BYOE: McKibben Creature - A Low-Cost Robotic Simulation of A Biological Environment

Joseph Richard Midiri; Kathy Trieu; Wei Xue; Mitja Trkov; Cassandra Sue Ellen Jamison; Smitesh Bakrania

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Conference: 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Portland, Oregon
Publication Date: June 23, 2024
Start Date: June 23, 2024
End Date: July 12, 2024
Conference Session: ELOS Technical Session 6: Bring Your Own Experiment!
Tagged Division: Experimentation and Laboratory-Oriented Studies Division (DELOS)
Tagged Topic: Diversity
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/48435

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Kathy Trieu is an Undergraduate Mechanical Engineering student at Rowan University.

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Wei Xue Rowan University orcid.org/0000-0001-6550-5366

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Dr. Wei Xue is currently an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Rowan University. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from Shandong University, China, and his Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. His research focuses on functional materials, soft robotics, and engineering education.

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Mitja Trkov Rowan University

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Dr. Mitja Trkov is an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Rowan University, NJ. His research interests include soft robotics, human-machine interactions, wearable system, ergonomics, and biomechanics. He received his Ph.D. degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Rutgers University, New Brunswick in 2016 and his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia in 2007. Before joining Rowan, he was a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, UT.

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Cassandra Sue Ellen Jamison Rowan University orcid.org/0000-0002-0253-1636

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Cassandra (Cassie) Jamison is an Assistant Professor in the Experiential Engineering Education Department at Rowan University (Glassboro, NJ). Her research interests focus on understanding and improving the learning that occurs in experiential, out-of-class activities for engineering students. Cassie previously received a B.A. in Engineering Sciences at Wartburg College (Waverly, IA) and her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in BME from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI).

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Smitesh Bakrania Rowan University orcid.org/0000-0003-0663-0241

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Dr. Smitesh Bakrania is an associate professor in Mechanical Engineering at Rowan University. He received his Ph.D. from University of Michigan in 2008 and his B.S. from Union College in 2003. His research interests include combustion synthesis of nanoparticles and combustion catalysis using nanopar- ticles. He is also involved in developing educational apps for instructional and research purposes.

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Abstract

Developed by undergraduate mechanical engineering students, this BYOE paper presents a simple to construct, low-cost robot entirely actuated through the use of McKibben muscles. McKibben muscles are a type of pneumatic actuator commonly used in soft robot designs. As soft robotic designs and applications continue to grow in industry settings, this activity seeks to introduce students to soft robotics concepts early in their academic careers. With the primary construction materials being from readily available components and craft supplies, the project can easily be implemented in both college and high school learning environments with limited resources. The completed robot design involves three main functional challenges; maneuverability, ability to pick up small objects, and storage of the objects. Students’ robots will then compete in a simulated biological environment, with small objects that can be placed at differing heights to vary the task difficulty and represent food sources at multiple elevations. Each team of students would be tasked to strategically design their robot to optimize performance in a competition for points. To optimize their robots, teams would have to make changes to their designs to specialize in different ‘environmental niches’ in order to outcompete others. As desired, the instructor can introduce several other gameplay mechanics that would increase the complexity of the students’ design task and emulate other elements of the food web. This project can incorporate several key learning objectives, including implementing parametric design phases, enhancing an entrepreneurial mindset, optimizing product design, and applying knowledge of balancing forces to create motion. In this paper, the curricular context and classroom activity are thoroughly explained, as well as logistical aspects of implementation such as requirements, game ruleset, and set up environment. Additionally, the students who designed this project also developed a prototype McKibben Creature that adhered to the project scope. General manufacturing and design methodologies for that robot are provided.

Citation
Format

Midiri, J. R., & Trieu, K., & Xue, W., & Trkov, M., & Jamison, C. S. E., & Bakrania, S. (2024, June), BYOE: McKibben Creature - A Low-Cost Robotic Simulation of A Biological Environment Paper presented at 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon. https://peer.asee.org/48435

TY - CPAPER
AB - Developed by undergraduate mechanical engineering students, this BYOE paper presents a simple to construct, low-cost robot entirely actuated through the use of McKibben muscles. McKibben muscles are a type of pneumatic actuator commonly used in soft robot designs. As soft robotic designs and applications continue to grow in industry settings, this activity seeks to introduce students to soft robotics concepts early in their academic careers. With the primary construction materials being from readily available components and craft supplies, the project can easily be implemented in both college and high school learning environments with limited resources. The completed robot design involves three main functional challenges; maneuverability, ability to pick up small objects, and storage of the objects. Students’ robots will then compete in a simulated biological environment, with small objects that can be placed at differing heights to vary the task difficulty and represent food sources at multiple elevations. Each team of students would be tasked to strategically design their robot to optimize performance in a competition for points. To optimize their robots, teams would have to make changes to their designs to specialize in different ‘environmental niches’ in order to outcompete others. As desired, the instructor can introduce several other gameplay mechanics that would increase the complexity of the students’ design task and emulate other elements of the food web. This project can incorporate several key learning objectives, including implementing parametric design phases, enhancing an entrepreneurial mindset, optimizing product design, and applying knowledge of balancing forces to create motion. In this paper, the curricular context and classroom activity are thoroughly explained, as well as logistical aspects of implementation such as requirements, game ruleset, and set up environment. Additionally, the students who designed this project also developed a prototype McKibben Creature that adhered to the project scope. General manufacturing and design methodologies for that robot are provided.
AU - Joseph Richard Midiri
AU - Kathy Trieu
AU - Wei Xue
AU - Mitja Trkov
AU - Cassandra Sue Ellen Jamison
AU - Smitesh Bakrania
CY - Portland, Oregon
DA - 2024/06/23
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - BYOE: McKibben Creature - A Low-Cost Robotic Simulation of A Biological Environment
UR - https://peer.asee.org/48435
ER -