Bionic Inspired Structures Based on Smart Materials

Creating systems with low complexity but high functionality

Welf-Guntram Drossel, Holger Kunze, Martin Ettrichrätz
JournalIndustrie 4.0 Management
Issue Volume 34, 2018, Edition 4, Pages 15-18
Open Accesshttps://doi.org/10.30844/I40M_18-4_15-18
Bibliography Share Cite Download

Abstract

Functional materials, so called smart materials, have the ability to adapt to external environmental conditions i.e. they are able to change their properties through external physical stimuli so that, they are optimally adapted to their surroundings. These processes are accompanied by energy conversion processes. These properties predestine smart materials to act as sensors and actuators. They enable high functionality in simplified structures, already on the material level. Therewith, a new and better quality can be achieved in product design.

Keywords

Bibliography

[1] Neugebauer, R.; Drossel, W.-G.; Ihlenfeldt, S.; Harzbecker, C.: Design method for machine tools with bionic inspired kinematics. In: CIRP Annals 58 (2009) 1, S. 371-374.
[2] BBC Research LLC: Smart Materials: Technologies and Global Markets. 2011.
[3] Wenzel, E.; Dziemba, O.; Langwieser, C.; Pock, B.; Sturm, D.: Die Zukunftsmatrix; Zukunftsletter der ITZ GmbH 2012, S. 138-139.
[4] Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung: Ideen. Innovation. Wachstum. Hightech-Strategie 2020 für Deutschland. Bonn 2010
[5] Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung: Abschlussbericht des Strategievorhabens „Start Smart“ des Konsortiums smart3. Dresden, 10.05.2016, BMBF-Datenbank.
[6]  Sydow, J.; van Well, B: Wissensintensiv durch Netzwerkorganisation – strukturationstheoretische Analyse eines wissensintensiven Netzwerkes. In: Sydow, S. (Hrsg): Management von Netzwerkorganisationen: Beiträge aus der Managementforschung. Wiesbaden 2006, S. 107-150.
[7]  Funken,C.;Hörlin,S.:Misstrauen als Ressource. In: OrganisationsEntwicklung 31 (2012) 1, S. 41-45.
[8]  Liu, C.; Xu, X.: Cyber-physical Machine Tool – The Era of Machine Tool 4.0. ; Procedia CIRP 63:70-5; 2017
[9]  Liang, Q.; Zhang, D.; Wu, W.; Zou, K.: Methods and Research for Multi-Component Cutting Force Sensing Devices and Approaches in Machining; Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) 16(11; 2016.
[10] Drossel, W.-G.; Gebhardt, S.; Bucht, A.; Kranz, B.; Schneider, J.; Ettrichrätz, M.: Performance of a new piezoceramic thick film sensor for measurement and control of cutting forces during milling; CIRP Annals; 2018.

Your downloads

You might also be interested in

From Private Law to Private Ordering

From Private Law to Private Ordering

Rule-making through industrial digital platforms
Pia C. Romeike, Frederik Bär
Industrial digital platforms are considered the driving force behind digital value creation, yet legally they largely operate in a gray area. This article examines what defines industrial digital platforms and what legal framework applies to them. Existing platform regulations apply only to a limited extent to industrial digital platforms, which is why these platforms often establish their own legal framework through their terms and conditions. The article also explores the implications of European regulation, power asymmetries, and the opportunities and limitations of private regulation.
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 42 | 2026 | Edition 4 | Pages 98-105 | DOI 10.30844/I4SD.26.4.10
Industry 4.0—Progress and Digitalization in Limbo

Industry 4.0—Progress and Digitalization in Limbo

Status of sustainable transformation and digitalization in production engineering
Christian Donhauser ORCID Icon, Daniel Riepl
Digitalization projects help users represent complex processes more simply and efficiently. However, there are many obstacles to implementation. Reluctance to implement these projects is palpable. This affects, among others, employers and employees, who may fall behind economically by waiting or avoiding change. These observations can be traced back to an overarching research question: What barriers and systemic challenges hinder sustainable transformation within the context of Industry 4.0, particularly when considering human labor in production engineering? What questions are the affected stakeholders asking? The primary goal of this long-term research project is to define these questions decisively and in detail in order to develop a conceptual foundation that integrates research, teaching, and technological development and thus combines the potential of digital technologies with the experiential and practical knowledge of production workers.
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 42 | 2026 | Edition 3 | Pages 56-60
AI-Powered Lubrication Strategies for Thread Forming

AI-Powered Lubrication Strategies for Thread Forming

Adaptive spray jet control to increase process reliability and tool life
Reinhard Schmied, Marco Susic, Christian Donhauser ORCID Icon
Thread forming requires precise lubricant application because high contact pressures and process temperatures strongly influence tool loading, friction, and process stability. Although minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) systems are widely used, current spray-based approaches can still suffer from spray losses, insufficient wetting of the thread grooves, and unstable droplet transport. This article presents a concept for adaptive precision lubrication in thread forming based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-supported flow analysis, experimental validation, and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted optimization. The focus is on droplet size, spray jet geometry, nozzle position, ambient flow conditions, and their influence on wetting intensity. Preliminary simulation-based investigations indicate that data-driven optimization can help identify wetting deficiencies and support the development of future control strategies for resource-efficient lubricant application.
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 42 | 2027 | Edition 3 | Pages 76-83
Application Potentials of Chinese Knowledge Platforms

Application Potentials of Chinese Knowledge Platforms

Digital platforms for knowledge transfer in research and education
Yunhao Su, Martin Braun ORCID Icon
Knowledge drives innovation, which is why digital platforms are increasingly used for knowledge transfer. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is a global leader in digitalization and digital platforms are central to Chinese knowledge transfer and innovation systems. This study supplements theoretical concepts of knowledge transfer with empirical findings on the (further) development of relevant knowledge platforms. It examines the influence of specific design features on the functionality and quality of digital knowledge platforms. A literature review identifies seven condensed success criteria. Nine leading Chinese knowledge platforms are categorized based on their transfer logic and functional scope. Online survey participants assess the platform-specific manifestations of the identified criteria and highlight potential and areas for improvement in platform-based knowledge transfer.
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 42 | 2026 | Edition 3 | Pages 84-93
VR Training for Multimodal Cobot Interaction

VR Training for Multimodal Cobot Interaction

Virtual learning environments for collaborative robots
Christoph S. Zoller, Justus Langer, Kristoffer Waldow ORCID Icon, Merle Meyer, Arnulph Fuhrmann ORCID Icon
The VIRAMM research project is developing and prototyping a VR-based training concept for the integration of collaborative robots (cobots) in assembly-oriented U-cells. Since the benefits of cobots depend heavily on process, layout, and role integration, VIRAMM addresses the previously lacking consistent scenario design for variant comparisons with Key Performance Indicator (KPI)-based evaluation.
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 42 | 2026 | Edition 3 | Pages 106-112
Decentralized Coordination of AMRs

Decentralized Coordination of AMRs

Regulations for Autonomous Mobile Robots
Manuel Savadogo, Malte Stonis ORCID Icon, Peter Nyhuis ORCID Icon, Jürgen Hupp
The increasing automation of intralogistics requires flexible and resilient control concepts for Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR). While centralized coordination approaches enable stringent control, they quickly reach their limits in terms of scalability and robustness. This paper therefore presents regulations for the decentralized coordination of AMR within the framework of the ORPHEUS project. The focus is on translating known decentralized decision-making principles into a rule framework tailored to industrial material flow scenarios, addressing both operational task assignment and safety-related conflict situations. ORPHEUS thus makes a significant contribution to the methodological structuring, parameterization, and practical transferability of decentralized coordination logics.
Industry 4.0 Science | Volume 42 | 2026 | Edition 3 | Pages 96-105
Christoph Brocks