Biomimetic research groups
Here follows a list and a short description of research groups and companies actively involved in biomimetic research and development.
Colombia
Universities
The Smart Design Group Inspired by Nature at the Universidad de Los Andes, Colombia
This South American interdisciplinary research group investigates the use of biomimetic methods in the development of innovative smart design and architechture.
Denmark
Universities
Lenau's Group. Technical University of Denmark
This group is led by Dr. Torben Lenau and works with biomimetic surfaces and smart materials and structures. Among other things they attempt to imitate the colourful metallic surface of some beetles in micro- and nano-structures.
Germany
Universities
School of Bionics. Bremen University of Applied Sciences
The department is one of the few places in the world that offers a complete biomimetic degree. The head of the department is Prof. Antonia Kesel and their research focuses on biofouling, biological composite materials and marine biomimetics.
Plant Biomechanics Group. University of Freiburg
The research in the biomechanics of plants is carried out as part of the botanical garden in Freiburg and is led by Prof. Thomas Speck. In addition to basic botanical research the group focuses on biomimetics. They work primarily on biological materials and biomimetic development of fibres and self-repairing structures.
Institute of Bionics and Evolutionary Technology. Technical University of Berlin
The institute is run by Prof. Ingo Rechenberger and they work on a wide range of biomimetic issues including neural networks and biomimetic studies of the morphology and kinematics of penguins and other birds.
Institute of Botanics. Technical University of Dresden
The biomimetic research group is led by Prof. Christopher Neinhuis, one of the scientists behind the discovery of the Lotus Effect. The group primarily focuses on surface properties of plants and self-cleaning surfaces.
Evolutionary Biomaterials Group. Max-Planck-Institute for Metals Research, Stuttgart
The group is run by Prof. Stanislav Gorb and works primarily on developing attachment mechanisms, biological surfaces and materials based on studies of the attachment mechanisms of insects and other animals.
Leonardo da Vinci Center for Bionics. Technical University of Munich
The biomimetic centre works on a wide range of topics including projects on biological sensors for robots, membranes for gliders based on bat wings and biomimetic solar cells.
Companies
EvoLogics GmbH
This high-tech company covers a wide area of biomimetic, but focuses on marine biomimetics. Among other things they have developed biomimetic fins and propellers.
Greece
Universities
Computational Vision and Robotics Laboratory. FORTH
The biomimetic group within the laboratory is run by Dr. Dimitris Tsakiris and focuses on sensory and learning strategies in biologically inspired robots.
Italy
Universities
Center for Applied Research in Micro and Nano Engineering . Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna
The centre is run by Prof. Paulo Dario and works among other things with biologically inspired robotics. Projects include developing self moving endoscopes, biomimetic hands and biochips.
the Netherlands
Universities
The Delfly Project. Delft Technical University
The Delfly project is a collaboration between engineers from the Technical University in Delft and zoologists from the University of Wageningen. One of the leading scientists behind the project is David Lentink. The project has developed a micro air vehicle capable of hovering and unassisted forward flight, which they are currently refining by applying knowledge on the kinematics and control strategies in insects.
ACT Biomimetics. European Space Agency
The biomimetic group is part of ESA's Advanced Concept Team and primarily works with promiting the use of biomimetics in space research and development, but they are also directly involved in several smaller projects.
Sweden
Universities
Swedish Center of Biomimetic Fiber Engineering (Biomime™)
The Biomime centre is a collaboration between three departments at The Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Umeå Plant Science Center, STFI-Packforsk and the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF). They focus on material science in general and on wood's cell and fibre structure in particular.
Switzerland
Biologically Inspired Robotics Group at EPSL
The group is lead by Prof. Auke Ijspeert and works on the design and development of biologically inspired robots in general and robots inspired by salamander locomotion in particular.
United Kingdom
Universities
Centre for Biomimetics and Natural Technology. University of Bath
This interdisciplinary centre is part of the department of mechanical engineering, but comprises engineers, physicists and biologists. The director is Prof. Julian Vincent and the research focuses on biological material properties, biologically inspired robotics and the use of biologically inspired innovation tools (TRIZ).
Centre for Biomimetics. University of Reading
This interdisciplinary centre have both biologists and engineers employed and is run by Prof. George Jeronimides. They work primarily on biological materials and biomimetic sensors.
Intelligent Autonomous Systems Laboratory. The University of the West of England
The biomimetic group is run by Prof. Chris Melhuish and work on biologically inspired robotics. They have among others developed EcoBot and are heavily involved in the development of swarm robots.
Companies
Oxford Biomaterials Limited
Oxford Biomaterials was started in 2001 by Dr. David Knight and Prof. Fritz Vollrath as a spin-out firma of Oxford University.
Oxford Biomaterials have developed Spidrex, an entirely new biomaterial modelled on spider silk. From this adaptable technology platform, Oxford Biomaterials are pursuing product development in the areas of nerve repair, wound closure, cartilage repair and bone graft materials.
Elumotion
Elumotion is small relatively newly founded company, which works on biologically inspired robot deviced with a focus on robot hands.
United States
Universities
Biomimetic Robotics. Stanford Univsersity
The group works is led by Prof. Mark Cutkosky and works on hexapod robots inspired by insects in general and on robot control strategies in particular.
Biomimetic Underwater Robot Program. Northeastern University
The group is led by Prof. Joseph Ayers and it tries to combine biomechanical and neurobiological research with the development of biomimetic underwater robots. The group has among other things developed RoboLobster.
The Biologically Inspired Robotics Lab. Case Western Reserve University
The laboratory is run by Dr. Roger Quinn and works on control and mechanic issues of biologically inspired robots. Crickets and cockroaches are used as model organisms and they have among other robots developed the popular Whegs robots.
Center for biologically inspired design. Georgia Institute of Technology
This interdisciplinary centre covers many areas of biomimetic research, but focuses on biomimetic materials and sensors as well as biomimetic robot locomotion.
Autumn's Lab. Lewis and Clark College
The group is led by Dr. Kellar Autumn, who works on locomotion and biomechanics of reptiles. They focus on how geckoes attach to surfaces and how this mechanicm can be applied biomimetically.
The Sarakiya Research Group. University of Washington. The research group, led by Prof. Mehmet Sarikaya, develops new technologies and materials using nanotechnology and biological inspiration from bacteria, shellfish and other marine organisms. They focus on molecular biomimetics, but also work on biomimetic biosensors as well as more traditional engineering research.
Companies
Biomimetic Connections, LLC
A California based consultancy company that use biological paradigms as an innovation tool for its commercial clients. It specialises in material science and innovative engineering.
Iguana Robotics, Inc.
A high-tech company who works on developing biologically inspired robot technology.
PAX Scientific
PAX Scientific and the other companies in the PAX family develops innovative technology based on the biomimetica approach. They focus on the development of streamlined industrial technology to reduce drag and noise generated by fluid flow.
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