Bionics

A system is described here that can noninvasively control the navigation of freely behaving rat via ultrasonic, epidermal and LED photic stimulators on the back. The system receives commands from a remote host computer to deliver specified electrical stimulations to the hearing, pain and visual senses of the rat respectively. The results demonstrate that the three stimuli work in groups for the rat navigation. We can control the rat to proceed and make right and left turns with great efficiency. This experiment verified that the rat was able to reach a setting destination in the way of cable with the help of a person through the appropriate coordination of the three stimulators. The telemetry video camera mounted on the head of the rat also achieved distant image acquisition and helped to adjust its navigation path over a distance of 300 m. In a word, the non-invasive motion control navigation system is a good, stable and reliable bio-robot.

Exoskeleton robots are mechanical constructions attached to human body parts, containing actuators for influencing human motion. One important application area for exoskeletons is human motion support, for example, for disabled people, including rehabilitation training, and for force enhancement in healthy subjects. This paper surveys two exoskeleton systems developed in our laboratory. The first system is a lower-extremity exoskeleton with one actuated degree of freedom in the knee joint. This system was designed for motion support in disabled people. The second system is an exoskeleton for a human hand with 16 actuated joints, four for each finger. This hand exoskeleton will be used in rehabilitation training after hand surgeries. The application of EMG signals for motion control is presented. An overview of the design and control methods, and first experimental results for the leg exoskeleton are reported.

Green façades are proven to have a significant impact on temperature and air flow conditions at the building boundary especially during the summer. A microclimatic layer caused by a green façade decreases the energy consumption for the cooling and improves indoor climate because of lower building envelope and ventilation air temperatures. Despite innovative architectural solutions, there are some drawbacks of vertical greenery systems and bionic solutions have several advantages compared to plants. In this study, a research on heat and mass transfer in a bionic façade is presented. The bionic façade consists of bionic leaves, which are made of photovoltaic cells and evaporative matrices. The evaporative matrix decreases air temperatures in the microclimatic layer along building façade and increases the PV cell efficiency by cooling. The in-situ experiment was carried out in the summer conditions, to evaluate the cooling potential of bionic leaves, and temperature and velocity in the microclimatic layer along the façade. Results were compared with the vertical greenery system. Measurements of bionic leaves thermal response were used to establish boundary conditions in a CFD model to simulate the microclimate layer of the bionic façade. The results of the CFD simulation were compared with experimental results and good agreement was achieved. Based on the research it could be concluded that the bionic façade can provide similar temperature conditions as the green façade without several disadvantages especially due to the maintenance of green façades.

Quantum theory, complexity theory, and ecosystems theory, along with anthropogenic climate change and ecosystem collapses are confronting humanity with insights that will crucially inform the re-design of products, processes, services and institutions in order to catalyse the transition towards a sustainable human civilization. In a fundamentally interconnected and unpredictable world, where local actions have global consequences, the intentionality behind science and design needs to shift from aiming to increase prediction, control and manipulation of nature as a resource, to a transdisciplinary cooperation in the process of learning how to participate appropriately and sustainably in Nature.

Passive knee prostheses require a significant amount of additional metabolic energy to carry out a gait cycle, therefore affecting the natural human walk performance. Current active knee prostheses are still limited because they do not reply with accuracy of the natural human knee movement, and the time response is relatively large. This paper presents the design and control of a new biomimetic-controlled transfemoral knee prosthesis based on a polycentric-type mechanism. The aim was to develop a knee prosthesis able to provide additional power and to mimic with accuracy of the natural human knee movement using a stable control strategy. The design of the knee mechanism was obtained from the body-guidance kinematics synthesis based on real human walking patterns obtained from computer vision and 3D reconstruction. A biomechanical evaluation of the synthesized prosthesis was then carried out. For the activation and control of the prosthesis, an echo-control strategy was proposed and developed. In this echo-control strategy, the sound side leg is sensed and synchronized with the activation of the knee prosthesis. An experimental prototype was built and evaluated in a test rig. The results revealed that the prosthetic knee is able to mimic the biomechanics of the human knee.

This paper discusses the architectural design project "Transformation Structure Space", which was carried out at the Department of Building Construction HB2 in 2004. The goal of the study was to find innovative solutions for space system design through the application of bionic (biomimetic) approaches. Using specific research both fields as the foundation, five different architectural projects based on a scientific-technological concept were developed. The introduction of natural role models into the design process and the development of the application in space and the respective setting proved to be a difficult task within the timeframe of a design program, nonetheless all of the projects show very innovative aspects.

Regenerative medicine deals with the repair or the replacement of tissues and organs using advanced materials and methodologies. Regenerative nanomedicine uses nanoparticles containing gene transcription factors and other modulating molecules that allow reprogramming of cells in vivo as well as nanomaterials to induce selective differentiation of neural progenitor cells and to create neural-mechanical interfaces. In this article, we consider some applications of nanotechnology that may be useful for the treatment of degenerative retinal diseases, for example, use of nanoparticles for drug and gene therapy, use of nanomaterials for neural interfaces and extracellular matrix construction for cell-based therapy and neural prosthetics, and the use of bionanotechnology to re-engineer proteins and cell behavior for regenerative medicine.

In this paper, we reflect on the concept of nature that is presupposed in biomimetic approaches to technology and innovation. Because current practices of biomimicry presuppose a technological model of nature, it is questionable whether its claim of being a more ecosystem friendly approach to technology and innovation is justified. In order to maintain the potentiality of biomimicry as ecological innovation, we explore an alternative to this technological model of nature. To this end, we reflect on the materiality of natural systems and explore a natural model of nature, which is found in the responsive conativity of matter. This natural model of nature enables us to conceptualize biomimicry as conative responsiveness to the conativity of the biosphere.
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In order to achieve greater stability and structural efficiency, engineers use
nature as an inspiration for their design. Considering the level of sustainability
in biological systems, they analyze their structural behavior, browse for
compatible analogies with technical systems, abstract the observed physical
and mechanical principles, and implement these principles into the final
product. This process defines the bionic design approach. The term “bionics”
refers to the scientific discipline that addresses the transfer of properties from
biology to technology. This thesis aims to study the theoretical fundamentals
of this concept, explain its methodologies, and demonstrate its applicability in
architecture. Through the assessment of bionically built shell structures, the
different steps of the design process are illustrated, and the elements of each
analogy are evaluated on both biological and technological ends. The chosen
examples in this thesis incorporate concrete, masonry, steel, and timber
structures. Multidisciplinary literature is reviewed to deliver a thorough
explanation for each design project. Based on this research, the structural
benefits that characterize certain biological systems can be transferred into
architectural design, and improve the load bearing capacity of shell structures
in particular, using the bionic approach.

La rápida e intensiva evolución que han experimentado las tecnologías biológicas y digitales a finales del siglo XX, han producido importantes transformaciones en nuestros hábitos cotidianos y laborales.
En el campo específico de la arquitectura, se iniciaba con esto, un universo de nuevos planteos que desafían las concepciones tradicionales del diseño, dando lugar a una arquitectura con una expresión espacial germinal, fluida, en continuo proceso de cambio y de transformación hasta su concreción física final. Una arquitectura de modelos digitales producidas a través de una amplia gama de herramientas tecnológicas: modelos paramétricos, algoritmos genéticos, tecnologías CAD/CAM, que permiten optimizar los recursos de un modo lógico, más allá de la construcción gráfica o del discurso exclusivamente conceptual. Revelando el peso de lo biológico y de lo digital en la práctica del arquitecto contemporáneo.

En este ámbito, la presente investigación parte de la hipótesis de que un nuevo paradigma está surgiendo en el modo de concebir la arquitectura.

Dentro de la situación contemporánea donde los límites disciplinares parecieran ser difusos, algunos afirman que la arquitectura biodigital es la nueva vanguardia, otros que es una moda formalista pasajera que en muy poco tiempo será olvidada. Hasta qué punto constituye dicho marco un nuevo paradigma es aún un tema sometido a debate. ¿“Revolución científica” o “anomalía”? Esta dicotomía presenta un campo abierto que será objeto de esta investigación cuyos límites y consecuencias son impredecibles.

DER BLICK IN DIE NATUR: BIONIK UND BIODESIGN

Sowohl für die Kunst als auch für die Wissenschaft und Technik galt die Natur lange als Vorbild, das es nachzuahmen oder gar zu übertreffen galt. Während in der Kunst über Jahrhunderte eine exakte Nachahmung der Formen der Natur – ermöglicht durch ein genaues Studium der Natur – als höchstes Prinzip erachtet wurde, ging es Wissenschaft und Technik weniger um ein Nachbilden der Werke der Natur als vielmehr darum, zu verstehen, wie die Natur funktioniert, und im nächsten Schritt gleichsam wie diese zu verfahren. Lenkt man die Aufmerksamkeit auf aktuelle Forschungszweige wie die Bionik und das Biodesign, so scheinen diese doch höchst unterschiedlichen Zugriffsweisen auf die Natur gegenwärtig zu verschmelzen.
Der Blick in die Natur zielt dabei auf das Entdecken und Verstehen von durch evolutionäre Prozesse optimierte Verfahren der belebten Natur, die in der Folge gezielt für die Lösung technischer oder energetischer Herausforderungen in den Natur- und Ingenieurwissenschaften, aber auch der Architektur und des Designs zur Anwendung gelangen sollen. Dabei steht die Übertragung von geeigneten Struktur- und Organisationsprinzipien der belebten Natur in technische Verfahren und Prozesse sowie deren Artefakte oder architektonische Strukturen im Zentrum des Interesses.

The philosophy of biomimicry, I argue, consists of four main areas of inquiry. The first, which has already been explored by Freya Mathews (2011), concerns the “deep” question of what Nature ultimately is. The second, third, and fourth areas correspond to the three basic principles of biomimicry as laid out by Janine Benyus (1997). “Nature as model” is the poetic principle of biomimicry, for it tells us how it is that things are to be “brought forth” (poiēsis). “Nature as measure” is the ethical principle of biomimicry, for it tells us that Nature places ethical limits or standards on what it is possible for us to accomplish. And “Nature as mentor” is the epistemological principle of biomimicry, for it affirms that Nature is the ultimate source of truth, wisdom, and freedom from error. Within this overall framework, I argue that seeing Nature as physis – understood as “self-production” or “self-placing-into-the-open” – constitutes the requisite ground for the poetic, ethical, and epistemological principles of biomimicry, and that biomimicry thus conceived involves a new philosophical paradigm, which I call “enlightened naturalism”.

Nikola Tesla (1856-1943) was not only a brilliant inventor, but also a great visionary who foresaw the future problems that humanity will face: energy, food, water, pollution, death and birth issues, etc. The essay, based on Nikola Tesla's articles published in various journals (notably ''The problem of increasing human energy'', Century Magazine, 1900 , is a theoretical exploration-a mind journey through multi-layered landscape: from bio politics to medicine; from mythology to biology and beyond....

After giving a brief review of different approaches related to biomimetics, we focus on the question of the general mechanisms of problem-solving and self-building in living systems. It is possible to develop a theory of biomimetics in connection with a semiotic approach to understand the workings of living systems. In this case we concentrate on the innovative or knowledge-acquisition aspects and processes of life. This would make it possible to understand why living systems are suitable and specific to be used as models for technological modelling.The role of biomimetics in the sustainable culture is also discussed.

In this paper, hydrodynamic effects of ventral pleats covering mouth and bell parts of humpback whales are studied for the first time. In this regard, turbulent flows over a simplified model of the animal body as a half grooved ellipsoid are numerically simulated using Lam-Bremhorst low Reynolds turbulence model resolving to the wall at different angles of attack and sideslip. The results show that presence of the ventral pleats leads to formation of low speed strips and shear layer/vortex on the bottom surface of the animal, which in turn results in a relatively higher pressure region on the bell and higher drag coefficient compared to a case without grooves. In this way, pleats generate lift and contribute to buoyancy force and also increase tendency of flow separation. The results also depict superior performance of the grooved body at sideslip angles. Furthermore, results of cavitating flow simulation over the grooved model showed a suppression of lift generation contribution of the ventral grooved surface in cavitating conditions, the most similar situations to bubbly flows experienced by humpback whales in bubble net fishing environment.

Lunettes, stimulateurs cardiaques, prothèses dentaires, audioprothèses, implants mammaires, bras mécatroniques, etc. : notre monde nous plonge de plus en plus dans un univers de prothèses – l'âge venant, peu d'entre nous y échappent. Cette hybridation change nos vies et notre quotidien. Elle concerne des aspects à la fois variés et essentiels : les gestes moteurs, les perceptions, l'expression de soi, l'esthétique, l'identité, l'interface et la connexion avec le monde. Les prothèses peuvent compenser une capacité défaillante. Elles peuvent aussi apporter des capacités modifiées voire inédites. Elles transforment la relation que nous entretenons avec le monde, avec autrui et avec nous-mêmes. Certaines prothèses ne relèvent plus de la compensation mais de l'augmentation ou de la modification d'une capacité ordinaire.
Il semble ainsi bienvenu d'étudier l'abondante source de réflexions prothétiques qu'apporte la science-fiction sous toutes ses formes (roman, film, bande dessinée, design, jeu vidéo, art…) Les contributeurs et contributrices de cet ouvrage révèlent la richesse et la profondeur des explorations que la science-fiction a produites depuis plus d'un siècle. Elle nous donne à vivre une multitude d'expériences par procuration qui mêlent anticipations, rêveries, interrogations personnelles et questions sociopolitiques.
Cet ouvrage académique a bénéficié de l'évaluation d'un comité de lecture universitaire associant la société savante Stella Incognita et l'Association Académique pour les Humanités (AAH). Il est aussi le fruit d'une collaboration avec le consortium de recherche Corps et Prothèses (corps-protheses.org).

Interaction between an animal and its habitat is one of the crucial factors in the evolution process. In aquatic environments, marine species have developed some unique morphological features with hydrodynamic consequences to overcome necessity of life over the course of million years. In this paper, hydrodynamic effects of the longitudinal-dorsal ridges covering the upper-lateral sides of whale shark's body as a prominent eidonomic characteristic of these species are studied with the aid of computational fluid dynamics (CFD). In this regard, flow physics of the problem is numerically simulated at high Reynolds number, i.e. 1.4*10^7 corresponding to the swimming of a 10 meter-whale shark at its average speed, i.e. 5km / h, using Lam-Bremhorst turbulence model. The results indicate that presence of the longitudinal ridges leads to formation of streamwise vortices which delays flow separation on the body and modifies hydrodynamic characteristics of the whale shark swimming. At sideslip angles, flow simulation results show that the ridges noticeably contribute to the 'sinking feeling' of the animal. Furthermore, spectral analysis of the unsteady simulation results in start-up phase of the whale shark's tail beating in a quiescent flow environment depict that these morphological features uniformize energy content of the vortical structures originating from the tail/caudal peduncle (not caudal fin) via suppressing of its energy peaks.

Neurobionics is a science that is bordering between the health sciences, engineering and neurosciences, taking elements from these scientific disciplines, becoming a relatively new science, which has caused it to be a very little known field, even among health science professionals, however, they are still a discipli-ne that is itself a basic science, but also an applied science. The present study has used two softwares: CASP and STROBE, to conduct a survey of the forty databases of the National Institutes of Health of the United States of North America, in order to review the last ten years in relation to literature scientist on neurobionics. Six different equations were analyzed for the search and inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. The study yielded information and findings that indicate that neurobionics is an extremely promising field, both for making contributions to the health sciences and for the social sciences, given its enormous versatility and capacity to carry out transdisciplinary work, since it is in the frontier of human knowledge, to the point of forcing us to rethink the definition of what the human species is in light of the use of technologies integrated into the central nervous system.

External morphology (eidonomy) of marine creatures, developed by the evolution process over the course of millions of years, plays a crucial role in their locomotion and swimming performance. In this paper, hydrodynamic impacts of the cephalofoil tip eidonomy (tip bump) in the eye bulb region of a scalloped hammerhead shark, Sphyrna lewini, are studied with the aid of computational fluid dynamics (CFD). In this regard, two separate geometries are designed here; one corresponding to the real geometry of the hammerhead shark's cephalofoil with a tip bump (eye bulb region) and another one, a modified version with a flat tip without the aforementioned bump. Turbulent flows encountered in the problem are simulated using the Lam-Bremhorst turbulence model at different angles of attack (AoA) and a sideslip angle, at high Reynolds number, 10^6 , corresponding to the swimming of a juvenile hammerhead shark with a speed of 1 m/s. The results show that the strength (circulation) of the wing tip vortices reduces by the external geometry of the hammerhead's cephalofoil tip; in this sense, 'cephalofoil tip' with its unique morphology behaves as a winglet.

5th International Conference on Biomedical Engineering and Science (BIOEN 2022) aims to bring together researchers and practitioners from academia and industry to focus on recent systems and techniques in the broad field of Electrical Engineering.

Inspired by topology of humpback whale flippers, a meta-model is designed for wing planform design. The net is trained based on experimental data using cascade-forward artificial neural network (ANN) to investigate effects of the amplitude and wavelength of sinusoidal leading edge configurations on the wing performance. Afterwards, the trained ANN is coupled with a genetic algorithm method towards an optimum design strategy. Finally, flow physics of the problem for an optimized rectangular planform and also a real flipper geometry planform is simulated using Lam-Bremhorst low Reynolds number turbulence model with damping wall-functions resolving to the wall. Lift and drag coefficients and also details of flow are presented along with comparisons to available experimental data. Results show that the proposed strategy can be adopted with success as a fast-estimation tool for performance prediction of wing planforms with wavy leading edge at preliminary design phase.

I propose a theoretical framework that describes how avatars incorporate media as an inherent part of their nature and find a hosting body in cyborgs to navigate and spawn in media. I propose the birth of a new scion that combines avatar, medium and cyborg into a conceptual being that I call “ICEVORG.”
The ICEVORG expands beyond representation into the actual physical world by means of media transgression—more specifically, by the use of the Strange Loop also known as Metalepsis ICEVORG find an effective soil to thrive and interrogate our ideas of reality by means of iteration, expansion, fragmentation and naturalization.
The development of the framework that explains the concept of ICEVORG happens in the interstices between fiction and reality.
The ICEVORG transgresses boundaries to reach and transcend the concepts of the avatar and cyborg in order to generate meaning and pursue relevance in contemporary society.
By dissecting the ICEVORG under the light of metalepsis that I am able to elaborate a framework to explain the world of post-hyperrealism and how ICEVORGS have become agents of change. Finally, in order to construct my argument, I employ autoethnography, a research methodology that allows for a more personal voice to be included as part of the research process.

In this paper, inspired by the external morphology of a manta ray (Mobula alfredi), four chimerical wing planforms are designed to assess its gliding performance. The planforms possess an arbitrary combination of extra hydrodynamic features including tubercles at the leading edge (L.E.) and trailing edge (T.E.) inspired by humpback whale's flippers and flukes, respectively, as well as longitudinal ridges inspired by whale shark's eidonomy. In addition, another planform is designed to investigate the possible effects of manta ray's injuries (geometric deficiency) generated by predator's attacks or boat strikes on its locomotion (gliding) performance. In this regard, turbulent flow physics involved in the problem is numerically simulated at different angles of attack (AoA). High Reynolds number, 10^6, corresponding to the swimming of a juvenile manta ray at an average speed equals 1 m/s. The results show that the manta ray-inspired planform with L.E. undulations exhibits a superior performance at high AoAs than its other counterpart variants. In addition, the results demonstrate that injuries on the manta ray's body can noticeably modify hydrodynamics and, as a result corresponding hydrodynamical forces and moments acting on the swimming animal in the gliding phase.

In this paper, Lagrangian coherent structure (LCS) concept is applied to wake flows generated in the up/down-stream of a swimming nematode C. elegans in an intermediate Re number range, i.e., 250-1200. It materializes Lagrangian hidden structures depicting flow transport barriers. To pursue the goals, nematode swimming in a quiescent fluid flow environment is numerically simulated by a two-way fluid-structure interaction (FSI) approach with the aid of immersed boundary method (IBM). In this regard, incompressible Navier-Stokes equations, fully-coupled with Lagrangian deformation equations for the immersed body, are solved using IB2d code. For all simulations, nematode's body is modeled with a parametrized spring-fiber built-in case available in the computational code. Reverse von-Kármán vortex street formation and vortex shedding characteristics are studied and discussed in details via LCS approach, including grid resolution, integration time and Reynolds number effects. Results unveil presence of different flow regions with distinct fluid particle fates in the swimming animal's wake and formation of so-called 'mushroom-shaped' structures in attracting LCS identities.

The present article tries to justify the emergence of movements that have led to different organic styles with a naturalistic approach such as bionic and biomorphic architecture in contrast to modern and high-tech architecture by investigating the psychological reason behind the inclination of human beings towards post-modernism and at the same time their interest in nature.

With this project, we aim to design a robot arm. This robot arm will be controlled wirelessly through a wearable glove. This will be done via a bluetooth connection. Moreover, the use of many circuit elements they use in their own projects for beginners will be shown. Systems can be briefly you out with this project:
• Arduino use,
• Use of  bluetooth module,
• Communication between two Arduinos,
• Using Servo motor with Flex sensor data.
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In this paper, medusan swimming in a quiescent fluid flow environment is simulated via a two-way nonlinear fluid-structure interaction (FSI) technique with the aid of immersed boundary method (IBM). In this regard, incompressible Navier-Stokes equations coupled with Lagrangian interaction equations between fluid and immersed structure are solved using IB2d code. For the simulations, immersed jellyfish bell membrane is modeled in a spring fiber built-in case available in the code. Afterwards, Lagrangian coherent structures (LCS) of the flow field are extracted to capture transport barriers in the case of jellyfish swimming. These hidden structures depict formation of distinct regions in the animal wake, including starting and stopping vortices.

Background: Bionic prosthetic hands are rapidly evolving. An in-depth knowledge of this field of medicine is currently only required by a small number of individuals working in highly specialist units. However, with improving technology it is likely that the demand for and application of bionic hands will continue to increase and a wider understanding will be necessary.

La conexión entre los seres humanos y las inteligencias artificiales no es potencial ni ciencia ficción, sino que las relaciones organismos vivos–máquinas se aprecian en esta década desarrollándose a escala globalizada y mundial.
El avance tecnológico en materia de inteligencia artificial ha avanzado de forma tan rápida que los gobiernos que fomentan y financian la investigación de estas tecnologías, así como las producen se adelantan en declaraciones de principios, regulación de normas, establecimientos de derechos y obligaciones, administración de responsabilidades y advertencias de conflictos.
Por eso sostenemos que los principios éticos basados en la garantía de los derechos humanos serán base fundamental para cualquier normativa nacional, regional o mundial.

Diverses méthodes d'interfaçage Homme/Machine, se confrontent et se complètent, suivant une gradation allant du peu invasif, le contact, jusqu'au totalement invasif, la greffe. Il ressort de cette recherche comparative portant sur le recours à des dispositifs implantés actifs comme sur l'utilisation de différentes prothèses détachables (membres bioniques, interfaces haptiques, informatique pervasive et systèmes de réalité augmentée), que l'implantation d'une endoprothèse est acceptée principalement parce qu'elle est perçue comme un moyen de prolonger l'espérance de vie ou d'améliorer significativement la qualité de vie. La pose des implants informatisés s'inscrit dans le contexte de l' « Humain réparé ». Dans ce domaine, des relations étroites entre patients, médecins, constructeurs d'implants et pouvoirs publics donnent lieu à la mise en place d'un accompagnement social structurant qui permet de limiter fortement de nombreuses dérives liées à un usage inapproprié. Cependant, il s'avère que l'essentiel de l'émergence actuelle de l' « Humain augmenté » ne découle pas du recours à des implants ni à des prothèses de membres, car la diffusion de ces appareils est limitée à un très faible effectif de la population mondiale. On assiste à un déferlement d'objets informatisés détachables (comme les smartphones et les tablettes tactile, par exemple). Ces outils, diffusés massivement, sont principalement des prothèses cognitives. Un marketing, très intense, présente ces dispositifs techniques comme des objets absolument sans danger. Or, l'usage fréquent de ces appareils semble pourtant en mesure d'exercer une forme de modification subtile de l'activité cognitive et peut transformer significativement les rapports sociaux ainsi que certains processus pédagogiques essentiels. Les prothèses informatiques cognitives détachables ne sont guère implantées mais notre recours constant, et très peu socialement régulé, à ces outils (souvent des gadgets), dans une certaine mesure, nous impose une activité cognitive particulière, liée à une rythmicité induite par des automates et une habituation à l'interaction constante avec des programmes et des bases de données. Summary: The research subject addresses the social use of man/machine interfaces. This thesis investigates invasive approaches (such as electronic surgical implants) as well as non-invasive approaches (nerve impulse detection using non-implanted sensors, haptic interfaces, augmented reality devices and ubiquitous computing). Such investigation aims at understanding the clinical and anthropological issues generated by the multiplication of self-animated devices in the environment as well as in the human body. A clear point that stands out of this research is the following. Implants are not the key element in the process of " enhanced human " being which, by the way, concerns only a tiny portion of the world population. Implanted computing devices are mainly used in a strictly regulated context of " repaired human " (to keep the patients alive or to restore significantly their quality of life). It is worth mentioning that we are witnessing a surge of computer objects (such as smartphones, tablet computers...) in our social world as never before. Instances of computerized removable (detachable) prostheses are deeply pervasive nowadays. An increasing part of them can be described as cognitive prosthetics. A marketing, very intense, presents this devices as fully harmless items. However, the way we constantly recourse (without clear social regulation) to these tools (or gadgets), the common daily exposure to different kinds of computer programs, raises fundamental pedagogic questions, causes upheavals in our relationship to our surrounding environment, let alone to man's cognitive activity.

The present volume reviews and analyzes current research and likely future developments in the life sciences and how they will significantly influence the biological material available to warfighters--not as weapons systems, but as augmentation to currently available equipment. This is the "new" face of biological warfare. The editors of this volume have assembled experts in research, warfighting, and defense policy to describe biological applications from the smallest to the largest scale. In addition, they show how thinking in biological terms can improve our procurement cycle and enhance our development time and costs. Finally, no description of biotechnology would be complete without a consideration of ethical and legal issues related to such research and development. This edited book is an important contribution to the literature and nicely captures a number of ongoing military basic science research projects with long-term implications for the Department of Defense.

This paper discusses the architectural design project "Transformation Structure Space", which was carried out at the Department of Building Construction HB2 in 2004. The goal of the study was to find innovative solutions for space system design through the application of bionic (biomimetic) approaches. Using specific research both fields as the foundation, five different architectural projects based on a scientific-technological concept were developed. The introduction of natural role models into the design process and the development of the application in space and the respective setting proved to be a difficult task within the timeframe of a design program, nonetheless all of the projects show very innovative aspects.

The construction of robotic systems that can move the way humans do, with respect to agility, stability and precision, is a necessary prerequisite for the successful integration of robotic systems in human environments. We explain human-centered views on robotics, based on the three basic ingredients (1) actuation; (2) sensing; and (3) control, and formulate detailed examples thereof.