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Through the technology of animation, Madagascar gave us crowds of lemurs dancing, but what else could technology do when it comes to movement? Join us to hear about cutting edge walking aids, and advances in agile robotics from two of the movers and shakers of the Manchester research scene!
The Walking Aid Revolution
Dr Sibylle Thies
(Research Fellow, School of Health and Society)
Imagine it is the year 2050 and the number of older people has doubled – with you and me amongst them. Will we be steady on our feet or will we fall? A walking aid may provide us with structural support, but will it enable us to attend Pint of Science 2050? Let’s embark on a journey that begins with the paradox of walking aid use having been linked to an increased falls-risk, continues with how robotic hexapods - six-legged robots - may inspire you to look at users of walking aids as you have never done before, and finishes with a glimpse at what the walking aids of the future may look like.
Agile Robots of the Future
Dr Ben Parslew
(Senior Lecturer in Aerospace Engineering)
Robots are soon to become more agile than any human athlete
or gymnast. They will sprint more quickly than a cheetah, climb more nimbly
than a gecko, and leap more gracefully than a dolphin. And as they vault and
flip their way through the environment these agile machines will help us to
explore the aftermaths of natural disasters, and the rocky landscapes of other
planets. In this presentation Ben will talk about advances in agile robotics,
and how these can be guided by studying the movement of animals in nature.
or gymnast. They will sprint more quickly than a cheetah, climb more nimbly
than a gecko, and leap more gracefully than a dolphin. And as they vault and
flip their way through the environment these agile machines will help us to
explore the aftermaths of natural disasters, and the rocky landscapes of other
planets. In this presentation Ben will talk about advances in agile robotics,
and how these can be guided by studying the movement of animals in nature.
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