In this blog post, we will explore the possibilities and significance of the field of biomotion, which breaks down the boundaries between biology and mechanical engineering and expands into a fusion discipline.
Are you currently interested in both biology and mechanical engineering but unable to choose between the two? Are you reluctant to give up either field but unable to find the connection between these two seemingly opposite concepts? Or are you currently studying biology but have become interested in mechanical engineering? I wrote this article to help those of you who are struggling with these questions. I will give a brief introduction to mechanical and aerospace engineering and explain the specific fields related to biology based on that.
The computer I am using to write this article, trains and airplanes that have brought about a global era by transcending distance, and mobile phones and TVs that transcend space are all things that have been created to make human life more convenient. These things are commonly referred to as machines, and in our department, we study how to develop and improve these machines. You may imagine the Department of Mechanical Engineering as a place where complex design drawings are spread out and parts are made and assembled. This is the field of design and manufacturing that you are familiar with, and it is based on the four fundamental mechanics.
To explain the four fundamental mechanics in an easy-to-understand manner, let’s take cars as an example. First, the car body must be sturdy and absorb impact well in the event of a collision. This is studied in solid mechanics. Dynamics is the study of how a car moves using its engine and how it is steered using the steering wheel. Thermodynamics is the study of how to use the heat generated by the explosion of oil in the engine to generate power, and fluid mechanics is the study of how air flows when a car is running and how to design a car to minimize air resistance. We divide these four major fields of mechanics into more detailed fields, and the area I will focus on now is biomechanics, which includes biology, which is your field of interest, and is closely related to fluid mechanics.
It may seem strange that our department studies living organisms rather than rigid machines, but this field is a multidisciplinary field that looks at the mechanical aspects of the mechanical relationships surrounding living organisms. Biological fluid dynamics studies the movement of fluids (in this case, liquids and gases) inside and outside living organisms to determine what kind of shapes can cause such flows and what kind of movements of living organisms can change fluid flows. Based on the results of previous studies, we also investigate how the shapes and movements of living organisms can be applied to machines.
For example, organisms such as flatfish that attach themselves to the sea floor are subject to varying forces depending on the speed of the ocean currents, and we study questions such as how fast the water must flow for the flatfish to be lifted off the sea floor. Another example is the well-known burdock seed. Based on the fact that burrs spread their seeds far and wide by attaching themselves to fibers with tiny hooks, we developed a fastening device that does not come off easily, with thousands of hooks on one side and thousands of hook-shaped fibers on the other. This device is currently used not only in shoes, bags, and watches, but also in spacecraft and aircraft.
There are various purposes for studying biomimicry. For example, analyzing blood flow in blood vessels can lead to the development of methods for preventing or treating cardiovascular disease. It can also be used to develop artificial lungs by mimicking the human respiratory system. In this way, biomimicry can make a significant contribution to the medical field.
Furthermore, biomimicry can contribute to environmental protection and energy efficiency. For example, underwater robots modeled after fish movements can be developed to monitor and clean the marine environment. In addition, the structure of bird wings can be studied to design more efficient airplanes.
The field of biomimicry can be further developed through convergence with various other fields of study. It requires knowledge in various fields such as biology, physics, chemistry, medicine, and engineering, which can lead to new technologies and innovations. In particular, artificial intelligence and big data analysis technologies can be utilized to conduct more sophisticated biomimicry research.
So far, we have introduced the field of mechanical engineering combined with biology through biomechanics, one of the courses offered by the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. We hope that this information will be helpful to those who are considering a career in biology or mechanical engineering. In particular, if you have not yet chosen a major and have a high level of understanding and good grades in mathematics and physics in middle and high school, and if you tend to look at things from a mechanical perspective, such as “How does it move?” and “How does it generate that force?”, then majoring in mechanical and aerospace engineering may be a good choice for you.
The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering provides students with a wide range of knowledge through various research and experiments that combine mechanics and biology. It also provides opportunities to gain experience by solving real-world problems in laboratories and research centers. This process greatly helps students develop creative and innovative problem-solving skills.
Finally, the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering offers a wide range of career opportunities after graduation. You can work in various fields, such as researcher, engineer, professor, and medical device developer. Discover new possibilities through the fusion of biology and mechanics and make your dreams come true.
We hope this article has helped you gain a deeper understanding of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and the field of biofluid dynamics, and that it will help you decide on your career path. The fusion of biology and mechanical engineering has endless possibilities and awaits your challenges and passion.
