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In recent years, the benefits of biologically inspired approaches have become increasingly clear in engineering design. While the level of detail can vary significantly, it is widely accepted that some form of biological influence can enhance the performance of robotic systems. Living organisms are complex systems exhibiting a range of desirable engineering characteristics that have proved difficult to realize using traditional engineering methodologies. Research in this field has successfully fused techniques from sensor development, artificial intelligence, neuro-mechanics simulation/modeling, and robotics. Biologically inspired robotics is characterized by a multidisciplinary approach that aims to strengthen the collaboration between robotic engineering and basic sciences ranging from neuroscience to biomechanics and biology. The IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS) Technical Committee (TC) on Biorobotics was formed with the goal of providing a forum and dissemination mechanism for advancing our understanding of the interplay between biological and artificial (autonomous or semiautonomous) systems and to translate such knowledge for the development of radically novel engineering paradigms. Thus, the scope of the research in biorobotics covers two main approaches: 1) the application of concepts/strategies, ranging from neuro-mechanics to biology, to improve the current capabilities of robots, for example, extending the robot’s flexibility and robustness by adopting design principles of biological systems and 2) the application of advanced robotic technology to improve current techniques/ methodologies to study human and animal neuro-mechanical and biological processes.

https://www.ieee-ras.org/bio-robotics