BIONICS(Greek bios life + [electronics]) - a science that studies the possibilities of engineering and technical application of information-control and structural-energy principles implemented in living organisms. The emergence of B. was largely facilitated by the emergence of special requirements imposed by new fields of technology (rocket and space, aviation, medical instrument making, electronic engineering, computers, etc.) for miniature equipment and many parts that must have minimum sizes(volume), weight (mass) and energy consumption with maximum reliability. These requirements are satisfied by many principles and designs of both the whole organism and individual organs, tissues, cells, and, finally, biomolecules. Biology occupies a borderline position between the biomedical and technical sciences. The scientific basis of biology is the experimental and theoretical foundations of such sciences as physiology, especially the physiology of higher nervous activity, neuromuscular physiology, and the physiology of the sense organs; anatomy and histology, especially the morphology of the central and peripheral nervous system, pathways; biophysics, especially excitation biophysics, bioenergetics, biomechanics, as well as biochemistry, zoology, botany, general biology and cybernetics. The physical and technical scientific base of B. is technical cybernetics, molecular physics, and physics solid, radio electronics, microelectronics, mechanics, hydraulics, theory of automatic control. The term “bionics” was proposed by D. Still in 1958. The official emergence of bionics as a science dates back to the end of 1960, when the first symposium on bionics was held in Daytona (USA), which was held under the slogan: “living prototypes - the key to new technology."

Already by the beginning of 1964, only one of the problems included in the range of tasks of the new science - modeling of pattern recognition processes (see) - more than 500 works had been published.

The emergence of cybernetics is inextricably linked with the emergence of new ideas about the commonality of control processes in machines, living organisms and society, which arose in the science of control in the forties of our century and took shape as a result of the work of N. Wiener in the form of a new science of control and communication - cybernetics ( cm.). This approach had a certain significance both for technology and for medicine. and biological sciences and attracted not only engineers and mathematicians, but also biologists. As a result, two new scientific directions: 1) biocybernetics, the purpose of the cut is to study information and control processes in living organisms, using the methods of cybernetics, and 2) bionics, the purpose of the cut is to study the possibilities of using the information and energy properties of biological objects, including structures and schemes of bioinformation systems in technology, with the aim of improving existing or creating new, more advanced technical systems.

In most leading studies, the biocybernetic and bionic approaches are usually so closely related that considering each of them separately loses its meaning, and they act as inseparable parts of a certain unified process of cognition, in which the bionic approach arises as a result of certain successes of the biocybernetic approach.

In turn, the success of the biocybernetic approach, for example, the “black box” method, is often due to the bionic, i.e., structural-energy, technically meaningful formulation of the problem in terms of the implementation of the general hypotheses of cybernetics.

Main directions of bionics

The properties of biological systems (see Biological system) are of interest to technology. Firstly, in terms of borrowing information and control methods of living organisms when responding to changes environment, to develop appropriate behavioral acts in response to these changes. Secondly, in terms of borrowing the structural and mechanical properties of biol systems. Thirdly, the use of chemicals is of interest. and energy processes occurring with high efficiency in these systems. The first aspect of interest in biological systems opens up new opportunities in the research and technical implementation of new principles and devices for information processing, the creation of new elements of automation systems and computing devices; the second - in the development of new types of designs of technical devices associated with structures and mechanical movements; the third is in the development of new technological processes and chemical apparatuses. production and development of new methods for converting chemicals. energy into electrical energy.

It is known that the ability of living organisms to respond very flexibly to changes in the environment is associated with the activity of analyzers - visual, auditory, olfactory, tactile, gustatory. Many tasks are successfully solved by analyzers of living organisms, for example, reading handwritten texts and human speech perception, very fine recognition of signals that different kinds living organisms exchange with each other, etc., are still far from being solved with the help of technical devices.

One of the mysterious features of many birds, fish and sea animals is their highly advanced navigational abilities. During seasonal migrations, these animals cover enormous distances, searching with high, as yet inexplicable accuracy. old places a habitat. The principles of obtaining and processing information in their navigation “devices” are undoubtedly of interest to technology.

The passive and active analyzers (locators) found in dolphins, whales, bats, some species of birds, butterflies and other animals are very advanced. To navigate in space, bats emit short pulses of ultrasonic frequency and estimate the return time of the echo. Bat locators are so advanced that they confidently maneuver in the dark between rows of tensioned wire and other obstacles. Numerous experiments conducted with bats show that when, during the process of active locating, a mass of bats simultaneously emits “screams” (ultrasonic signals), these signals apparently do not drown out each other, and the ultrasonic noise is of considerable strength has almost no effect on their behavior. These properties of natural locators can help in solving the problem of eliminating noise signals (both natural and artificially created) when designing new types of technical locators.

Some species of fish that live in conditions of complete lack of visibility detect prey and orient themselves in space using an electrical system, which is essentially a special type of locator. The stingray creates an electric field around its body, which changes as it moves in space. Based on changes in this field, perceived by special receptors, the fish orients itself and gets the opportunity to find and pursue prey. The study of such an electrical locator will make it possible to develop new analyzing devices, for example, for protection against submarines, orienting them under water.

Some animals have the ability to sense in advance the approach of environmental changes that are dangerous to them. So, jellyfish sense the approach of a storm several hours in advance, individual species Pisces anticipate an earthquake. Studying these properties of animals will help create devices that perform similar functions.

Biological systems have a large number of different analyzer sensors - converters of the energy of external stimuli (thermal, light, mechanical) into the energy of nerve impulses. By miniature. and sensitivity, these analyzers are still far superior to their technical counterparts. Thus, organs located on the legs of some insects make it possible to detect displacements of fractions of a micron. A rattlesnake's heat receptors register a temperature change of 0.001°. In biol systems there are also sensors of a fundamentally new type, such as sensors for taste and olfactory signals that can detect single molecules. The eel's olfactory apparatus, for example, is capable of detecting the presence of single molecules of alcohol that cannot be detected by highly sensitive methods of chemical analysis.

Technical information and control systems are superior in sensitivity and often in speed to biol systems, but are inferior to the latter in size, power consumption and reliability. One neuron occupies a volume of 10 -8 -10 -7 cm 3, the volume of the human brain is only 1000 cm 3, the brain consumes power of approx. 20 W and works without breaking down, on average approx. 585 thousand hours.

The power consumed by modern computers amounts to tens of kilowatts, and the trouble-free operation of the highest quality equipment is only calculated in hundreds of hours. Even if we focus on the most advanced developments that provide a volume density of 10 3 -10 4 elements per 1 cm 3 and an energy consumption of 1 mW/element, then in this case the volume density and efficiency of biol systems will be several orders of magnitude higher. This allows us to hope for the development of new principles for further miniaturization of control system equipment and computers.

The listed properties of living organisms form the subject of research in the information-analyzing direction of bionics.

The second aspect of biology is the study of the possibilities of technical application of the structure and designs of biological systems, the study of mechanical, energetic and chemical. processes occurring in them.

In building cantilever structures mastered by man, the ratio of height to maximum diameter does not exceed 20-30, while in nature there are structures in which this ratio is significantly higher than 30 (eucalyptus trunk, palm tree, etc.).

Studying the body structures of fish and marine animals in terms of the hydrodynamic mechanisms of their movement in water can provide a lot of useful information for shipbuilding. Fish and sea animals use energy very sparingly and at the same time are capable of developing high speeds. Thus, the speed of a dolphin reaches 12-16 m/sec, the speed of flying fish is 18 m/sec (i.e. 65 km/h, which is equal to the speed of a courier train), and the speed of tuna is more than 30 m/sec.

The third important aspect of biology is the study of biochemical processes occurring in living nature from the point of view of efficiency, which can serve as a model for the development of new technological processes. In this aspect, research into the characteristics of heat and mass transfer processes and the thermodynamics of living organisms in populations and communities is just beginning. As an example, we can cite the processes of photosynthesis, the synthesis of acetic acid, the production of complete protein, the processing of wood into fats and proteins carried out by microorganisms in the intestines of termites, carried out by plants and microorganisms with high efficiency, etc. Interesting problems are also the study of the mechanisms of operation of biochemical sources of electricity; research of biochemical and bioenergetic processes in relation to the technology of processes and apparatus in chemistry. mechanical engineering.

All three considered aspects of bionics show how wide the possibilities for bionic research are.

The direction of research into information-analyzing devices of biological objects, which is developing most intensively in the present time, is in turn divided into a number of independent directions, the subject of which is:

General patterns of methods and devices for processing information in the nervous system; this includes modeling processes in a neuron, researching methods for encoding information on different levels, research of neural network models;

Information methods and devices in bioanalyzers and pattern recognition processes; This includes research into the mechanisms of receptor operation, the construction of models of various analyzer systems and the development of pattern recognition algorithms based on them, and the study of coding methods for the exchange of information between living organisms. In addition, the mechanisms of learning and adaptation, memory, ensuring reliability, compensatory functions of living organisms, as well as mechanisms that control the regeneration of organs in terms of creating self-healing technical devices are of interest to technology;

Regulatory systems that control the activities of individual autonomous subsystems of higher organisms, which represent separate homeostatic circuits, for example. circulatory system, respiratory system, oculomotor system, taking into account the features of the implemented principle of hierarchy in biol, systems that provide great opportunities for borrowing in technical developments.

It should be noted that the success of bionic research cannot be ensured by a simple mechanical transfer of schemes developed by nature into technology.

In nature one can find many examples of solutions and properties of living organisms that are completely unsatisfactory to technology. It is enough to mention only that the normal functioning of biol systems is possible within narrow limits of temperature (0-70°) and pressure (0.7-3 kg/cm 2), and the speed of the elements of the nervous system is significantly lower than the speed of the technical elements. The time required to transfer a neuron from a non-excited state to an excited one is 10 -2 -10 -1 seconds, while for technical elements it reaches 10 -7 -10 -8 seconds. Because of this, the main attention is paid to the study and mastery of the principles of operation of the elements and systems of living organisms, which will allow, through the implementation of these principles on the elements of other physical nature obtain systems that are more advanced than those created during the process of evolution in living organisms.

Bionics research methods. The basis of most bionic and biocybernetic research, especially in the information direction, is the modeling method. The term “model in bionics” is often interpreted very broadly - from physical. a device that reproduces the functions of a modeled object and a mathematical model (or a computer program), up to the sum of logical representations that describe the object, i.e., an agreed system of facts and hypotheses about the essence of the system being studied (see Modeling).

Modeling of the mechanisms of work of certain departments of biol, the system is usually divided into stages: at the first stage, the study, systematization and comparison of existing physiol, data - results of morphol., electrophysiol are carried out. and psychophysiol, research and obtaining, if necessary, new data about the object. At the second stage, the development, based on the analysis of physiol, data of a cybernetic hypothesis about the work of the studied biol, system, i.e. such a hypothesis, includes a wide range of technical and mathematical information used modern science about management; finally, at the last stage, the developed hypothesis is tested, which can be done in two directions: firstly, through calculations on computers, physical or mathematical, and secondly, checking the compliance of the hypothesis with objective reality through physiol. experiment.

Modeling of biol, systems in cybernetics and biology can be carried out using various methods. In the generalized methods of cybernetics, which are important for biology, the task is to obtain an algorithm that describes the operation of the modeled object, and the structure of the model is not required to be similar to the structure of the object. This method is a functional modeling method, or a “black box” method. The functional modeling method is based on psychophysiological and behavioral data about the object. In relation to biological problems, the “black box” method allows one to obtain a number of important data that allows one to choose one or another biol, the principle of constructing a technical system (discrete, analog). Another discrete-structural method, no less important for biology, models the principles and essence of the information-controlling neural mechanisms of a particular part of the brain. In this case, it is necessary to clarify both the discrete structure of the modeled object and the nature of the relationships between its elements (sets). Unlike the first method, this method uses a complex of fiziol, data obtained by psychophysiologists, morphologists and electrophysiologists.

Main results of bionics

One of the first results of B., introduced into technology in the field of borrowing the principles of bioanalyzers, was the development of the gyrotron - a device used instead of a gyroscope to stabilize aircraft. A study of some insects (butterflies, beetles) showed that they have club-shaped antennae that oscillate in a horizontal plane during flight. When the insect's body deviates, the ends of the antennae continue to oscillate in the same plane, which causes mechanical stress at the base of the antennae, affecting the nerve cells located here. Signals from them nerve fibers enter the central parts of the nervous system, which produce appropriate response signals to control the organs of the insect’s body that restore correct position him in flight. The operating principle of this bioanalyzer is used in a technical device - a gyrotron, which is a tuning fork, the legs of which are set into oscillatory motion by an electromagnet powered by alternating current. When the holder on which the tuning fork is mounted is rotated, a mechanical moment occurs at the base of the legs. The sensor responding to it sends a signal proportional to the angle of rotation of the holder. Gyrotrons are used in aircraft; further work is underway to improve them: increase sensitivity, service life, and reduce dimensions.

Another example is the construction of a ground speed meter for an airplane using the principle of the compound eye of insects (bees). The device consists of receivers located at the base of two tubes separated at a given angle in the vertical plane. To determine the speed of the aircraft relative to the ground, a fixation is made certain point earth's surface first in one, then in another receiver. Knowing the time interval between the appearance of the selected point in the first and second receivers and the altitude of the aircraft above the ground, it is easy to determine the speed.

Observations of the behavior of bees allowed us to put forward a hypothesis about the orientation of some species of birds and insects by the polarized radiation of the sun, using the fact that light rays coming from the sun are polarized differently when the sun is located at different heights above the horizon. These studies led to the creation of a solar compass, which makes it possible to navigate by the sun in the presence of clouds. A number of devices necessary for homing and location devices were proposed as a result of studying the mechanisms of functioning of the frog's eye. Based on a study of the properties of some marine organisms to capture infrasounds, instruments were built to signal the approach of a storm.

Structural and energy principles borrowed from biological objects have also found application in technology. Thus, the use of cetacean contour shapes for the construction of ships made it possible to obtain a gain in the power of power plants of up to 40%. Another example is the way penguins travel on snow, which is used to build a new all-terrain vehicle for the polar regions.

An interesting result is an attempt to use certain types of microorganisms to create electrical current sources.

The most significant results of the information direction of biology consist, firstly, in the development of models of single nerve cells, models of sections of neural networks and entire sections of the nervous system - analyzers and, secondly, in the development, based on these models, of learning machines and algorithms for pattern recognition . Several hundred neuron models have been developed, varying in the number and complexity of reproducible neuron properties. Some developments are essentially complex adaptive elements of a new type, created on the basis of ideas about a neuron, and are intended to create recognizing learning devices. The successes achieved in the development of models of the analyzing parts of the brain are associated with the formulation of the principle of lateral inhibitory interaction, known in physiology, between the elements of the projection parts of the nervous system and the development of the theory of detectors as the main mechanism of operation of the analyzers. According to this theory, the process of perceiving a particular stimulus is the result of identifying some simple features of this stimulus through a set of specially organized ensembles of neurons - detectors. For example, when analyzing a visual image, detectors of the boundary of dark and light areas, curvature detectors, detectors of straight lines of a certain direction, detectors of the intersection of straight lines, etc. were discovered. In the course of evolution in animals, the functions of detectors become more complex, motion detectors with a certain speed, detectors movement in a certain direction. Based on the theory of detectors, model ideas about the operation of visual and auditory analyzers have been developed, explaining a number of properties of auditory and visual perception.

Recognition and learning devices created on the basis of bionic research are, of course, still very imperfect, and their creation should be considered as the first steps in this area. Nevertheless, devices have already been created to recognize the simplest pictures, to recognize a limited set of words (about 300), adaptive autopilots and self-adjusting filters have been developed to highlight the signal against the background noise. free form. The creation of perfect learning recognition devices will have great importance not only for technology, but also for biology and medicine, and especially for medical technology, biotelemetry, biophysics.

Such devices will find application in cytology, histology, microbiology, radiology and other areas of biology and medicine.

In the mid-70s, in connection with the development of laser technology (see Optical quantum generator) and the development of holography (see), there was a revision of the role of cybernetics and biology in the development of technical information-analyzing systems.

Research institutions where research on bionics is carried out: USSR - state universities: Dnepropetrovsk, Vilnius, Rostov, Leningrad, Moscow; institutes of biophysics (Moscow), control problems (Moscow), brain (Moscow), radio electronics (Kharkov), cybernetics (Kyiv), automation and electrometry of the Siberian Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences; USA - universities: Stanford, Harvard, Columbia, Illinois, California; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; England - universities: Birmingham, Celtic, Cambridge; Germany - Max Planck Institute; GDR - Higher Technical School (Ilmenau), Institute of Cybernetics and Information Processes; Poland - Institute of Applied Cybernetics, Polytechnic Institute (Warsaw); Bulgaria - Institute of Technical Cybernetics; Czechoslovakia - Institute of Information Theory and Automation. Work on biochemistry is discussed at regularly convened conferences. In the USSR the following are held: All-Union conferences on bionics (Moscow), All-Union conferences on neurocybernetics (Rostov-on-Don); in the USA: national symposiums on bionics; in Germany: congresses on cybernetics; international congresses: on cybernetics (Namur), medical cybernetics (Amsterdam), on biocybernetics (Leipzig), on automatic control (IFAC).

There are no generally accepted educational programs for training specialists in the field of biology, but a number of universities and higher education institutions organize special courses and conduct student research work. These include Dnepropetrovsk, Vilnius, Rostov, Leningrad, Moscow universities; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 1st Moscow medical school, Leningrad Polytechnic Institute.

Bibliography: Bionics, ed. A. I. Berga et al., M., 1965; Bionics, Bibliographic index of domestic and foreign literature 1958 - 1968, comp. T. N. Anisimova, M., 1971; Bongard M. M. Problem of recognition, M., 1967; Wiener N. Cybernetics and society, trans. from English, M., 1958; Glezer V. D. Recognition mechanisms visual images, M.-L., 1966, bibliogr.; Deitch S. Models of the nervous system, trans. from English, M., 1970, bibliogr.; Gerardin L. Bionics, trans. from French, M., 1971; Mil-sum D. Analysis of biological control systems, trans. from English, M., 1968, bibliogr.; Pozin N.V. Modeling of neural structures, M., 1970, bibliogr.

I. A. Lyubinsky.

On the application in technical devices and systems of the principles of organization, properties, functions and structures of living nature, that is, the forms of living things in nature and their industrial analogues.

There are:

• biological bionics, which studies processes occurring in biological systems;
• theoretical bionics, which builds mathematical models of these processes;
• technical bionics using models theoretical bionics for solving engineering problems.

see also

Literature

• Modeling in biology, trans. from English, ed. N. A. Bernstein, M., 1963.
• Parin V.V. and Baevsky R.M., Cybernetics in medicine and physiology, M., 1963.
• Bionics issues. Sat. art., rep. ed. M. G. Gaase-Rapoport, M., 1967.
• Martek V., Bionics, trans. from English, M., 1967.
• Kreizmer L.P., Sochivko V.P., Bionics, 2nd ed., M., 1968.
• Braines S. N., Svechinsky V. B., Problems of neurocybernetics and neurobionics, M., 1968.
• Bibliographic index on bionics, M., 1965.
• Ignatiev M. B. “Artonics” Article in the reference dictionary " System analysis and decision making" ed. graduate School, M., 2004.
• Muller, T., Biomimetics: National Geographic Russia, May 2008, p. 112-135.
• Lakhmi C. Jain; N.M. Martin Fusion of Neural Networks, Fuzzy Systems and Genetic Algorithms: Industrial Applications. - CRC Press, CRC Press LLC, 1998
• Emelyanov V.V., Kureichik V.V., Kureichik V.N. Theory and practice of evolutionary modeling. - M: Fizmatlit, 2003.
• Architectural bionics. Edited by Yu. S. Lebedev.-M.: Stroyizdat, 1990. 269 p.
• G. V. Vasilkov. Evolutionary theory life cycle mechanical systems. Theory of structures. - M. LKI Publishing House, 2008. 320 p.

Notes

Links

Wikimedia Foundation.

2010.:

• Synonyms
• Schwartz, Alexander Lvovich

Russian Open Business Games Championship

BIONICS See what “Bionics” is in other dictionaries:

BIONICS- [Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language - [from bio... and (electronics)], a science that studies living organisms in order to use the results of knowledge of the mechanisms of their functioning in the design of machines and the creation of new technical systems. For example, bionics data obtained from... ...

Ecological dictionary- Etymology. Comes from the Greek. bio life. Category. Scientific discipline. Specificity. Studies the principles of functioning of living systems for use in the field of engineering practice. It began its formation in the 60s. XX century The main method... ... Great psychological encyclopedia

BIONICS- BIONICS, direction in biology and cybernetics; studies the structural features and vital functions of organisms in order to create new devices, mechanisms, systems and improve existing ones. Formed in the 2nd half of the 20th century. For solutions… … Modern encyclopedia

On the application in technical devices and systems of the principles of organization, properties, functions and structures of living nature, that is, the forms of living things in nature and their industrial analogues.

There are:

• biological bionics, which studies processes occurring in biological systems;
• theoretical bionics, which builds mathematical models of these processes;
• technical bionics, which applies models of theoretical bionics to solve engineering problems.

see also

Literature

• Modeling in biology, trans. from English, ed. N. A. Bernstein, M., 1963.
• Parin V.V. and Baevsky R.M., Cybernetics in medicine and physiology, M., 1963.
• Bionics issues. Sat. art., rep. ed. M. G. Gaase-Rapoport, M., 1967.
• Martek V., Bionics, trans. from English, M., 1967.
• Kreizmer L.P., Sochivko V.P., Bionics, 2nd ed., M., 1968.
• Braines S. N., Svechinsky V. B., Problems of neurocybernetics and neurobionics, M., 1968.
• Bibliographic index on bionics, M., 1965.
• Ignatiev M. B. “Artonics” Article in the dictionary-reference book “System analysis and decision making” ed. Higher School, M., 2004.
• Muller, T., Biomimetics: National Geographic Russia, May 2008, p. 112-135.
• Lakhmi C. Jain; N.M. Martin Fusion of Neural Networks, Fuzzy Systems and Genetic Algorithms: Industrial Applications. - CRC Press, CRC Press LLC, 1998
• Emelyanov V.V., Kureichik V.V., Kureichik V.N. Theory and practice of evolutionary modeling. - M: Fizmatlit, 2003.
• Architectural bionics. Edited by Yu. S. Lebedev.-M.: Stroyizdat, 1990. 269 p.
• G. V. Vasilkov. Evolutionary theory of the life cycle of mechanical systems. Theory of structures. - M. Publishing house LKI, 2008. 320 p.

Notes

Links

Wikimedia Foundation.

2010.:

Russian Open Business Games Championship

See what “Bionics” is in other dictionaries:

- [Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language - [from bio... and (electronics)], a science that studies living organisms in order to use the results of knowledge of the mechanisms of their functioning in the design of machines and the creation of new technical systems. For example, bionics data obtained from... ...

Ecological dictionary- Etymology. Comes from the Greek. bio life. Category. Scientific discipline. Specificity. Studies the principles of functioning of living systems for use in the field of engineering practice. It began its formation in the 60s. XX century The main method... ... Great psychological encyclopedia

BIONICS, direction in biology and cybernetics; studies the structural features and vital functions of organisms in order to create new devices, mechanisms, systems and improve existing ones. Formed in the 2nd half of the 20th century. For solutions… … Modern encyclopedia

Bionics is a science that studies living nature with the aim of using the acquired knowledge in practical human activities. Problems of bionics: studying the patterns of structure and function individual parts living organisms (nervous system, analyzers, wings, skin) with the aim of creating on this basis a new type of computer, locator, aircraft, swimming apparatus, etc.; studying bioenergetics to create fuel-efficient muscle-like engines; research into the processes of biosynthesis of substances with the aim of developing relevant branches of chemistry. Bionics is closely related to technical (electronics, communications, maritime affairs, etc.) and natural science (medicine) disciplines, as well as cybernetics (see).

Bionics (English bionics, from bion - living creature, organism; Greek Bioo - live) is a science that studies living nature with the aim of using the acquired knowledge in practical human activities.

The term bionics first appeared in 1960, when specialists from various fields gathered at a symposium in Daytona (USA) put forward the slogan: “Living prototypes are the key to new technology.” Bionics was a kind of bridge that connected biology with mathematics, physics, chemistry and technology. One of the most important goals of bionics is to establish analogies between the physicochemical and information processes found in technology and the corresponding processes in living nature. A bionics specialist is attracted by the variety of “technical ideas” developed by living nature over many millions of years of evolution. A special place among the tasks of bionics is occupied by the development and construction of control and communication systems based on the use of knowledge from biology. This is bionics in the narrow sense of the word. Bionics is important for cybernetics, radio electronics, aeronautics, biology, medicine, chemistry, materials science, construction and architecture, etc. The tasks of bionics also include the development of biological methods of mining, technologies for the production of complex substances of organic chemistry, building materials and coatings that it uses Live nature. Bionics teaches the art of rational copying of living nature, finding technical conditions for the appropriate use of biological objects, processes and phenomena.

One of the possible ways here is functional (mathematical or software) modeling, which consists in studying the structural diagram of the process, the functions of the object, the numerical characteristics of these functions, their purpose and changes over time. This approach makes it possible to study the process of interest using mathematical means, and to carry out the technical implementation of the model when its effectiveness has been established in principle and it remains to check the economic, energy and other possibilities for constructing this kind of model with the existing ones. technical means. There is another way - physical and chemical modeling, when a specialist in the field of bionics studies biochemical and biophysical processes in order to study the principles of transformation (including decomposition and synthesis) of substances occurring in a living organism. This path is most closely related to chemical-technological issues and opens up new opportunities in the development of energy and polymer chemistry. The third approach developed by bionics is the direct use of living systems and biological mechanisms in technical systems. This approach is usually called the inverse modeling method, since in this case a bionic specialist seeks the possibilities and conditions for adapting living systems to solve purely engineering problems, in other words, he tries to simulate a technical device or process on a biological object. Emerging in response to requests from practice, bionics served as the beginning of research based on the application of biological knowledge in all areas of technology. Its main result is to establish the first ways for the ever-increasing technical mastery of biology.

The slogan of bionics is: “Nature knows best.” What kind of science is this? The name itself and this motto make us understand that bionics is connected with nature. Many of us encounter elements and results of the science of bionics every day without even knowing it.

Have you heard of such a science as bionics?

Biology is a popular knowledge that we are introduced to at school. For some reason, many people believe that bionics is one of the subfields of biology. In fact, this statement is not entirely accurate. Indeed, in the narrow sense of the word, bionics is a science that studies living organisms. But most often we are accustomed to associate something else with this teaching. Applied bionics is a science that combines biology and technology.

Subject and object of bionic research

What does bionics study? To answer this question, we need to consider the structural division of the teaching itself.

Biological bionics explores nature as it is, without attempting to interfere. The object of its study is the processes occurring inside biological systems.

Theoretical bionics deals with the study of those principles that have been noticed in nature, and on their basis creates a theoretical model, which is subsequently used in technology.

Practical (technical) bionics is the application of theoretical models in practice. So to speak, the practical introduction of nature into the technical world.

Where did it all start?

The great Leonardo da Vinci is called the father of bionics. In the notes of this genius one can find the first attempts at the technical implementation of natural mechanisms. Da Vinci's drawings illustrate his desire to create an aircraft capable of moving its wings, like a bird flying. At one time, such ideas were too daring to become popular. They attracted attention much later.

The first person to apply the principles of bionics in architecture was Antoni Gaudí i Cournet. His name is firmly imprinted in the history of this science. Architectural structures according to the designs of the great Gaudi, they were impressive at the time of their construction, and they evoke the same delight many years later among modern observers.

The next person to support the idea of ​​the symbiosis of nature and technology was Under his leadership, the widespread use of bionic principles in building design began.

Bionics was established as an independent science only in 1960. scientific symposium in Daytona.

The development of computer technology and mathematical modeling allows modern architects to implement nature’s cues in architecture and other industries much faster and with greater accuracy.

Natural prototypes of technical inventions

The most simple example A manifestation of the science of bionics is the invention of hinges. The fastening is familiar to everyone, based on the principle of rotation of one part of the structure around another. This principle is used by seashells in order to control their two valves and open or close them as needed. Pacific giant heartfish reach sizes of 15-20 cm. The hinged principle in connecting their shells is clearly visible to the naked eye. Small representatives of this species use the same method of fixing the valves.

In everyday life, we often use a variety of tweezers. The sharp and pincer-shaped beak of the godwit becomes a natural analogue of such a device. These birds use a thin beak, sticking it into soft soil and taking out small beetles, worms, etc.

Many modern devices and devices are equipped with suction cups. For example, they are used to improve the design of the legs of various kitchen appliances to prevent them from slipping during operation. Suction cups are also used to equip the special shoes of window cleaners in high-rise buildings to ensure their safe fixation. This simple device is also borrowed from nature. The tree frog, having suction cups on its legs, stays unusually deftly on the smooth and slippery leaves of plants, and the octopus needs them for close contact with its victims.

You can find many such examples. Bionics is precisely the science that helps a person borrow from nature technical solutions for your inventions.

Who comes first - nature or people?

Sometimes it happens that one or another invention of mankind has long been “patented” by nature. That is, inventors, when creating something, do not copy, but come up with a technology or operating principle themselves, and later it turns out that it has existed in nature for a long time, and one could simply spy on it and adopt it.

This happened with the usual Velcro fastener, which is used by a person to fasten clothes. It has been proven that hooks, similar to those found on Velcro, are also used to connect thin barbs together.

The structure of factory chimneys is similar to the hollow stems of cereals. The longitudinal reinforcement used in pipes is similar to the sclerenchyma strands in the stem. Steel stiffening rings - interstices. The thin skin on the outside of the stem is an analogue of spiral reinforcement in the structure of pipes. Despite the colossal similarity of structure, scientists independently invented just such a method for constructing factory pipes, and only later saw the identity of such a structure with natural elements.

Bionics and medicine

The use of bionics in medicine makes it possible to save the lives of many patients. Without stopping, work is underway to create artificial organs capable of functioning in symbiosis with the human body.

Dane Dennis Aabo was the first to test it. He lost half his arm, but now has the ability to perceive objects by touch with the help of a medical invention. His prosthesis is connected to the nerve endings of the injured limb. Artificial finger sensors are capable of collecting information about touching objects and transmitting it to the brain. Design on this moment has not yet been finalized, it is very cumbersome, which makes it difficult to use in everyday life, but now we can call such technology a real discovery.

All studies in in this direction are completely based on copying natural processes and mechanisms and their technical implementation. This is medical bionics. Reviews from scientists say that their work will soon make it possible to replace worn-out living human organs and use mechanical prototypes instead. This will truly be the greatest breakthrough in medicine.

Bionics in architecture

Architectural and construction bionics is a special branch of bionic science, the task of which is the organic reunification of architecture and nature. IN Lately Increasingly, when designing modern structures, they are turning to bionic principles borrowed from living organisms.

Today, architectural bionics has become a separate architectural style. It was born from a simple copying of forms, and now the task of this science has become to adopt the principles, organizational features and technically implement them.

Sometimes like this architectural style called eco-style. This is because the basic rules of bionics are:

• search for optimal solutions;
• principle of saving materials;
• the principle of maximum environmental friendliness;
• principle of energy saving.

As you can see, bionics in architecture are not only impressive forms, but also progressive technologies that make it possible to create a structure that meets modern requirements.

Characteristics of architectural bionic buildings

Based on past experience in architecture and construction, we can say that all human structures are fragile and short-lived if they do not use the laws of nature. Bionic buildings, in addition to amazing shapes and bold architectural solutions, have durability and the ability to withstand adverse natural phenomena and disasters.

In the exterior of buildings built in this style, one can see elements of reliefs, shapes, and contours, skillfully copied by design engineers from living, natural objects and masterfully embodied by building architects.

If suddenly, when contemplating an architectural object, it seems that you are looking at a work of art, there is a high probability that in front of you is a building in the bionic style. Examples of such structures can be seen in almost all capitals of countries and large technologically advanced cities of the world.

Design for the new millennium

Back in the 90s, a Spanish team of architects created a building project based on a completely new concept. This is a 300-story building, the height of which will exceed 1200 m. It is planned that movement along this tower will take place using four hundred vertical and horizontal elevators, the speed of which is 15 m/s. The country that agreed to sponsor this project was China. The most populous city, Shanghai, was chosen for construction. The implementation of the project will solve the demographic problem of the region.

The tower will have a completely bionic structure. Architects believe that only this can ensure the strength and durability of the structure. The prototype of the structure is a cypress tree. The architectural composition will have not only a cylindrical shape, similar to a tree trunk, but also “roots” - the new kind bionic foundation.

The outer covering of the building is a plastic and breathable material that imitates tree bark. The air conditioning system of this vertical city will be analogous to the heat-regulating function of the skin.

According to scientists and architects, such a building will not remain the only one of its kind. After successful implementation, the number of bionic buildings in the architecture of the planet will only increase.

Bionic buildings around us

What famous creations have used the science of bionics? Examples of such structures are easy to find. Take, for example, the process of creating the Eiffel Tower. For a long time there were rumors that this 300-meter symbol of France was built according to the drawings of an unknown Arab engineer. Later, its complete analogy with the structure of the human tibia was revealed.

In addition to the Eiffel Tower, you can find many examples of bionic structures all over the world:

• was erected by analogy with a lotus flower.
• Beijing National Opera theatre- imitation of a water drop.
• Swimming complex in Beijing. Externally it repeats the crystalline structure of the water lattice. An amazing design solution also combines the useful ability of the structure to accumulate solar energy and subsequently use it to power all electrical appliances operating in the building.
• The Aqua skyscraper looks like a stream of falling water. Located in Chicago.
• The house of the founder of architectural bionics, Antonio Gaudi, is one of the first bionic structures. To this day, it has retained its aesthetic value and remains one of the most popular tourist sites in Barcelona.

Knowledge everyone needs

Summing up, we can safely say: everything that bionics studies is relevant and necessary for development modern society. Everyone should become familiar with the scientific principles of bionics. It is impossible to imagine without this science technical progress in many areas of human activity. Bionics is our future in complete harmony with nature.