CIMTEC 2008

Nature has always served as a model for mimicking and inspiration to humans in their efforts to improve their life. Indeed nature has been engineering its creations for million of years and evolution has resolved many of nature challenges leading to highly effective solutions achieved by minimal use of resources. Nowadays, where the limitations of the world’s natural resources and environment became more apparent a deeper insight into the intelligent and complex laws of nature governing biological events is a key of immense potential to discover highly effective and efficient ways in which life’s strategies can be successfully applied to human systems for long-term sustainability. Novel and efficient materials, structures, tools, mechanisms and processes have yet resulted from adapting mechanisms and capabilities from nature and more may be envisaged for the near future because of the increased understanding of the biological world, the capability to manage matter down to the atomic scale, the development of novel algorithms and theories, and the exponentially increasing power for computation and multi-scale simulation of processes, materials, structures and whole systems. Objective of this symposium is to merge biological information with materials science, engineering and medical sciences at the purpose of exploring new ideas and accomplishments, for the practice of bio-inspired design to gather momentum and offer innovative solutions. Sessions will encompass a broad spectrum of biologically inspired technologies and will cover new achievements in biological mechanisms as models for mimicking, bio-inspired materials, bio-sensors, bio-actuators, adaptive and autonomous structures, bio-inspired intelligent robots, intelligent software, systems and control, etc. for applications ranging from home, sport and leisure, to aerospace structures, medical prostheses and information technology.

Session E-1
Algorithms, Mechanisms and structures in nature as an inspiration for mimicking

E-1.1:	Biological approaches and solutions Evolution strategy as a mean of optimisation; Modelling and simulation of biological mechanisms, Theory, modelling, numerical simulation of processes, structures, properties and behaviour; Mechanisation of cognition
E-1.2:	Biomechanics Mechanisms, integrated system design and control; DNA technologies, design and control strategies, self replication
E-1.3:	Biologically inspired structures Morphing/deployable/packable structures, Nastic structures, Compliant structures, Lightweight structures, Autonomous smart structures and systems; Aesthetic and structural elements

Session E-2 Biomimetic materials

E-2.1:	Bio-inspired and bio-enabled Materials Bio-inspired nanomaterials, fibers, composites, functionally graded materials, Bio-inspired multifunctional materials, Bio-inspired hybrid organic-inorganic composites, Adaptive fabrics, Biomedical materials, Biological materials vs synthetic bio-inspired materials
E-2.2:	Bio-inspired and bio-enabled manufacturing Biomimetic processing, bioclastic processing, self- healing, self-assembly, directed self-assembly, biomineralization, templating, patterning, hierarchical structures formation, etc.

Session E-3 Bio-inspired sensors and actuators

E-3.1:	Sensors Bio-sensing, Sensors: sight, sound, smell and taste, infrared, distance, electric and magnetic field, fluid flow, etc.; Physical bio-sensors: strain, flow, optical, tactile, etc.; Chemical bio-sensors: artificial nose, artificial tongue, etc.
E-3.2:	Actuators Bio-inspired actuators, nanoactuators

Session E-4 Biologically inspired systems, and robotics

E-4.1:	Systems Signal processing, micro and molecular machines, Neuromorphic devices
E-4.2:	Robotics Haptic interfaces and systems; Power supplies; Power harvesting; Control algorithms and systems; Cognition, Cyber technology; Mobility; Energetically autonomous robots; Biomimetic techniques for expressive animation
E-4.3:	Micro and nano systems Bio-MEMS/NEMS; Bio-nanorobotics

Session E-5 Present/ongoing applications of bio-inspired technologies

Aerial locomotion and space structures; Defence and attack mechanisms; Optical, acoustical and mechanical engineering; Information technology, electronics; Energy and environment; Civil engineering; Biotechnology; Biomedical; Transportation; Manufacturing industry; Home, sport; Leisure; Others

Focused Session
"Artificial Muscle Actuators using Electroactive Polymers"
(Joint Session with Symposium A)

Special Session E-6
Biomimetic Flow Control in Aquatic Systems and its Application to Bioinspired Autonomous Underwater Systems