Congrats to ME professor Minoru Taya on the publication of his latest book, Bionspired Actuators and Sensors, out this fall from Cambridge University Press! Co-written with researchers in the biological sciences, including UW Biology professor Elizabeth Van Volkenburgh, this is the first book to integrate sensor and actuator technology with bioinspired design.

From authors renowned in the fields of engineering and biology, this is the first book to integrate sensor and actuator technology with bioinspired design. Beginning with detailed descriptions of actuation and sensing mechanisms in plants and animals, the authors move on to apply these principles to synthetic design, offering in-depth knowledge of the development of state-of-the-art smart materials and devices. All of this is supported with a range of real-world applications, from tactile sensory systems in insects linked with the development of robotic hands, to the structural color systems in nature used to inspire camouflage technology. Further examples are given of successful designs along with their integrated autonomous systems, such as flying and swimming, unmanned systems, and autonomous zero-energy building design. With a wide interdisciplinary appeal, this is an ideal resource for any student, practicing engineer, or researcher interested in the connection between natural systems and synthetic design.