Book excerpt: More and more, the patterns and scientific principles of natural living systems are being mimicked and exploited in man-made engineered systems and products. That trend is now starting to appear in the curricula design of engineering schools. This will be the first broad-based introduction to the influence of nature and biological systems in how things are designed and made, from new design paradigms and structural systems to "self-healing materials" and "smart" systems and robotics. Presented as a traditional textbook, with accompanying Solutions and Instructor's Manuals, it will offer both students and professionals new to the subject a window into the new world of engineering. The reader will find: * A general overview of the relationship between living systems and engineering and how biosystems can and do affect engineering design, from structural materials to thermal-fluid behavior to systems engineering * Applications of bio-systems to robotics and biomedical engineering. * End of chapter problems and exercises to reinforce design concepts and expand understanding.