Biomimicry
This project challenges students to design and build a machine that mimics an animal’s movement. It ties together biomechanics and anatomy with physics, electronics, prototyping, and 3D design. It’s part of our Design Engineering course, a science elective. The project is based on an Olin College of Engineering project called Design Nature that is run with first year engineering students.
Our first year we challenged students to mimic insects that jump. For the second round we opened it up a bit but stipulated that the movements be motorized.