An Approach of Knowledge Acquisition in Biologically Inspired Design

Abstract

Biologically inspired design (BID) is the rising discipline where biological phenomena is taken to inspire the designers to solve the engineering problems or challenges. However, state-of-the-art methodologies struggle with acquiring and transferring the BID analogies into the engineering design. This research presents an approach of knowledge acquisition in BID, which focus on the clustering of biotic knowledge cells. The proposed approach has two stages of clustering in biological domain. The first level is based on semantic information and the group average linkage (GAL) algorithm is employed. The second level is based on environmental information, and a new method named Hybrid Fuzzy C-means (HFCM) algorithm is proposed. The specific experiment results of the visual prosthesis design indicate that the proposed methodology is feasible. Compared to the conventional K-means and hierarchical clustering algorithm, the clustering efficiency and accuracy are both improved.

Appendix

The templet of CFBS knowledge cell can be simplified as:

Function = Structure:{ temperature; spectrum range; sight distance; angular field of view; eye-type; motion; illumination intensity; geography }↔ {Behavioraldescription}

The 22 CFBS knowledge cells related to design demanding of the visual prosthesis are shown as below:

• 1. Focus light = Chameleon_eye:{{[25 40]};{[400 760]}; {medium};{360};{camera-eye};{pan, tilt, rotation, retract, extend};{medium-light};{forest}} ↔ {The cornea, rather than the lens, focuses incoming light to create an image, allowing chameleons to judge distance moving only their eyes};

• 2. Focus light = Tokay-gecko_eye:{{[20 36]};{[400 760]}; {medium};{180};{camera-eye};{pan, tilt, rotation}; {low-light};{forest, mountain}} ↔ {The eyes of a Tokay gecko allow it to see well even when its pupil is reduced to pinprick size due to tiny holes that focus light on the same area of the retina};

• 3. Focus light = Giant clam_mantle:{{[21 38]};{[400 760]}; {N/A};{N/A};{N/A};{N/A};{low-light};{sea}} ↔ {lines of bright spots along the mantle, which are specially transparent patches that act like lenses, focusing light on the colonies of algae directly beneath};

• 4. Focus light = Begonias_leaves:{{[10 30]};{[400 760]}; {N/A};{N/A};{N/A};{N/A};{low-light};{land}} ↔ {maximize photosynthesis in low light conditions by using clear surface cells to focus light};

• 5. Focus light = Monkey_eye:{{[-30 48]};{[400 760]}; {medium};{156};{camera-eye};{pan, tilt, rotation}; {medium-light};{forest}} ↔ {eyes of a monkey allow it to collect light from the surrounding environment, regulates the light intensity through a diaphragm, focus it through an adjustable assembly of lenses to form an image};

• 6. Focus light = Snake_eye:{{[10 40]};{[400 760]};{short}; {360};{camera-eye};{static};{low-light};{forest}} ↔ {eyes with telescoping lens that can be moved forward and backward with muscle contraction or relaxation};

• 7. Detect light = Goldfish_eye:{{[5 30]};{[400 760]};{pan, tilt, rotation};{[160 170]};{camera-eye};{static}; {low-light}; {water}} ↔ {detect far-red and infrared light to distinguish barriers};

• 8. Detect light = Piranha_eye:{{[10 27]};{[400 760]};{short}; {[160 170]}; {camera eye};{pan, tilt, rotation};{low-light};{water}} ↔ {detect far-red light};

• 9. Detect light = Dragon-fly_eye:{{[8 30]};{[400 760]}; {short};{350};{compound-eye};{static}; {mediumlight}; {air}} ↔ {detect polarized light via dorsal ommatidia and dorsal ocelli};

• 10. Detect light = Hydras_eye:{{[15 30]};{[400 760]};{very short};{N/A};{eye-spot};{static};{medium-light}; {water}} ↔ {detect whether the surroundings are dark or light, but not the direction of the light source};

• 11. Detect light = Planaria_eye:{{[15 30]};{[400 760]};{very short};{N/A};{cup-spot};{static};{medium light}; {water}} ↔ {detect the light intensity to move away from light sources};

• 12. Sense light = Insect_ocelli:{{[8 40]};{[400 760]}; {very short};{350};{compound-eye};{static};{medium light}; {air}} ↔ {each ocellus consists of a small lens grouped in a triangle on the back of an insect’s head and backed up by several pigmented retinal cells. They can determine the quality and source of light and usually perceive something moving nearby};

• 13. Sense light = Loosejaw-dragonfish_eye:{{[0 6]};{[400 490]};{short};{160};{compound-eye};{pan, tilt, rotation};{low-light};{sea}} ↔ {retinas of loosejaw dragonfish sense far-red light by incorporating pigments from bacteria it eats};

• 14. Sense light = Sea-urchin_ photoreceptors:{{[0 30]};{[400 760]};{short};{360};{single-eye};{static};{low-light}; {sea}} ↔ {allow spatial vision due to diffuse photoreceptors on their body surface and spines that shield wide angle light to enable them to pick out relatively fine visual detail};

• 15. Sense light = Snail_tentacles:{{[16 30]};{[400 760]}; {short};{360};{cup-eye};{retract, extend}; {medium-light};{land}} ↔ {use two pairs of tentacles on their head to sense environmental cues. The upper pair (optical tentacles) provide the sense of light and the lower pair (oral tentacles) sense the smell};

• 16. Sense light = Spider_eye:{{[10 25]};{[400 760]};{short}; {360};{single-eye};{static};{medium-light };{land}} ↔ {sense light and enhance visual acuity by eight simple eyes on the top-front area of the cephalothorax, arranged in patterns that vary from one family to another};

• 17. Sense light = Lobster_eye:{{[24 30]};{[400 760]}; {short};{360};{compound-eye};{tilt, pan, rotation}; {low-light};{water}} ↔ {sense light by reflecting it onto the retina using a perfect geometric configuration of thousands square tubes};

• 18. Sense light = Spook-fish_eye:{{[0 6]};{[400 490]}; {short}; {[360]};{camera eye};{pan, tilt, rotation}; {low-light};{sea}} ↔ {sense light by directing additional light to the principal eyes for improved deep sea vision via a third pair of accessory eyes};

• 19. Perceive light = Horseshoe-crabs_eye:{{[23 28]};{[400 760]};{short};{360};{compound-eye};{static};{high-light};{sea, land}} ↔ {owns ten eyes (function by day or night) used for finding mates and sensing light. The eyes reduce glare or dazzling reflections caused by bright sunlight because they contain an area that can perceive polarized light};

• 20. Perceive light = Tunisian-desert-ant_eye:{{[15 50]}; {[100 400]};{short};{360};{compound-eye};{static}; {high-light};{desert}} ↔ {each compound eye perceive polarized light in the UV spectrum via specialized ommatidia from a different point in the sky};

• 21. Perceive light = Human_eye:{{[-30 48]};{[400 760]}; {far};{156}; {camera eye};{pan, tilt, rotation};{medium-light};{land}} ↔ {human eye allows conscious light perception and vision including color differentiation and the perception of depth};

• 22. Perceive light = eagle_eye:{{[-30 48]};{[400 760]};{very far};{260};{camera eye};{pan, tilt, rotation};{medium-light}; {land, air}} ↔ {extremely large pupils ensure minimum scattering of the incoming light}.