People have called on nature's inspiration throughout humans' history. By observing animals, plants and natural processes, we gain insight into what works and what does not. For engineers, these observations are helpful in both the design process and inspiring new inventions using natural technologies. There are many examples of biomimicry, with one of the most well-known being Velcro^® — a product designed to behave like the cockleburs that stick to animals (and people) when they brush by the plant. For more examples, see the list below as well as the resources in the References section.

• Airplanes modeled after birds (wing and body shapes, falcon beak)
• Morphing airplane wings that change shape according to the speed and length of a flight, inspired by birds that have differently-shaped wings depending on how fast they fly
• Fish-inspired scales that easily slide over each other to enable the morphing airplane wings
• Boat hulls designed after the shapes of Fish
• Torpedoes that swim like tuna

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• Submarine and boats hull material that imitates dolphin and shark skin membranes
• Radar and sonar navigation technology and medical imaging inspired by the echo-location abilities of bats
• Swimsuit, triathlon and bobsled clothing fabric made with woven ribbing and texture to reduce drag while maintaining movement, mimics shark's skin
• Adhesives for microelectronics and space applications inspired by the powerful adhesion abilities of geckos and lizards
• Water filters designed like animal cell membranes to let certain things pass through while others are kept out
• Running shoes with technology learned from studying the mechanics of animal feet
• Super strong and waterproof silk fibers made without toxic chemicals by spiders
• Ceramics and windshields, after the mother of pearl material made by abalone mussels
• Underwater glue for slippery surfaces, as made by mussels
• Anti-reflective, anti-glare film used for flat panel displays, touch screens, lamps, and phone and PDA lenses replicates the nano-structures found in the eyes of night flying moths
• A better ice pick for mountain climbers designed after the woodpecker.
• Glow sticks made with light-up chemicals, just like fireflies
• Very efficient pumps and exhaust fans applying the spiraling geometric pattern found in nautilus sea shells, galaxies and whirlpools

• Hook and loop material (Velcro^®) inspired by cockleburs
• Solar cells inspired by plant leaves (photosynthesis, capturing energy from sunlight)
• A wind-driven planetary rover design that maximize drag, learned from the tumbleweed
• Self-cleaning exterior paint, tiles, window glass and umbrella fabric inspired by the slick leaves of the lotus flower plant and its natural ability to wash away dirt particles in the rain
• Reduced-drag propeller designs inspired by the spiral shape of kelp, which moves with the current rather than fight it, so much less energy is required to move water or ship
• Filter and clean water like a marsh

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When biomimicry is well done, it is not just imitation, but inspiration using the design principles that nature has shown to be successful. In her book, Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature, Janine Benyus suggests that biomimicry can be especially applied to the field of environmentally-friendly design. For example, she looks to the production of waterproof silk by spiders. This silk is a tougher material than Kevlar and is produced in water, at room temperature, using no high heats, petroleum oil, chemicals or pressures.

Benyus suggests looking more to nature for sustainable ways to produce quality materials and processes. She outlines nature's seven "rules" (below, source: http://www.interfacesustainability.com/mimicry.html); following them might lead to ways we could engineer more a sustainable way of life for humans.

• Nature runs on sunlight
• Nature uses only the energy it needs
• Nature fits form to function
• Nature recycles everything
• Nature rewards cooperation
• Nature banks on diversity
• Nature demands local expertise
• Nature curbs excesses from within
• Nature taps the power of limits

Biomimicry can be used as a model for engineering designs that are useful to solve human problems. With the concerns for the environment, biomimicry may offer suggestions of how industrial designs can be more sustainable and appropriate for different climates and cultures.

• Gather materials.
• Review the list of biomimicry inventions above, or if desired, research additional examples.

1. Divide the class into pairs of students.
2. Ask the pairs to list three things both students have as common interests. These interests can be anything; examples: sports equipment, music, clothes, games, furniture, cars, etc.
3. Next, have the students agree on one of those common interests for their design topic area.

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4. Tell the students they have 10 minutes to brainstorm with their partners to come up with possible ideas for designs within their interest topic using biomimicry of animals. Ask the students if they can think of any animals that remind them of their topic. What unique features do those animals have? How could they design something that uses those features? Remind students that this type of brainstorming and building on each other's ideas is an important step in engineering a new, innovative product.
5. As necessary, remind students of the brainstorming guidelines:

• No negative comments allowed.
• Encourage wild ideas.
• All ideas are recorded.
• Stay focused on topic.
• One conversation at a time.
• Build on the ideas of others.

6. Pass out paper, rulers, markers and colored pencils to the students.
7. Give the students 20 minutes to design and draw their new product that uses biomimicry. Have students be as detailed as possible. Ask them to label parts and materials in their design.
8. Once they have finished design, have each team make a list of the special features of their design and which animal(s) inspired those features.
9. Mount the drawing and design features onto a piece of construction paper.
10. If time, have students role-play engineering companies and present their biomimicry designs to the class. Post their completed designs in the classroom or school resource center to share with others.

Third-grade students show off their invention designs and prototypes inspired by nature. click for copyright

Define it! Ask the class: What is biomimicry? Break down the word to help students guess at its meaning. "Bio" means life and "mimicry" means to imitate, so, "biomimicry" means to imitate life or nature, specifically to help design products and systems for human use. Once the class has come to a consensus, ask volunteers to suggest examples.

Thinking through the Design: Ask the students to identify which feature(s) of their design are inspired by nature. If possible, have them be specific about what type of animal or plant they are mimicking and have them describe inspiration (plant or animal characteristics, etc.).

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Is It Biomimicry? Give examples of design ideas, some that are biomimicry and some that are not. Have students vote whether or not they think the designs involve biomimicry. If the design does include biomimicry, as for a volunteer to explain the natural world source of inspiration. Examples include:

• Airplane wing? (Answer: Yes, after bird wings.)
• iPod? (Answer: No)
• Sonar navigation? (Answer: Yes, after bats.)
• Computer printer? (Answer: No)
• Hard coatings for car windshields? (Answer: Yes, after abalone mussels' mother of pearl coating.)
• Hulls of submarines? (Answer: Yes, after dolphin and shark skins.)
• Soft cushion for a chair? (Answer: No)
• Solar cell? (Answer: Yes, after leaves.)
• For additional ideas, see the Procedure: Background section.

Engineering Inventors Log: Have students think about everything in the natural world (animals, plants, cycles, processes) that might inspire them to create new products. Over the next week, have them look around their environment and make journal entries of design ideas and sketches for products that an engineer might create. Let them know that engineers often think of many ideas over a long period of time before they decide on one idea to develop. Often, they keep their evolving ideas in a dated engineering or inventor's journal with details on the materials and methods they might use to produce the product.