From Biological Analogs to Robotic Embodiment: A Systematic Biomimetic Translation Framework Mediated by Traditional Craft

This study investigates the effective translation of complex biological principles into viable engineering solutions within the field of biomimetic design. A critical challenge in current research is the “fuzzy front end” bridging initial biological observations and practical engineering applications. This gap primarily stems from the lack of intermediary models capable of abstracting complex biomechanical data into manufacturable mechanical paradigms. To address this, we propose a systematic biomimetic translation framework that redefines traditional crafts as “Empirically Optimized Biological Analogues” (EOBAs), serving as a logical bridge between biological inspiration and engineering realization. This study contributes by integrating the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) with the Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation (FCE) method to construct a quantitative assessment system. This system evaluates translation feasibility, engineering innovation potential, semantic interaction characteristics, and prototype manufacturability. Applying this framework to four intangible cultural heritages in Guangdong, combined with comprehensive expert and public evaluations, revealed that the Guangdong Lion Dance exhibits the highest biomimetic translation potential in terms of morphological clarity and dynamic behavioral characteristics. Consequently, we extracted the core principle of “embodied kinematics for communication” and developed a conceptual multi-segment biomimetic robotic prototype designated as “Kine-Lion”. Ultimately, this research provides a structured methodological reference for biomimetic robotic design, demonstrating that culturally abstracted biological behaviors can be systematically decoded into functional robotic structures. These findings indicate broad application prospects in the domains of human–robot interaction and biomimetic engineering.