SB+Lab+10

**__Week 10:__ **
CCT333 Week 10 Biomimicry: Janine Benyus and the Biomimicry Institute and Guild Three products that have been designed in order to represent biomimicry are: Avian Element, Ecolocation, and New Plumage.

The Avian Element is a Japanese bullet train (Series Shinkansen) that is known for its speed and ability to be quiet. Designers and engineers that built this product used birds as the trains inspiration method. In order to make the train a fast and quit mobile unit- owls agility and efficiency were observed. When an owl hunts, it catches its pray in a quarter of a second and moves its wings without sound. Having that in mind, they made small serrations (similar to an owls feathers) in order to copy the ability of silence. From there, the designers mimicked the beak of a kingfisher in order to omit the 'sonic boom' sound when the train arrives at the station, and to reduce noise pollution. The designer and engineers have both used Janine Benyus biomimicry method of 'power of shape' in order to design the train, and to provide a sustainable environment for the passangers and workers.

The Ecolocation is a walking stick for those that are visually impaired. The stick emits sonar energy in order to warn the user of what is around them. In this way, the person can use the stick to navigate around their environment and protect themselves from danger. The sonar sends sound waves to the user, each sound wave has different wave length to indicate different obstacles. For example, a short length wave will indicate a person/s around them or coming near them. The designers of this stick used a bat's ability to use sonar in the dark in order to avoid collision. The designers used Janine Benyus method of 'sensing and responding' as the source for their products design. This method provides that there is a grounded sensation implemented in order to warn of future conflict, and there is enough time to respond to a possible conflict.

The New Plumage is a technology designed by Qualcomm that uses light to display color. This is similar to how light is used to reflect the colors of a butterfly's wings or a peacocks feathers. This is done in replacement of pixels by using wavelengths that mesh together in order to unify to make a vivid structure of color. Currently, Audiovox uses this technology for its Bluetooth stereo headsets. The engineers and designers hope to further this technology by converting it as an energy source rather then how electricity is used as a source of power. This provides a sustainable environment since resources are being used efficiently rather then a constant source of manipulation in order to consume. The method of 'solar transformations' (as mentioned by Janine Benyus) is assimilated in this technological method by using the sun for its solar power to induce the user of the product.

__12 Sustainable Design Methods__

1. Self assembly- ex: shell is a self assembling material- crystallization 2. CO^2 as a feedstock- Ex: Biodegradable plastics 3. Solar Transformations 4. The power of shape- Ex: Whale bumps help efficiency of an airplane 5. Quenching thirst- Ex: pulling water out of air and fog 6. Metals without mining 7. Green chemistry- Ex: silk coming out of a spider 8. Timed Degradation 9. Resilience and Healing 10. Sensing and Responding- Ex: crickets not colliding with each other 11. Growing Fertility- Ex: create opportunity for life- waste water treatment 12. Life creates conditions conducive to life- Ex: cleans air, water, soil- meet their needs and make sure environment is still sustainable for its offspring- we need to meet our needs while sustaining life

Organisms have found a way to sustain their environment without wasting it