Function Based Methods in Design and Biomimicry
Jacquelyn Nagel
Abstract: This session will cover the fundamentals of function based design methods and how they are being used to formalize the process of biomimicry, or, as engineers like to call it, bio-inspired design. Three function based approaches to biomimicry will be discussed.
Bio
Dr. Nagel is Associate Professor and Engineering Assistant Department Head at James Mason University
Prior to joining the JMU Department of Engineering in 2011, Dr. Nagel was an engineering contractor at Mission Critical Technologies working on the DARPA funded Meta-II Project. For the project, she supported system-level design and analysis of complex cyber-physical systems through model library development, design requirement analysis, and system integration efforts.
Dr. Nagel worked as a PhD graduate student in the Design Engineering Lab. Her doctoral work explored the integration of biologically-inspired design with function-based design methodologies for the systematic creation of biomimetic products. Application of the systematic design methodology lead to the development of chemical and optical biomimetic sensor systems and a lichen inspired solar thermal collection device.
As an MS graduate student Dr. Nagel worked in the Laser Aided Manufacturing Process (LAMP) Lab. Her master’s work lead to the full automation of the LAMP system and a scheme for modular, rapid manufacturing system design.
Dr. Nagel also gained considerable work experience in industrial automation, manufacturing and instrumentation as both an undergrad and graduate student. As an undergrad she spent three co-op terms with Kimberly-Clark Corporation working as an electrical engineer at multiple manufacturing facilities. As a graduate student she spent one summer each working in the Advanced Systems Group at Yaskawa Motoman Robotics (formerly Motoman, Inc.) and the Instrumentation and Controls group at Intel Corp.