Running on Water: A Mechanical
Design Approach
Team Members: Jennifer Tolley, Sarah Goral, Deacons Aquinio
Advisor:s Dr. Pavlos Vlachos, Dr. Jake Socha, Dr. Sunny Jung,
Sam Raben, Rod LaFoy
The goal of this bio-inspired project is to gain a better
understanding and to mechanically represent the basilisks
lizard’s ability to run across the surface of water. This project
includes fluid mechanics, biomechanics, biology, and kinematics
along with engineering principles to design analytical and
mechanical models. The knowledge gained from this project can
inspire a light-weight robot with the ability to transition from
running on land to running on water.
Project Image Here
Key Features:
Project Scope:
To develop a better
understanding and
mechanically reproduce the forces
involved during the locomotion of the basilisk lizard’s hind-limb.
Team Photo Here
Deliverables:
• Research
• Analytical modeling in MatLAB
• Submiting Animal Protocol, ordering, and animal care
• Designing a mechanical model
• Designing a water track
• Experimentation with both the mechanical model and the live
animals
• Data analysis.