The development of future real-world technologies will depend strongly on our understanding and harnessing of the principles underlying living systems and the flow of communication signals between living and artificial systems.
Biomimetics is the development of novel technologies through the distillation of principles from the study of biological systems. The investigation of biomimetic systems can serve two complementary goals. First, a suitably designed and configured biomimetic artefact can be used to test theories about the natural system of interest. Second, biomimetic technologies can provide useful, elegant and efficient solutions to unsolved challenges in science and engineering.
Biohybrid systems are formed by combining at least one biological component—an existing living system—and at 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 theme of the conference also encompasses biomimetic methods for manufacture, repair and recycling inspired by natural processes such as reproduction, digestion, morphogenesis and metamorphosis.
The following are some examples of “Living Machines” as featured at past conferences:
- Biomimetic robots and their component technologies (sensors, actuators, processors) that can intelligently interact with their environments.
- Active biomimetic materials and structures that self-organize and self-repair.
- Nature-inspired designs and manufacturing processes.
- Biomimetic computers—neuromimetic emulations of the physiological basis for intelligent behaviour.
- Biohybrid brain-machine interfaces and neural implants.
- Artificial organs and body-parts including sensory organ-chip hybrids and intelligent prostheses.
- Organism-level biohybrids such as robot-animal or robot-human systems.
ACTIVITIES
The main conference will take the form of a three-day single-track oral and poster presentation programme, 26th to 28th July 2017, hosted at Stanford University, California, USA
The conference programme will include five plenary lectures from leading international researchers in biomimetic and biohybrid systems, and the demonstrations of state-of-the-art living machine technologies
The full conference will be preceded by up to two days of Satellite Events hosted at Stanford University. see WORKSHOPS
SUBMITTING TO LIVING MACHINES 2017
We invite both full papers and extended abstracts in areas related to the conference themes. see SUBMISSION
EXPECTED DEADLINES
March 10h, 2017 Paper submission
April 28th, 2017 Notification of acceptance
May 15th, 2017 Camera ready copy
July 25-28, 2017 Workshops and Conference
SPONSORSHIP
Call for Sponsors. Organisations wishing to sponsor the conference in any way and gain the corresponding benefits by promoting themselves and their products to through conference publications, the conference web-site, and conference publicity are encouraged to contact the conference organisers to discuss the terms of sponsorship and necessary arrangements. We offer a number of attractive and good-value packages to potential sponsors. see sponsorship_lm2017
ABOUT THE VENUE
Living Machines 2017 will be hosted at Stanford University a world leading research University that this year celebrates its 125th anniversary (1891-2016). Stanford is located in California’s Bay Area, one of the most intellectually dynamic and culturally diverse areas of the US.
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE:
Mark Cutkosky Stanford University (Local Organizing Chair)
Paul Verschure Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Co-Chair)
Tony Prescott University of Sheffield (Co-chair)
Michael Mangan University of Lincoln (Programme Chair)
Marc Desmulliez Heriott Watt University, Scotland (Steering Committee)
Anna Mura Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Communications)