technologies that behave like muscle, control methodologies that exploit principles of biological movement - device structures like the skeleton
Dynamic Structure Actuated AFO
1) Thermoplastic AFO 2) Series-elastic actuator 3) Angle sensor 4) Capacitive force sensors
From Herr, Whitely And Childress “Cyborg Technology - Biomimetic Orthotic And Prosthetic Technology�
Some process steps ✤
Identify the limitations of current functionality
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Formulate the gaps as biological questions - How in the World?
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Search for nature’s solution - Taxonomy
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Generate some product ideas ✤
unique?
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cost-effective?
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sustainable?
Orthoses are added and yet .. involve a cost •Control Motion at a Joint or Joints -
Allowing, Resisting, Blocking •Control Positions of Body Segments Correcting and Aligning •Redirect Forces from Body Tissue Relieving, Sharing Load Cost - Cosmesis, Comfort, Encumbrance, Weight, Ease of Use
How nature meets challenges Control Motion at a joint? Control Positions of body segments ? Redirect Forces from body tissue?
www.asknature.org
Animal Quills
Prevent Buckling Axial and bending loads? Can we control joint positions under load without overt constraint?
Pea Stems
Western Pacific hexactinellid sponge
Exploring Strategy
Thin walled, dense outer shell Low density, cellular core
Grasping tendrils
Laminated Skeletal elements
Now you have your great concept! But you still have a long way to go..
The pioneer’s problem Those who go first just might get opposition from the natives
Lead with Business Strategy Support with Design As businesses adapt to meet new market needs and opportunities, strategy must lead, design must contribute. Designers must think like business people and create like artists