biomimicry. slerum

The study of animals to improve man-made structures is very common. In sept, 2010 "Todd Reichert, a PhD student at the U of T Institute for Aerospace Studies, announced he had completed the first continuous flight of a human-powered aircraft with birdlike flapping wings, a device known as an ornithopter." (Allen, Black)
Todd said that he wanted to create a craft that could fly like a bird and resemble bird-like wings. Todd took 65 test runs before the actual success of the flight. 

Many artists and designers are looking at animals and noting how they eat, fly, run, and other aspects to build things that resemble the way animals do things. Other things that are looked at are birds wings and beaks. These features have been studied to help airplanes. 

Also, some animal skins have been looked at so designers can mimic a similar design for other materials. 

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/864633--u-of-t-student-makes-history-with-human-powered-flapping-wing-plane