Comparison of Functioning Systems of the Car and Biological Organism 2004-01-0470

Biological living organisms, and particularly human beings, are complex functioning systems. These exist due to metabolic based functions and produce energy required for vital activity such as oxidation of organic compounds. A vehicle with internal-combustion engine, is also a complex functioning system, which supports balance of energy production and consumption. Millions of years of evolution resulted in optimization of internal life processes of biological organisms, adjusted and efficient functioning of their systems and organs, and successful competitive struggle for existence. Car history and its evolution is only a little longer than a century. Comparative analysis, peculiarities of functioning systems and subsystems as well as efficiency of processes for the car and the living organism are not only interesting, but may be helpful in searching new effective decisions in automotive engineering.

In this work we compared anatomical and physiological peculiarities of the living organism to the car construction and functioning. The main systems of human organism [1,2] (digestive, respiratory, excretory, cardiovascular, nervous, sensory, musculoskeletal, and thermoregulating) are compared to car components and systems [3] (engine, body, transmission, chassis as well as fuel system, cooling system, exhaust system, and control system). Comparative analysis of advantages and disadvantages was based on different criteria, such as, efficiency of energy production such as oxidation of organic substances, efficiency of energy transformation and consumption for supporting sustained balance, working efficiency under various load, comparison of optimum and maximum functioning, etc. We also analyzed environmental impact on a local and global scale.