Finding the Balance between Engineering and Animal Locomotion by Ben PARSLEW

This presentation discusses research that sits between engineering design and biomechanical analysis of animal movement. These two fields have contributed tools and methods that have complemented each other – such as automated motion capture and motion planning. So from an academic standpoint there is much to be gained from shared research between these disciplines.

For practical applications we commonly hear about the potential benefits of seeking inspiration from nature, but there are also some inherent risks within this approach. This presentation will consider some examples of how bioinspired design can be effective, and how it can lead to problematic engineering solutions.

We will also consider how computational engineering methods can be applied to biological locomotion systems, not for bioinspired design, but simply to gain a deeper understanding of the natural world.

Ben Parslew’s academic background is in aerospace engineering, fluid dynamics and biomechanics. His research lies at the interface of engineering and biology, with particular interests in animal locomotion, unmanned aerial vehicles, aerodynamics, robotics and computer animation. Ben is a senior lecturer in Aerospace Engineering at University of Manchester in UK, and also a visiting lecturer at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand.