Frontier Engineering: Progression Grant in Nature-Inspired Engineering

跨越自然界的进化使自然成为智慧解决方案的宝库，以可持续的方式利用稀缺资源，实现可扩展性和弹性。在自然系统中观察到的许多基本机制也可以在人工系统中提供所需的特性。成立于2013年，作为五个EPSRC前沿工程中心之一，伦敦大学学院自然启发工程中心（CNIE）从自然中汲取经验教训，为我们在能源，水，材料，健康和生活空间方面的重大挑战设计创新解决方案。CNIE的愿景是成为一个世界领先的研究中心，在其专题方法和学术广度上独树一帜，将最先进的设施与跨学科的专业知识相结合，在一系列领域产生变革性的影响。CNIE围绕三个主题（TX）组织，每个主题对应于自然机制的基本类别。每一种都被认为在自然界中提供了所需的特性，并且因为其对许多实际问题的潜在变革而被选择。分层运输网络主题（T1）关注自然界通过最佳网络将微观长度尺度与宏观长度尺度联系起来的方式，例如，在树木和肺部。力平衡主题（T2）借鉴了自然界中各种尺度上发生的过程，例如骨骼中机械力的平衡。动态自我组织主题（T3）涉及时间结构和强大的，自我修复和适应性组织的出现，如沙丘和细胞。到目前为止，环境和战略研究中心的支持已使：通过一个或多个主题内的旗舰项目，验证了中心独特的自然启发方法，这些项目适用于能源、水、材料、健康和生活空间领域的工业挑战;将NIE方法从化学工程扩展到包括生物化学工程、计算机科学和建筑学在内的一系列学科，通过其非常成功的“激励赠款”计划，扩大了中心的国家和国际网络;通过知识交流和创业精神，在广泛的工业伙伴网络的支持下，将CNIE的研究成果转化为实践。EPSRC的核心支持使研究处于标准研究资金渠道通常无法支持的风险水平。它还使来自其他来源的额外研究和翻译资金发挥了重要作用，包括EPSRC，H2020和行业。拟议的EPSRC进步补助金将延长CNIE的基础投资两年，与UCL的持续投资一起支持CNIE向长期财务可持续性的过渡。具体而言，它将使：在生态系统，控制和模块化（T4）的第四个主题中探索和验证NIE方法;进一步扩展CNIE的方法，以构建环境和设计以及生物医学和医疗保健工程的新应用领域，并在过程强化和能源方面发展（T3）;保留核心研究人员，授权并支持他们走向独立的研究事业;并继续通过工业参与和创业精神将CNIE的工作转化为实践。从细菌群落到白蚁，集体协同行为在生物学中无处不在。新的主题（T4）将探索诱导这种行为的机制的实施，提出自然启发的控制机制，应用范围从催化到过程强化，机器人和建筑环境。一个新的旗舰项目将探索将核心机制转化为过程强化和制造，而另一系列的灵感赠款将扩大化学过程系统工程，计算机科学，遗传学和生物化学工程之间的接口，为其他领域的应用奠定坚实的，经过验证的基础。

Evolution over the eons has made nature a treasure trove of clever solutions to enable scalability and resilience, with sustainable ways to utilise scarce resources. Many fundamental mechanisms observed in natural systems could also deliver desirable properties in artificial systems. Launched in 2013, as one of five EPSRC Frontier Engineering Centres, the UCL Centre for Nature Inspired Engineering (CNIE) draws lessons from nature to engineer innovative solutions to our grand challenges in energy, water, materials, health, and living space. CNIE's vision is to be a world-leading research centre, unique in its thematic approach and academic breadth, combining state-of-the-art facilities with interdisciplinary expertise, delivering transformative impact across a range of sectors.The CNIE is organised around three Themes (TX), each corresponding to a fundamental category of natural mechanisms. Each is known to deliver desired properties in nature, and is chosen because of its potential to be transformative to many practical problems. The Hierarchical Transport Networks Theme (T1) concerns the way nature bridges micro- to macroscopic length scales through optimal networks as found, e.g., in trees and lungs. The Force Balancing Theme (T2) draws on processes that occur at various scales in nature, such as the balancing of mechanical forces in bones. The Dynamic Self-Organisation Theme (T3) relates to temporal structuring and emergence of robust, self-healing and adaptive organisation, such as in dunes and cells. To date, EPSRC support has enabled: validation of the Centre's unique nature-inspired approach through Flagship Projects, within one or more Themes, applied to industrial challenges in the domains of energy, water, materials, health and living space; extension of the NIE approach beyond chemical engineering to a range of academic disciplines that includes biochemical engineering, computer science, and architecture, as well as expansion of the Centre's national and international network, through its highly successful "Inspiration Grants" scheme; and, translation of the CNIE's findings into practice, through knowledge exchange and entrepreneurship, supported by an extensive network of industrial partners. Core EPSRC support has enabled research at a level of risk not typically supported by standard research funding routes. It has also enabled substantial leverage of additional research and translation funding from other sources, including EPSRC, H2020 and industry.The proposed EPSRC Progression Grant will extend underpinning investment in the CNIE for a further two years, supporting, together with continued investment from UCL, CNIE's transition to long-term financial sustainability. Specifically, it will enable: exploration and validation of the NIE approach within a fourth Theme in Ecosystems, Control & Modularity (T4); further expansion of the CNIE's approach to new application areas in built environment & design and biomedical & healthcare engineering, and development of (T3) in process intensification and energy; retention of core research staff, empowering and supporting them towards independent research careers; and continued translation of the CNIE's work into practice through industrial engagement and entrepreneurship. Collective, synergistic behaviour is pervasive in biology, from bacterial communities to termites. The new Theme (T4) will explore implementation of mechanisms that induce such behaviour, to propose nature-inspired control mechanisms, in applications ranging from catalysis to process intensification, robotics and the built environment. A new Flagship Project will explore translation of core mechanisms to process intensification and manufacturing, while a further series of Inspiration Grants will expand the interface between chemical process systems engineering, computer science, genetics and biochemical engineering to build a strong, validated foundation for applications in other areas.