Bioinspiration

Bioinspiration involves applying principles observed in nature to design and create various human-made products, ranging from engineering and materials to architecture. A significant area influenced by bioinspiration is soft robotics, drawing extensively from natural principles. Most living beings possess primarily or entirely soft tissues, emphasizing the importance of body compliance for embodied intelligence. This chapter delves into these concepts, offering detailed methodological guidelines for bioinspired design. It initiates by presenting a structured approach to designing bioinspired (soft) robots, beginning with the observation of biological principles and their subsequent translation into engineering solutions. Additionally, it provides a practical guide on utilizing bioinspired principles in the field of soft robotics. The chapter includes a mini-catalogue of principles pertinent to robotics, offering engineers a valuable resource. The principles are described qualitatively and mathematical descriptions are given wherever available. The potential of bioinspiration is still largely unexplored and this chapter contributes to its practical application in soft robotics.