BIONICS AND

BIOLOGY

Work done by: António

Lucas Nº2; Leonor
Rego Nº29 e Vicente
Muñoz Nº26
INDEX
• -Introduction to Bionics
-Introduction to Biology
-How are bionics and biology related?
-What are Bionic Limbs?
-How does the mechanism work?
-Exemple 1 (Nakio, the first dog with the four bionic paws)
-Exemple 2 (Fuji, the dolphin)
-Exemple 3 (Óscar, the bionic cat)
-Conclusion
-References
BIONICS

• Bionics is the systematic investigation of

organic and structural solutions applied
by nature to its elements, aiming to
collect data for the solution of technical
problems of shapes, structures or objects.
BIOLOGY
Biology is the natural science that
studies, describes, preserves and
eventually economically explores
life and living organisms.
HOW ARE BIONICS AND BIOLOGY
RELATED?
• Bionics is the science of combining natural biological systems with technology. Many
prosthetic limbs are designed using bionics, in other words, they are designed using
biological structures like limbs, joints and nerves, as well as modern technology.
 • Bionic limbs are artificial limbs that work by using signals
from na individual’s muscles to seamlessly move. Some
WHAT ARE bionic limbs also rely on electrical signals from the brain
and nerves in order to create the proper movements. These
BIONIC limbs, such as bionic hands, are either electronically or
mechanically powered, with some bionic options relying on
LIMBS? a combination of both, Whereas traditional prosthetic limbs
require complete body power to work, bionic limbs provide
much more support and capability by using both muscles
and the brain to power them.
HOW DO BIONIC
LIMBS WORK?
• The bionic hand sends signals to a
computerized control system outside the
body. The computer then tells a small robot
worn on the arm to send vibrations to the
arm muscle. These vibrations deep in the
muscle create an illusion of movement that
tells the brain when the hand is closing or
opening.
 Nakio is the first animal in the world to have all four legs
replaced by prosthetics. Bionic limbs were developed to
work naturally and allow the dog to perform all its normal
NAK activities.

IO However, before getting his prostheses Nakio went through

difficult times. After being abandoned in the intense
Nebraska winter – when he was just five weeks old – the
dog was trapped in a puddle of water, which caused necrosis
of all four legs.
 NAKIO
Nakio spent some time using his belly to get around
until he was adopted by a veterinarian who started the
fundraising process to pay for the implant of the
animal's hind legs.
The company that developed the prosthesis project,
Orthopets, one of the pioneers in the segment , was
excited about the possibility of helping an animal with
four “bionic legs” and donated the other two.
Video:

https://edition.cnn.com/videos/topvideos/2013/05/04/dnt-nakio-the-bionic-dog.kusa
FUJI, THE
DOLPHIN • A disabled dolphin in Japan has returned to
normal swimming and jumping thanks to an
artificial tail produced by tire manufacturer
Bridgestone. Now 34 years old, the female
dolphin Fuji had her tail amputated in 2002
due to a mysterious illness. A veterinarian
who worked with the animal asked a friend,
an employee of the tire manufacturer, for
help. Ten prototypes were made before the
company came up with one that worked. It
took five months for Fuji to get used to the
fin.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0252q8y
OSCAR, THE BIONIC CAT
• The new paws, made to order, fix the ankle,
through bioengineering capable of mimicking
the process by which bone grows through the
skin. Professor Blunn and his team worked in
collaboration with Fitzpatrick to develop these
weight-bearing implants, combining mechanical
engineering with biology.The mechanical legs
were fitted over moldable joints at the end of the
prostheses, allowing full movement.
CONCLUSION
• Bionics are important and help biology
sistems to evolve and improve. Both
concepts, bionics and biology, grow together
in harmony and are connected in many
different ways.
REFERENCES
• Lima, N. (2019). 7 animais biônicos que incrivelmente existem. [online] Fatos Desconhecidos. Available at:
https://www.fatosdesconhecidos.com.br/7-animais-bionicos-que-incrivelmente-existem/ [Accessed 5 Mar. 2022].

• Ortopédicas, A.N., Fisioterapeuta e Técnico Especialista em Próteses Biônicas (2020). Como Funcionam as Próteses
Biônicas: Conheça as Próteses do Futuro. [online] Próteses Biônicas e Órteses | Bionicenter. Available at:
https://bionicenter.com.br/como-funcionam-as-proteses-bionicas/?msclkid=c36f4b86d15c11eca97f7a0e6282fbad
[Accessed 5 Mar. 22AD].

• Target, T. (n.d.). What is bionics? - Definition from WhatIs.com. [online] WhatIs.com. Available at:
https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/bionics [Accessed 1 Apr. 22AD].