Frontier Engineering: Progression Grant in Nature-Inspired Engineering

千百年来的进化使大自然成为一座宝库，这些解决方案巧妙地实现了可伸缩性和弹性，并以可持续的方式利用稀缺的资源。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理想的特性。伦敦大学学院自然灵感工程中心(CNIE)成立于2013年，是EPSRC五个前沿工程中心之一，该中心从自然中汲取教训，设计创新的解决方案，以应对我们在能源、水、材料、健康和生活空间方面的重大挑战。CNIE的愿景是成为世界领先的研究中心，在主题方法和学术广度方面独一无二，将最先进的设施与跨学科的专业知识相结合，在一系列部门产生革命性的影响。CNIE围绕三个主题(TX)组织，每个主题对应一个基本的自然机制类别。众所周知，每一种都能在自然界中提供所需的特性，之所以选择它们，是因为它有可能改变许多实际问题。分层传输网络主题(T1)涉及自然如何通过最优网络(例如，在树和肺中发现)连接微观到宏观长度尺度。力平衡主题(T2)借鉴了自然界中发生在不同尺度上的过程，例如骨骼中机械力的平衡。动态自组织主题(T3)涉及时间结构和出现强大的、自我修复和适应性的组织，例如在沙丘和细胞中。迄今为止，EPSRC的支持已促成：通过一个或多个主题的旗舰项目，验证了中心独特的以自然为灵感的方法，这些项目适用于能源、水、材料、健康和生活空间等领域的工业挑战；将NIE的方法从化学工程扩展到包括生化工程、计算机科学和建筑在内的一系列学术学科，并通过其极为成功的“灵感补助金”计划扩大了中心的国家和国际网络；以及在广泛的工业合作伙伴网络的支持下，通过知识交流和创业活动，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途径通常不支持的风险水平。它还使来自其他来源的额外研究和翻译资金具有相当大的影响力，包括EPSRC、H2020和行业。拟议的EPSRC进步赠款将把对CNIE的基础投资再延长两年，与伦敦大学学院的持续投资一起，支持CNIE向长期财务可持续性的过渡。具体地说，它将有助于：在生态系统、控制和模块化(T4)的第四个主题范围内探索和验证NIE方法；进一步扩大CNIE在建筑环境和设计以及生物医学和医疗保健工程领域的新应用领域，并在流程强化和能源方面开发(T3)；留住核心研究人员，赋予他们能力并支持他们走向独立的研究生涯；通过产业参与和创业精神继续将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普遍存在。新的主题(T4)将探索诱导这种行为的机制的实施，提出受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，而另一系列的灵感资助将扩大化学过程系统工程、计算机科学、遗传学和生化工程之间的接口，为其他领域的应用奠定坚实、有效的基础。

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.