James Andrew Smith's research in robotics with biomedical engineering focused on the positive and negative elements of using biomimetics to develop future technologies.
For instance, he hightlighted what we may think of as aesthetically streamlined, might not be the best solution for a problem using the 500-series Shinkansen bullet train as an example. Originally, these trains looked much more streamlined, however, many people complained about the so called 'tunnel boom' as trains enters tunnels at high speed. By giving these train a "beak-like" shape, engineers were able to reduce this noise. Inspiration was derived from two animals: the plumage and the feathers of the owl are known as ‘saw-toothed wave feathers’.
In his own work and research, he developed the world's first galloping robots, the PAW galloper, taking inspiration from dogs.
One of interesting discussions towards the end was why robotics' aesthetics tends to be focused around specific attributes and animals typically streamlined, sleek and fast with names like cheetah etc. - and whether this was a result of actual advantages in functional design or if this reflect a typical male-oriented aesthetics.
