MASTER THESIS Biomimetic potential of sponge ... - IAP/TU Wien

Apart from this methodological dichotomy, a cornucopia of sub-fields that divides
biomimetics according to the fields of application has emerged (Nachtigall, 1998).
This work seeks to elaborate on features of sponge spicules of potential interest for
energy-related systems and to suggest ways to implement appealing principles. According to
the aforementioned classification this constitutes a project of biomimetics by induction in
the field of energy related systems, as presented by (Latzelsperger, 2012).
On a basic level, two general methods are usually distinguished by researchers and
engineers that have adopted the biomimetic “point of view” (Schmitt, 1957). Either basic
research leads to the recognition of basic, biological concepts that are subsequently used for
technological applications, or a technological challenge triggers the search for the solution of
an analogous problem that helps to surmount the initial problem. Even though the general
idea seems to be widely accepted, terminology for these complementary methods differs
considerably. While Gebeshuber and Drack (2008) distinguish biomimetics “by induction” vs.
“by analogy” (Figure 1), researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology use the terms
“solution-based” vs. “problem-based” (Georgia Tech, n.d.), and researchers in Freiburg refer
to them as “bottom up” vs. “top-down“ mechanisms (Plant Biomech, n.d.).
For a more detailed account of different methodologies in biomimetics and the current
state of biomimetics in energy systems refer to (Schäfer, 2011). A successful example for
biomimetics by analogy in the field of photovoltaics can be found in (Bach, 2011).
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