From nature to technology - Biomimetics
The German term "Bionik" is made up of parts of the words "Biologie" (biology) and "Technik" (technology). In English, the term "biomimetics" is used for this field of science. The scientific discipline deals with design, process and development principles in biology and derives technical applications from them.
In other words:
Bionics scientists explore the structural and organizational bases of interesting biological phenomena. Abstracted, i.e. made independent of the living system, the principles identified are incorporated into the solution of technical problems.
Two approaches are possible:
- Biomimetics as a bottom-up process analyzes the principles of the biological model in an open-ended way as a template of ideas for technical applications and optimizations that have not been defined in advance.
- Biomimetics as a top-down process looks specifically for solutions to concrete technical problems in nature.
Examples of plants that have contributed to bionic inventions are marked in red on the map. Here you will also find explanations on the history and technical background of the respective invention.
We hope you enjoy exploring.
Image captions:
Adhesive structures on burdock fruit clusters (top) inspired researchers in a bottom-up process to invent Velcro (bottom).
"The dream of flying": Development of airfoils modeled on bird wings as a bionic top down process.
The stations of the bionics trail:
- Introduction
- Cacti
- Strelitzia
- Victoria water lily (only in summer)
- Lotus effect
- Fish slime
- Pomelo (only in summer)
- Burdock
- Osage thorn
- Branch forks
- Hornbeam leaf
- Poppy pod
- Bamboo
- Arundo donax
- Vascular bundels
- Wind dispersed fruits
Text of the information board in the Botanical Garden