Jacquelyn K. S. Nagel

A computational approach to biologically inspired design

Abstract The natural world provides numerous cases for analogy and inspiration in engineering design. During the early stages of design, particularly during concept generation when several variants are created, biological systems can be used to inspire innovative solutions to a design problem. However, identifying and presenting the valuable knowledge from the biological domain to an engineering designer during concept generation is currently a somewhat disorganized process or requires extensive knowledge of the biological system. To circumvent the knowledge requirement problem, we developed a computational approach for discovering biological inspiration during the early stages of design that integrates with established function-based design methods. This research defines and formalizes the information identification and knowledge transfer processes that enable systematic development of biologically inspired designs. The framework that supports our computational design approach is provided along with an example of a smart flooring device to demonstrate the approach. Biologically inspired conceptual designs are presented and validated through a literature search and comparison to existing products.

A Thesaurus for Bioinspired Engineering Design

Biological systems provide insight into sustainable and adaptable design, which often leads to designs that are more elegant, efficient, and sustainable. There are, however, significant hurdles to performing bioinspired design. This chapter presents a design tool, the engineering-to-biology thesaurus, that addresses several challenges engineers may encounter when performing bioinspired design, allowing engineers without advanced biological knowledge to leverage nature’s ingenuity during engineering design. Along with the thesaurus tables, detailed information on the thesaurus model, structure, population, term placement, term placement review, and limitations is provided. Applications of the design tool are discussed. Examples are provided to demonstrate the goals and applications of the design tool followed by a review of integration with computational design tools.

Integration of a Client-Based Design Project Into the Sophomore Year

Often engineering design instruction based on real-world, client-based projects is relegated to a final year capstone course. The engineering program at James Madison University (JMU), however, emphasizes these real-world, client-based design experiences, and places them throughout our six-course engineering design sequence. Our six-course design sequence is anchored by the sophomore design course sequence, which serves as the cornerstone to the JMU engineering design sequence. The cornerstone experience in the sophomore year is meant to enable mastery through both directed and non-directed learning and exploration of the design process and design tools. To that end, students work in both small (4–5) and large (9–11) teams to complete a year-long design project. The course project is woven with instruction in engineering design theory and methodology; individual cognitive processes, thinking, and communication skills; decision making; sustainable design; problem solving; software; and project management.Students’ overarching task during the first semester is to follow the first two phases of the engineering design process—Planning and Concept Generation—while in the second semester, students work to reiterate on the first two phases of the engineering design process before prototyping, testing, and refining a design for the client. The project culminates with the students demonstrating their final product to the client, University, and local community.Our goal in this paper is to present our model for integrating real-world, client-based design projects into the sophomore year to facilitate meaningful design experiences across the curriculum. We believe that providing these experiences early and often not only challenges students on multiple dimensions, but also exposes them, and consequently better prepares them, for their eventual role as a practicing engineer. In this paper, we shall describe the sophomore design course sequence, the history and details of the course project, and also key learning outcome gains.© 2012 ASME

A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO BIOLOGICALLY-INSPIRED ENGINEERING DESIGN

To facilitate systematic biologically-inspired design, a design methodology that integrates with function-based design methodologies has been formalized. The goals of this methodology are to go beyond the element of chance, reduce the amount of time and effort required for developing biologically-inspired engineering solutions, and bridge the seemingly immense disconnect between the engineering and biological domains. Using functional representation and abstraction to describe biological systems presents the natural designs in an engineering context and allows designers to make connections between biological and engineered systems. Thus, the biological information is accessible to engineering designers with varying biological knowledge, but a common understanding of engineering design methodologies. Two approaches to validation are presented. One examines current biologically-inspired products either in production or in literature to see if the systematic approach to biologically-inspired design can reproduce the existing designs. The second investigates needs-based design problems that lead to plausible biologically-inspired solutions. This work has demonstrated the feasibility of using systematic design for the discovery of innovative engineering designs without requiring expert-level knowledge, but rather broad knowledge of many fields.Copyright

Function-Based Biologically Inspired Design

A “big picture” approach to a systematic, function-based (drawing from a Pahl and Beitz approach) biologically inspired design is presented in this chapter. The approach supports two different starting, or perhaps motivating, points: a customer need motivated product design and a biological system motivated product opportunity. Both approaches rely on a designer’s ability to create a functional model that either captures customer needs or represents the biological system of interest. This methodology relies directly on the designer’s ability to make connections between dissimilar domain information. Following presentation of the methodology are two validation approaches. One examines current biologically inspired products either in production or presented in the literature to demonstrate that the systematic design methodology for biologically inspired design can reproduce the existing design. The second validation exercise investigates three needs–based design problems that lead to plausible biologically inspired solutions.

Designing a Modular Rapid Manufacturing Process

Freeform fabrication and additive fabrication technologies have been combined with subtractive processes to achieve a variety of fully integrated rapid manufacturing systems. The combination of separate fabrication techniques into one rapid manufacturing system results in unit manufacturing process integration, sometimes known as a hybrid system. However, the design methods or approaches required to construct these integrated systems are vaguely described or not mentioned at all. The final product from any integrated system is affected not only by the unit manufacturing processes themselves, but also by the extent the individual units are assimilated into an integrated process. A wide variety of integrated and hybrid manufacturing systems and current manufacturing design methodologies are described in this paper, along with their similarities and differences. Through our extensive review, it was discovered that there are five key elements to a reliable integrated rapid manufacturing system: process planning software, motion system, control system, unit manufacturing process, and a finishing process. By studying the manner in which all other systems have been integrated, a table of successful integrated manufacturing system element combinations has been complied, documenting each of the key element choices, resulting in a variety of modular designs. This paper further discusses the importance of the five elements in manufacturing system integration, and how an integrated system is the way to move forward in the manufacturing domain. To that end, a rapid manufacturing system design methodology was developed that explores designs via process analysis to discover integration potential. Cost-benefit analysis is then used to assess the performance of the new system. This analysis determines if all needs have been met, while staying within the constraints of time and resources. Additionally, a table of common issues and obstacles encountered during manufacturing system development has been compiled to assist in the design and development of future rapid manufacturing systems. To illustrate the design methodology, our modular design experience with a laser aided manufacturing process is presented. Unit manufacturing process integration has increased the productivity and capabilities of our system, which reduced resource volume and increased productivity.

Electronic Stool (e-Stool): A Novel Self-Stabilizing Video Capsule Endoscope for Reliable Non-Invasive Colonic Imaging

Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) has become a popular non-invasive technique to study the small intestine. However, colonic VCE has been problematic due to capsule tumbling in the larger lumen of this organ. Self-stabilizing VCE is a novel method to visualize the colon without tumbling utilizing a biomimetic approach. The proposed design uses the free energy of the body’s natural processes employed to move chyme, and imitates the formation and propagation of stool. In its final stage, it physically and mechanically mimics natural feces. The process starts by administering the capsule orally. The capsule size, shape, and material were chosen to provide a smooth transit throughout the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Once it reaches the colon, its special outer casing enzymatically dissolves. A stabilizing component that is attached to the back end of the capsule starts quickly expanding in the cecum by osmosis. This increase of the volumetric size of the expandable component (stabilizing component) invokes natural peristalsis by colonic mass reflex. Since the expansion process takes place very quickly, the capsule gets stabilized before the expansion-provoked peristalsis starts. At the final stage, the artificially created expanded component (behaving like an artificial stool) centralizes the capsule during its voyage in the colon, allowing a very smooth transit due to its viscosity. The aim of the present study is to present the design of the capsule from a biomimetic perspective and to comparatively quantify the mechanical properties of the design with those of actual human stool.Copyright

Student Learning Outcomes from a Pilot Medical Innovations Course with Nursing, Engineering, and Biology Undergraduate Students.

BackgroundPreparing today’s undergraduate students from science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and related health professions to solve wide-sweeping healthcare challenges is critical. Moreover, it is imperative that educators help students develop the capabilities needed to meet those challenges, including problem solving, collaboration, and an ability to work with rapidly evolving technologies. We piloted a multidisciplinary education (ME) course aimed at filling this gap, and subsequently assessed whether or not students identified achieving the course objectives. In the course, undergraduate students from engineering, pre-nursing (students not yet admitted to the nursing program), and pre-professional health (e.g., pre-med and pre-physician’s assistant) were grouped based on their diversity of background, major, and StrengthsFinder® proficiencies in a MakerSpace to create tangible solutions to health-related problems facing the community. We then used qualitative content analysis to assess the research question: what is the impact of undergraduate multidisciplinary education offered in a MakerSpace on student attitudes towards and perceptions of skills required in their own as well as others occupations?ResultsWe discovered these students were able to identify and learn capabilities that will be critical in their future work. For example, students appreciated the challenging problems they encountered and the ability to meet demands using cutting-edge technologies including 3D printers. Moreover, they learned the value of working in a multidisciplinary group. We expected some of these findings, such as an increased ability to work in teams. However, some themes were unexpected, including students explicitly appreciating the method of teaching that focused on experiential student learning through faculty mentoring.ConclusionsThese findings can be used to guide additional research. Moreover, offering a variety of these courses is a necessary step to prepare students for the current and future workforce. Finally, these classes should include a focus on intentional team creation with the goal of allowing students to solve challenging real-world problems through ethical reasoning and collaboration.

Biomechanical energy harvesting using a knee mounted generator

The design of a knee mounted energy harvesting device for USB charging was investigated. With the current longevity issues of lithium batteries in portable electronics and the reliance for consistent access to a standard electrical socket for charging, a need for a portable and sustainable energy source was identified. Human biomechanical energy from movement was identified as an emission-free and untapped source of power. A rotational generator utilizing a knee-mounted apparatus was selected as the most likely candidate for generating enough power for USB charging (5 VDC and 0.1 A minimum). Because the device was to be attached to the body, emphasis was placed on developing a design that provided for minimal hindrance to the users normal gait. Following this decision, several energy harvesting products using rotational generators were purchased and benchmarked. A brushless motor was purchased to act as a generator in the knee mounted system; this decision was made for its low mechanical resistance to motion when spinning the shaft and high back EMF constant. To actuate the generator of the system at a velocity which could provide adequate power, a gear train was designed to amplify the 1 Hz input from human gait; the gear train utilized a ratcheting freewheel, which allows for conservation of angular momentum in the forward direction between actuations of the gear train. Parallel to the mechanical design process, an electrical system was designed to rectify the three phase AC voltage produced by the generator. A DC/DC switching regulator was used to condition the rectified output to 5 VDC. An alpha prototype is currently being fabricated. Projections indicate the system should produce 5 VDC at a range of output currents from 0.1 A to 1 A depending on how fast the user is moving.

Guard Cell and Tropomyosin Inspired Chemical Sensor

Sensors are an integral part of many engineered products and systems. Biological inspiration has the potential to improve current sensor designs as well as inspire innovative ones. This paper presents the design of an innovative, biologically-inspired chemical sensor that performs “up-front” processing through mechanical means. Inspiration from the physiology (function) of the guard cell coupled with the morphology (form) and physiology of tropomyosin resulted in two concept variants for the chemical sensor. Applications of the sensor design include environmental monitoring of harmful gases, and a non-invasive approach to detect illnesses including diabetes, liver disease, and cancer on the breath.