Biomimetic engineering for space applications

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Abstract

As we increase our knowledge of biological systems, we in turn become increasingly aware of the incredible chemical, material, mechanical, structural, and informatic engineering principles that natural systems employ. Under the harsh invisible hand of evolution, natural organisms have evolved for millions of years in a continuous struggle for survival, and as such they represent locally optimal responses to their environment. It is readily apparent that biological systems are hugely successful in solving engineering problems: naturally 'engineered' systems are usually far, far in advance of what humans are currently capable of, and can typically be characterised by superb robustness and an astounding degree of co-evolved multifunctionality and integration. It is also important to remember that biological systems do not occupy some special space denied to engineers: they function under the same physical rules and constraints as human-engineered systems. It is therefore self-evident that engineers have much to learn from nature. This is becoming steadily more appreciated, and the extraction of engineering principles from biological systems (the field known as Biomimetics) is becoming an increasingly popular approach to solving contemporary engineering problems. This increased popularity is also a consequence of the recent primacy of biology among the natural sciences, and the perceived need for engineered systems to increasingly act in accordance with nature. However, the use of nature as a source of inspiration for engineers and architects in fact has a very long history: examples from antiquity include the aviomorphic flying machines of da Vinci and the loadbearing structure of the Eiffel Tower. It is therefore natural at this time to consider the application of biomimetic technology to astronautical engineering. At first consideration, the notion of borrowing from terrestrial life forms to provide solutions for engineering a system to operate within a non-terrestrial environment might not seem like a good idea. However, space exploration places unique requirements upon engineering which actually increase the desirability of trying to replicate certain characteristics of biological organisms: the environments to be explored are harsh, and to a greater or lesser extent undefined beforehand; resupply or maintenance are usually impossible, so there is a requirement for extreme resource and energy efficiency (including an active benefit in being able to utilise resources in situ); there are typically long communication delays between the ground segment and the spacecraft, incompatibly coupled with a frequent requirement for intense short-term activity during crucial mission phases; and due to the requirement to extract as much utility from a mission as possible, there is also a requirement for highly concurrent activity and therefore effective management between functions. Characteristics that are common to biological systems include robustness, autonomy, adaptability, intelligence, energy efficiency (including an unparalleled ability to utilise environmental sources of energy), and the ability to self-repair, self-heal and evolve. It is immediately obvious that engineering these characteristics into a space mission is highly desirable, given the constraints outlined above. Consequently, there would appear to be good reasons for considering biomimetic solutions when designing missions to operate in the space environment. This publication summarises a two-year study performed within the Advanced Concepts Team (ACT) into the potential application of biomimetic engineering to the future activity of the European Space Agency. The documents that were used as background information are listed in part I section 1.4. The overall goals of the study were: To evaluate the application of biomimetic technology to space in general, and in particular to identify areas of ESA activity which are likely to benefit from the application of biomimetic technology To provide ESA engineers with resources to enable them to access biomimetic concepts and expertise To evaluate at a conceptual level the application of some promising biomimetic technologies and concepts through specific case studies To develop recommendations for future ESA activities concerning Biomimetics The range of extant biomimetic technologies have been systematically assessed, specifically with regard to their application to near-term and future ESA activity. This has been achieved through a mapping process between 'Dossier 0'*, the ESA Technology Tree, and a Biomimetic Technology Tree designed by the Advanced Concepts Team. The areas of ESA activity to which biomimetic engineering has been found to have the most potential to contribute are the following: On-board autonomy and intelligence for spacecraft Autonomous GN&C of spacecraft Autonomous GN&C for formation-flying spacecraft On-orbit servicing and assembly of large structures Folding, packing and deployment of large structures Control and monitoring of ECLSS ISRU system implementation Crew health monitoring Planetary exploration Health monitoring for critical systems However, there exist many other instances where biomimetic solutions could offer superior performance to more traditional engineering solutions. For example, the current movement towards biologically-inspired solutions in computer and telecommunications networking, and the huge range of biomimetic materials research that is currently underway, represent two considerable sources of inspiration for space engineers. Because biomimetic solutions can exist in nearly any area of engineering, and because the number of these solutions is growing rapidly, a database (www.bionics2Space.org) has been developed to allow ESA engineers (and others) to access two information sets: The current research expertise in biomimetic engineering worldwide A growing database of biomimetic solutions to specific engineering problems The database has been constructed around the 'theory of inventive problem solving' (TRIZ) methodology to allow the engineer to specify a particular engineering problem and search both for systems from the natural world, and for existing biomimetic engineering solutions that address this problem. Working from those areas of ESA activity that have a high degree of biomimetic 'fit', a number of specific applications of biomimetic technology to space have been assessed in short case studies. These case studies range from potentially near-term scenarios, which can lead to technology development in the short-term, to consideration of very long-term scenarios where biomimetic technology might have a transformational impact. The purpose of the case studies has been to demonstrate the potential application of biomimetic technology to ESA activity, and also to evaluate (where appropriate) the benefits - or not, as the case may be - of a biomimetic solution compared with more traditional approaches. Specifically, work from the following studies is considered in this document: A spherical 'tumbleweed' rover for the Martian surface that relies on a combination of passive wind-propelled locomotion and an active internal ballast system that allows power generation during passive locomotion, and also active and directed locomotion through centre of mass displacement (see part III chapter 2) The application of hypometabolic stasis (hibernation) to humans for long duration spaceflight. This study has addressed the possibility of inducing a hypometabolic state in astronauts on long-duration space missions, to drastically reduce their physiological and psychological requirements (see part III chapter 3) Self assembly in space using a behaviour-based swarm-intelligence approach. In this study, a distributed control methodology inspired by swarm intelligence has been developed to allow the construction of an arbitrary structure in space from intelligent structural components. More specifically, the control methodology relies on the construction of a dynamical system composed of three basis-behaviours (see part III chapter 4) A hexapod rover for the Martian surface relying on an evolutionary neural-network approach to control, passive mechanical compliance through preflexes, and an emphasis on co-evolution of structural morphology and control systems (see part III chapter 5) Lightweight biomimetic digging and drilling mechanisms based on the ovipositors of the locust (Locusta migratoria) and the wood wasp (Urocerus gigas) (see part III chapter 6) These studies demonstrate in some small part the potential application of biomimetic technology to a range of future ESA missions and activities. Biomimetically-engineered space systems have the potential to be lighter, stronger, smarter, tougher, leaner and more efficient (by any metric) than anything previously developed. This is particularly true in the field of biomimetic robotics, which brings together many biomimetic technologies (artificial muscles, behavioural control, biomimetic morphology etc.): the development of planetary rovers with 'natural' levels of performance in terms of autonomy, locomotive and manipulative capability, energy efficiency, robustness and self-repair would represent a step change in remote exploration. Further into the future, such exotic concepts as mimicking hibernators by inducing hypometabolism in astronauts have a potentially mission-enabling impact on a broad range of manned mission classes. To summarise, biomimicry has the potential to provide solutions superior to those of more traditional engineering techniques, across a wide range of ESA activities. As a final caveat, biomimetic solutions should of course not be allowed primacy just because they are biomimetic and therefore 'in vogue', as they are not always going to be the best choice. © 2006 European Space Agency.

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APA

Ayre, M., & Lan, N. (2006). Biomimetic engineering for space applications. European Space Agency, (Special Publication) ESA SP, (1297).

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