This document discusses bioinspired system design principles from nature. It introduces Tojin T. Eapen and their background exploring ideas around bioinspiration. The document then outlines an agenda covering introduction to bioinspired design, learning from living systems using the ERP (Efficiency-Resilience-Prominence) model, and applications to startup strategies, technological innovation, and generative AI. Examples are provided of how biological systems balance ERP factors and how these principles can be applied to scenarios like startup growth strategies and biomimicry for more sustainable product development.

1. BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM
DESIGN
PRINCIPLES OF SURVIVAL,
GROWTH & INNOVATION
Tojin T. Eapen
Innomantra | University of Missouri
March 3, 2023

2. TOJIN T. EAPEN
• Co-founder and Strategic advisor to Innomantra.
• Faculty (on leave) at the University of Missouri.
• Explores idea generation, bioinspiration, AI-enabled
creativity, and sustainable innovation.
• 17 years of professional, consulting, and research
experience.
• Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill, MBA from Indian School of Business, B. Tech from
NIT Calicut.
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/tteapen/
• Blogs at innovation56k.com
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 2

3. AGENDA
• Introduction to Bioinspired System Design
• Learning about Innovation from Living Systems
• The ERP Model
• Prominence Principles
• Application 1: Startup Strategies
• Application 2: Biomimicry for technological innovation
• Application 3: Generative AI Business Models
• Discussion & Ideation
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 3

4. BIOINSPIRATION
• Inspired by Life
• Why is bioinspiration significant for innovation?
• Forthcoming book: Bioinspired System Design
• Co-authored with Daniel J. Finkenstadt.
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 4

5. SURVIVAL CONCERNS
• Three Survival Concerns
• Resources (Ro)
• Forces (Fo)
• Observers (Ob)
• Loss of survival due to any of the three.
• Organizations have the same three concerns.
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 5

6. THE ERP MODEL
• The ERP Model
• E - Efficiency: Management of Resources
• R - Resilience: Management of Forces
• P - Prominence: Management of Observers
• The Efficiency-Resilience Tradeoff
• High and Low Prominence
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 6

7. EFFICIENCY STRATEGIES
• Management of Resources.
• Resting
• Reduction
• Refining
• Regularization
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 7

8. RESILIENCE STRATEGIES
• Management of Forces
• Reinforcement
• Reservoir
• Replacement
• Repair
• Regularization
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 8

9. PROMINENCE STRATEGIES
• Management of Observers.
• Balancing between high and low prominence.
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 9

10. E-R LINKAGES
• Increase in Efficiency → Decrease in Resilience
• Extreme forces impact survival directly as well as
indirectly by damaging resources.
• Camels employ both E and R strategies.
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 10

11. R-P LINKAGES
• Increase in Resilience → Increase in Prominence
• Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus) uses its transparent
mucous cocoon as protection against both forces and
predators.
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 11

12. E-P TRADEOFFS
• Efficient systems are generally smaller and may be less
prominent. A smaller, more efficient business
organization may be less prominent and draw less
attention.
• Prominence can sometimes help in the conservation of
energy, as seen in the gaping strategy of the shark.
• By frightening its prey, it can avoid chasing it and
conserve energy.
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 12

13. THE SQUIRREL’S DILEMMA
• Balance Efficiency, Resilience, and Prominence.
• Efficiency: Resources (Nuts, Energy)
• Resilience: Forces (Weather, Wind)
• Prominence: Observers (Predators, Rivals, Mate)
• It needs to gather as many nuts as possible to ensure its
survival through the cold months.
• It must balance this need with the risks posed by
predators and competitors.
• The squirrel's rapid movements may attract the attention
of predators and rivals.
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 13

14. MILITARY CRAFTS
• Military aircraft and naval vessels operate in hostile
environments and are required to balance ERP factors.
• Efficiency of fuel and personnel.
• Resilience against extreme weather conditions.
• Prominence relative to friendly and enemy observers.
• Design of aircraft survivability (Ball 2003).
• Ball, Robert E. (2003), The Fundamentals of Aircraft
Combat Survivability: Analysis and Design, American
Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 14

15. ERP SCENARIOS
How can the EPR model used for scenario
planning in organizations?

16. ERP SCENARIOS
• Scenario Planning using ERP Model
• Identify Key Resources, Forces, Observers
• Resources: Human, Financial, Knowledge etc.
• Forces: PESTLE Factors
• Observers: Competitors, Rivals, Customers, Partners
• Trends & Breaks Analysis
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 16

17. STARTUP STRATEGIES
How can startups and entrepreneurial firms
learn from bioinspired principles?

18. STARTUP STRATEGIES
• Nature of growth: Lessons from nature.
• Balancing between Efficiency, Resilience, and
Prominence
• Example: How to manage prominence in startups?
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 18

19. PROMINENCE BALANCING
• Balancing High & Low Prominence
• Blocking (Waterholes)
• Multi-channel Prominence (Ocelots)
• Bilateral Signaling (Octopus)
• Diurnal Prominence (Xerocoles)
• Seasonal Prominence (Mandarin Duck)
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 19

20. STARTUP PROMINENCE
• Startups and entrepreneurial ventures are required to
demonstrate adaptive prominence.
• High Prominence: Customers, investors
• Low Prominence: Competitors, rivals
• Discuss: How can you use the prominence balancing
strategies found in nature?
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 20

21. CEPHALAPOD STRATEGIES
• Balancing between high and low prominence.
• High Prominence: Customers, investors
• Low Prominence: Competitors, rivals
• Startups and entrepreneurial ventures are required to
demonstrate adaptive prominence.
• Octopuses are able to demonstrate bilateral signaling.
• What are the lessons for startups?
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 21

22. MANDARIN DUCK
• Seasonal Strategy of the Mandarin Duck
• After the breeding season, males of the Mandarin Ducks
molt the showy feathers they use to attract mates and
dress in drab attire called eclipse plumage.
• What are the lessons for startups?
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 22

23. STARTUP PROMINENCE
• Discuss: How can you use the prominence balancing
strategies found in nature?
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 23

24. MITTELSTAND
• ERP principles in the Mittelstand Companies
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 24

25. BIOMIMICRY
How can we mimic biological systems for
sustainable technological innovation?

26. BIOMIMICRY & ERP
• Biomimicry is using bioinspiration for technological
innovation.
• Kingfisher-inspired Japanese Bullet Train (E)
• Hippopotamus red sweat inspires sunscreens (R)
• Cephalapods’ chromatophores inspire clothing (P)
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 26

27. KINGFISHER
• Eiji Nakatsu, the Japan Railways Group engineer tasked
with solving the bullet train’s noise.
• Japanese engineer Eiji Nakatsu, who had a passion for
bird watching
• Used the Kingfisher’s beak as an inspiration to improve
the design of the Shinkansen.
• This is an example of an efficiency design through
bioinspiration.
• Snell-Rood, Emilie. "Interdisciplinarity: Bring biologists
into biomimetics." Nature 529, no. 7586 (2016): 277-278.
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 27

28. HIPPOPOTAMUS
• Hippos secrete a reddish oily fluid called “red sweat”
from special glands in their skin.
• Red sweat functions as a skin moisturizer, water
repellent, and antibiotic. This is a resilience strategy.
• Red sweat of the hippopotamus as an inspiration for
sunscreens (Saikawa et al. 2004).
• This is an example of resilience design through
bioinspiration.
• Saikawa, Yoko, Kimiko Hashimoto, Masaya Nakata,
Masato Yoshihara, Kiyoshi Nagai, Motoyasu Ida, and
Teruyuki Komiya. "The red sweat of the hippopotamus."
Nature 429, no. 6990 (2004): 363-363.
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 28

29. SPIDER
• ORNILUX bird-protection glass, a product of German
glass manufacturer Arnold Glas.
• Birds can see UV, so they avoid colliding with orb webs
made from UV-reflective silks. This is a prominence
strategy. However, it can also potentially contribute to
resilience by strengthening glass.
• Connections between spiders and glass: Spider glazing in
architecture. Broken safety glass displays a spiderweb
pattern. Glass transition in spider silk.
• Kennedy, Emily Barbara. "Biomimicry: Design by
analogy to biology." Research-Technology Management
60, no. 6 (2017): 51-56.
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 29

30. CEPHALAPODS
• Cephalopod-inspired color-changing systems (Isapour
and Lattuda 2018).
• This is an example of prominence design through
bioinspiration.
• Isapour, Golnaz, and Marco Lattuada. "Bioinspired
stimuli‐responsive color‐changing systems." Advanced
Materials 30, no. 19 (2018): 1707069.
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 30

31. BIOINSPIRATION & AI
How AI is enabling the design of bioinspired
products and businesses.

32. BIOINSPIRATION & AI
• Generative AI Models
• Large Language Models (GPT3)
• Generative Adversarial Networks
• Text-to-Image Models (e.g., DALL-E)
• Text-to-3D and Text-to-4D
• Text-to-Video
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 32

33. DALL-E DALL-E is a deep learning model developed by OpenAI that is
capable of generating images from text descriptions. It uses a
transformer architecture similar to the one used in GPT and is trained
on a dataset of images and their associated captions.
[https://openai.com/dall-e-2/]
[https://huggingface.co/spaces/dalle-mini/dalle-mini]
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 33

34. BIOINSPIRED DESIGN USING GENERATIVE AI
Camelar
Camel-inspired Cars
Koafa
Koala-inspired Sofa
Hippotub
Hippo-inspired Bathtub
Spidercopter
Spider-inspired Helicopter
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 34

35. KOALA
• Koafa: Concept sofas inspired by
the koala.
• Why is this a good (or bad) idea?
• What other product can draw
inspiration from this organism?
• Source: Innovation56K.com
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 35

36. CAMEL
• Camelar: Concept cars inspired
by the camel.
• Source: Innovation56K.com
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 36

37. HIPPO
• Hippotub: Concept tubs that are
inspired by the hippopotamus.
• Source: Innovation56K.com
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 37

38. TIGER
• Tigoes: Shoes inspired by the
tiger.
• Source: Innovation56K.com
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 38

39. SQUID
• Squink: Pens inspired by the
squid.
• Source: Innovation56K.com
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 39

40. PARADISAEIDAE
• Paradiso: Concept tubs that are
inspired by the birds-of-paradise.
• Source: Innovation56K.com
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 40

41. SPIDER
• Spidercopter: Concept
helicopters inspired by the
hippopotamus.
• Source: Innovation56K.com
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 41

42. ELEPHANT
• Elephantcopter: Concept
helicopters inspired by the
elephant.
• Source: Innovation56K.com
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 42

43. BUTTERFLY
• Flutterbag: Concept bags
inspired by the butterfly.
• Source: Innovation56K.com
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 43

44. EAGLE
• Eaglex: Concept trains inspired
by the eagle.
• Source: Innovation56K.com
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 44

45. HONEYBEE
• Honeypot: Concept cups inspired
by the honeybee.
• Source: Innovation56K.com
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 45

46. PANDA
• Pandabode: Concept beds
inspired by the panda.
• Source: Innovation56K.com
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 46

47. PHANTAFLY
• Phantafly: Concept products
inspired by the elephant and the
butterfly.
• Source: Innovation56K.com
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 47

48. TORSCION
• Torscion: Concept cars inspired
by the tortoise and the scorpion.
• Source: Innovation56K.com
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 48

49. THANK YOU
Eapen@Innomantra.com
BIOINSPIRED SYSTEM DESIGN | EAPEN T. T. EAPEN 49