A Bi-Directional Method for Bionic Design with Examples

Abstract

Design methodologies are essential tools in the design process which provide pathways, goalsand technical guidelines for the development of products. These are also critical to minimize therisks and the time of the development process of a product (Kindlein et al., 2003). It should, how‐ever, be noted that the use of a method of design for the development of the product does not initself create or guarantee the success of a product, as this will be subject to a myriad of factors in‐cluding the level of technical expertise and creativity of who makes use of the method. Previ‐ous work by Versos and Coelho (2011-a, 2011-b, 2010) and by Coelho and Versos (2011, 2010)analyzed and compared several methods for guiding bionic design that were available in litera‐ture. These analyses, in addition to providing the basis of study for the development of the meth‐odology that is aimed in this chapter, can support designers in the selection process of the bionicdesign method most appropriate to the problem at hand. Previous work emphasized the neces‐sity of integrating validation activities in bionic design processes. The development and testingof improved methods that provide greater support to designers in the pursuit of activities lead‐ing to bionic solutions is the overarching aim that this chapter seeks to contribute to satisfy.It is up to the designer to have control and decide upon the best option and way forward (Kin‐dlein et al., 2003) in the design process. Thus, it is necessary to specify objectives, requirementsand restrictions for the design process, as well as to present and define all possible paths in or‐der to reduce the barriers for progression and to deal with the complexity inherent to the bignumber of variables involved in the course of the deployment of the method. Guiding the usertowards requirements satisfaction and appropriate resolution of the problem at hand is the goalof any design method, including design methods with a bionic character.As in Nature—an environment in constant adaptation and renewal, where species evolvesystematically and only the strongest survive and become adapted to the environment—theplanning and development of a product must also ensure an iterative nature of the process