Biomimetic and Biohybrid Systems: 8th International Conference, Living Machines 2019, Nara, Japan, July 9–12, 2019, Proceedings

400 Pages·2019·60.628 MB·English

by  Uriel Martinez-Hernandez, Vasiliki Vouloutsi, Anna Mura, Michael Mangan, Minoru Asada, Tony J. Prescott, Paul F.M.J. Verschure

Uriel Martinez-Hernandez · Vasiliki Vouloutsi ·
Anna Mura · Michael Mangan ·
Minoru Asada · Tony J. Prescott ·
Paul F. M. J. Verschure (Eds.)
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Biomimetic
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A and Biohybrid Systems
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8th International Conference, Living Machines 2019
Nara, Japan, July 9–12, 2019
Proceedings
123
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Lecture Notes in Arti cial Intelligence 11556
Subseries of Lecture Notes in Computer Science
Series Editors
Randy Goebel
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
Yuzuru Tanaka
Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
Wolfgang Wahlster
DFKI and Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
Founding Editor
Jörg Siekmann
DFKI and Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/1244
Uriel Martinez-Hernandez
(cid:129)
Vasiliki Vouloutsi Anna Mura
(cid:129) (cid:129)
Michael Mangan Minoru Asada
(cid:129) (cid:129)
Tony J. Prescott Paul F. M. J. Verschure (Eds.)
(cid:129)
Biomimetic
and Biohybrid Systems
8th International Conference, Living Machines 2019
–
Nara, Japan, July 9 12, 2019
Proceedings
123
Editors
Uriel Martinez-Hernandez Vasiliki Vouloutsi
University of Bath SPECS,Institute for Bioengineering
Bath, UK of Catalonia
Barcelona,Spain
Anna Mura
SPECS,Institute for Bioengineering Michael Mangan
of Catalonia University of Sheffield
Barcelona,Spain Sheffield,UK
Minoru Asada TonyJ. Prescott
Osaka University University of Sheffield
Suita,Japan Sheffield,UK
PaulF. M.J.Verschure
SPECS,ICREA,BIST
Barcelona,Spain
ISSN 0302-9743 ISSN 1611-3349 (electronic)
Lecture Notesin Artificial Intelligence
ISBN 978-3-030-24740-9 ISBN978-3-030-24741-6 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-24741-6
LNCSSublibrary:SL7–ArtificialIntelligence
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Preface
These proceedings contain the papers presented at Living Machines 2019: the 8th
InternationalConferenceonBiomimeticandBiohybridSystems,heldintheKasugano
InternationalForum,Nara,Japan,July9–12,2019.Theinternationalconferencesinthe
Living Machines series are targeted at the intersection of research on novel life-like
technologiesinspiredbythescientificinvestigationofbiologicalsystems,biomimetics,
andresearchthatseekstointerfacebiologicalandartificialsystemstocreatebiohybrid
systems.Theconferenceaimistohighlightthemostexcitinginternational research in
both of these fields united by the theme of “Living Machines.”
The Living Machines conference series was first organized by the Convergent
Science Network (CSN) of biomimetic and biohybrid systems to provide a focal
pointforthegatheringofworld-leadingresearchersandthepresentationanddiscussion
of cutting-edge research in this rapidly emerging field. The modern definition of
biomimetics is the development of novel technologies through the distillation of
principles from the study of biological systems. The investigation of biomimetic
systems canserve twocomplementary goals.First, asuitablydesignedandconfigured
biomimetic artifact can be used to test theories about the natural system of interest.
Second,biomimetictechnologiescanprovideuseful,elegant,andefficientsolutionsto
unsolved challenges in science and engineering. Biohybrid systems are formed by
combining atleast one biological component—an existing living system—andat least
one artificial, newly engineered component. By passing information in one or both
directions, such a system forms a new hybrid bio-artificial entity.
The earth hascontinuously changed overbillionsofyears, causing living beings to
evolve their capabilities to adapt optimally to the changing environment. The result
from this evolving process has marveled humans since many centuries ago, inspiring
them to build machines and transform their world by mimicking the power
accomplishedbynatureandanimals.Theapproachofcreatingtechnologybyimitating
nature receives the term “biomimetics,” coined by the American biophysicist and
inventorOtto Schmitt inthe1950s, putting togetherthe Greek words“bios”(life) and
“mimesis” (imitate).
Although sometimes it is imperceptible, biomimetics has been with human beings
along history and across the world, making life easier and comfortable. China is one
of the first civilizations that took inspiration from nature by employing silk for the
fabrication of fabrics, and making it one of the oldest examples of biomimetics. Lu
Ban, a Chinese inventor, also made use of silk to create the first umbrella that
mimicked the shape, flexibility, and effectiveness of the lotus leaf. The Renaissance
periodinItalygavebirthtoLeonardodaVinci,oneofthemostprolificfigures,whose
workwaslargelyinspiredbynature.Inthe15thcentury,daVincidevelopednumerous
designsofmachines,including ahumanoidrobotandflyingmachines,inspiredbyhis
vi Preface
observations of mechanisms and the anatomy of natural systems. It was in the 20th
century when the first-ever flying machine was successfully developed in America by
theWrightbrothers,whoobservedthewaybirdsusetheirwingstogainliftandcontrol
the direction of flight. Ground transportation has also been reached by biomimetics
through the development of highly efficient vehicles. For example, at the beginning
of the 21st century the world witnessed the appearance of the first bionic car in
Germany, inspired by the skeleton structure and shape of the boxfish. This bionic car
provedtobeaerodynamic,highlystable,andfuelefficientcomparedwithanyexisting
car.
Traditionally, Japanese culture has exhibited a special bond with nature, which has
been reflected in the technological developments in that country. In the 1990s, Japan
unveiled the first bullet train implementing biomimicry inspired by the kingfisher’s
beak.Thelargehead,longandsharpbeakofthisbirdinspiredthedesignfortheshape
ofthefrontofthebullettrain,resultinginatrainslicingthewindratherthantrappingit
whenenteringatunnel.Thisimitationofnatureallowedthebullettraintominimizethe
air resistance and booming sound, whileincreasing acceleration and energy efficiently
notseenbefore.Theefficientevolutionofthehumanbodyhasinspiredthecreationof
robotsthatlooklikepeopleknownashumanoids.In2006inJapan,MinoruAsadaand
his group developed the CB2 robot, a biomimetic humanoid that mimics the physical,
mental,andsocial capabilities ofa 2-year-old child.The CB2 robot isable toperform
thesecapabilitiesbytheuseofbiomimetictouch,vision,andauditorysensorsinspired
by the human body. In the past decade, exhaustive research by Hiroshi Ishiguro
culminated in the first Geminoid robot, whose name is derived from the Latin word
“geminus” (twin). Geminoids aim to be indistinguishable from real humans at first
sight, by mimicking the human body anatomy, hair, skin, facial expressions, and
interaction with others.
Biomimeticshasbroughttogetherresearchersfromawidevarietyoffields,tobuild
machines and tools for the advancement of society, economy, and living style.
However, biomimetics still has plenty of opportunities for research and applications.
For that reason, the Living Machines conference provides the environment for the
presentation, evaluation, and discussion of cutting-edge and next-generation tech-
nologies under investigation by researchers across the globe.
The main conference, during July 10–12, took the form of a three-day single-track
oral and poster presentation program that included five plenary lectures from leading
internationalresearchersinbiomimeticandbiohybridsystems:HiroshiIshiguro(Osaka
University) on studies on interactive robots; Michael Milford (Queensland University
of Technology) on navigation, neuroscience, and neural networks – a quest to
understand intelligence and build better technology for robots and autonomous
vehicles; Andre van Schaik (Western Sydney University) on feature extraction using
adaptive selection thresholds; Yukie Nagai (University of Tokyo) on cognitive
developmentinrobots–aunifiedtheorybasedonpredictivecoding;andKohHosoda
(Osaka University) on soft body as source of intelligence. There were also 26 regular
talks and one poster session and poster spotlight (featuring approximately 16 posters).
Preface vii
Session themes included: advances in soft robotics; 3D-printed bio-machines;
bio-hybrid actuators and muscles; bio-inspired locomotion; robots and society;
biomimeticvisionandcontrol;deeplearningforbio-robotics; collectiveandemergent
behaviors in animals and robots; and bio-inspired flight.
The conference was complemented by two workshops on July 9, 2019, held at the
Kasugano International Forum, Nara, Japan. More specifically, the “Closing Vico’s
Loop:AddressingChallengesinScienceandSocietywithLivingMachines”workshop
was organized by Paul Verschure and Tony Prescott, and the “Bioprinting” workshop
was organized by Cellink.
Consistent with the Living Machines’ tradition of choosing historical venues at the
crossroads between life and human sciences, the main conference was hosted at the
KasuganoInternationalForuminthetownofNara,theoldcapitalofJapanupuntilthe
8th century. Nara is located less than one hour from Kyoto and Osaka. Thanks to its
past as the first permanent capital, Nara is full of historic treasures, including some of
Japan’soldestandlargesttemples.DeerroamfreeinNaraPark,bytheTōdai-jitemple
whereDaibutsu,the15-m-highbronzeBuddha,isdisplayedinalargewoodenhall.On
the park's east side is the Shinto shrine Kasuga Taisha, which dates to 768 A.D. and
morethan3,000lanterns.ThisyearLivingMachineswasheldinNaraaftersuccessful
previouseditionsinParis,France,in2018;Stanford,USA,in2017;Edinburgh,UK,in
2016; Barcelona, Spain, in 2015; Milan, Italy, in 2014; London, UK, in 2013, and
Barcelona, Spain, in 2012.
Wewouldliketothankourhostsfortheconference,workshops,andpostersessions
held at the Kasugano International Forum in Nara.
We also wish to thank the many people that were involved in making the eighth
editionofLivingMachinespossible:MinoruAsadaandPaulVerschureco-chairedthe
meeting; Uriel Martinez-Hernandez, Vasiliki Vouloutsi, and Michael Mangan chaired
theProgram Committee and editedthe conferenceproceedings; TonyPrescottchaired
the international Steering Committee; Anna Mura was the general organization chair
and also coordinated the Web and communication; Minoru Asada, Koh Hosoda, and
their group provided administrative and local organizational support in Nara. We are
grateful to the SPECS lab and the Communication Unit at the Institute for
BioengineeringofCatalonia(IBEC)inBarcelonafortheassistanceintheorganization
and for technical support. We would also like to thank the authors and speakers who
contributed their work, and the members of the Program Committee for their detailed
and considered reviews. We aregrateful tothe fivekeynotespeakers who shared with
us their vision of the future.
Finally,wewishtothanktheorganizersandsponsorsofLM2019:theConvergence
Science Network for Biomimetic and Neurotechnology (CSNII; ICT-601167), the
Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia IBEC, and the Catalan Institution for
Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), and Cellink company.
Additional support was provided by Springer. Living Machines 2019 was also
supported by: the IOP Physics journal Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, which will
viii Preface
publish a special issue of articles based on the best conference papers: Biomimetics –
Open Access Journal will publish a special issue of articles based on the best con-
ference posters, and an award will be given for best paper with a social impact.
July 2019 Uriel Martinez-Hernandez
Vasiliki Vouloutsi
Anna Mura
Minoru Asada
Michael Mangan
Tony J. Prescott
Paul F. M. J. Verschure
Organization
Conference Chairs
Minoru Asada Osaka University, Japan
Paul F. M. J. Verschure InstituteforBioengineeringofCatalonia(IBEC),Spain
Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Spain
Institution for Research and Advanced Studies
(ICREA), Spain
Program Chairs
Uriel Martinez-Hernandez University of Bath, UK
Vasiliki Vouloutsi InstituteforBioengineeringofCatalonia(IBEC),Spain
Michael Mangan University of Sheffield, UK
Local Organizers
Masahiro Shimizu Osaka University, Japan
Koh Hosoda Osaka University, Japan
Communications
Anna Mura InstituteforBioengineeringofCatalonia(IBEC),Spain
Workshop Organizers
Anna Mura InstituteforBioengineeringofCatalonia(IBEC),Spain
Tony Prescott University of Sheffield, UK
International Steering Committee
Minoru Asada Osaka University, Japan
Joseph Ayers Northeastern University, USA
Mark Cutkosky Stanford University, USA
Marc Desmulliez Heriot-Watt University, UK
José Halloy Université Paris Diderot, France
Nathan Lepora University of Bristol, UK
Uriel Martinez-Hernandez University of Bath, UK
Barbara Mazzolai Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Italy
Anna Mura InstituteforBioengineeringofCatalonia(IBEC),Spain
Tony Prescott University of Sheffield, UK
Roger Quinn Case Western Reserve University, USA