The objective is to gather experience in employing the method biomimetics, i.e. how to search in nature for relevant analogue solutions for a specific question and how to use findings as inspiration when developing and designing energy related products. As it is a small, one-semester workshop, we concentrate on a specific but very important task in the whole Biomimetic process – the understanding of principles:
- “search”: Search and select biological role models with a specific energy related function in literature sources and Biomimetic databases, and study the selected organism(s),
- “interpret”: Identify the relevant functional principle(s) and understanding it in detail,
- “design”: Sketch the principle and develop a simplified model describing the principle in an intuitive way.
The work is elaborated in groups and the results are presented in a semi-public presentation at the end of the semester. The best models will be used for public dissemination and events of the UAS Technikum Vienna (e.g. for the national event “Lange Nacht der Forschung Wien” or “Tag der offenen Tür”).
LATEST WORKSHOP FINALS – winter semester 2014/2015
Examples – Student Projects from the last years
Optimize light use – Sunflower (WS2012 – Thomine, Katschinka, Maul, Süss, Goschenhofer) Osmosis and capillary effects – plants, horned toad (WS2013 – Kirchmayer, Mitterhauser, Stagl, Zehetbauer)Chimney effect, natural draft – Termite moulds (WS2012 -Nurschinger, Ruef, Vock, Zoltan)