Biomechanics

Biomechanics

Biomechanics is the study of motion, function, and structure of the mechanical form of living organisms. High-speed cameras have been used for years to study the movement of the human body, including how tendons, ligaments, bones, and muscles work together. In sports, biomechanics focuses on the actions of the body and the mastery of individual tasks. For example, performing a squat would include studying the position and movements of a person feet, knees, legs, hips, back, shoulder and even their arms. Biomechanics is also widely used for orthopedic research and development for implants, such as joints. Researching the performance of biomaterials such as joint implants play a pivotal role in design improvements for medical purposes. Biomechanics not only includes the study of the human body, but also animals and sometimes plants.

Anderson Evolutionary Biomechanics Lab

A major area of study in the lab is exploring the mechanics of cutting and puncture in nature. This involves experimental testing of different biological tools used to inflict damage (teeth, spines, claws) as well as the resistance of various biological tissues to cutting or puncture.

Jumping Robot with Initial Body Posture Adjustment and a Self-Righting Mechanism

To improve jumping performance, this paper presents a jumping robot with initial body posture adjustment and a self-righting mechanism. A segmental gear, stretching and triggering a spring for the storage and rapid release of energy, is used for the jumping mechanism. Pairs of front and hind supporting legs are used for the initial body posture adjustment. One end of each jumping leg is connected to a spring, while the other end is connected to the necessary wiring. In this way, the robot can correct its orientation from an upside down posture upon landing, simultaneously recovering its jumping legs and storing energy.

Landing on branches in the frog Trachycephalus resinifictrix (Anura: Hylidae)

Frogs (Lissamphibia: Anura) are famous for their saltatory or hopping locomotion, which is related to numerous anatomical specialisations that are characteristic for the group. However, while the biomechanics of take-off in frogs have been studied in detail, much less is known on how frogs land after a jump. Besides terrestrial and aquatic species, several lineages of frogs adopted an arboreal lifestyle and especially the biomechanics of landing on challenging, small, and unpredictable substrates, such as leaves or branches, are virtually unknown. Here we studied the landing kinematics of the arboreal frog Trachycephalus resinifictrix (Hylidae) on a wooden stick that was used to mimic a small tree branch.