Sensors and systems that mimic nature [83rd IEE Kelvin lecture]

Nature has much with which to inspire engineers in their efforts to design and fabricate systems demanded by every aspect of one´s daily lives. At the centre of this are cells in plants and animals, which have diverse form and function and may be regarded as clever adaptive machines with exquisite methods for sensing and communication. The opportunities provided by biological cells and assemblies for one to mimic nature are being grasped for new generations of medical devices as well as for sensors and systems to be used for industrial and domestic purposes