By Andy Choi
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has selected Polytechnic Institute of New York University (NYU-Poly) Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department’s research for exhibiting at a huge event of science and engineering called 2nd USA Science and Engineering Festival.
A mobile application to control a robot has been developed by NYU-Poly researchers led by Vikram Kapila. Lab equipment such as an arm-like manipulator; mobile ground robots and a model helicopter have been included in the apps. The apps that includes a voice-commanded wheelchair controller will benefit the wide-spread disabled population.
The festival scheduled on April 28 and 29 in Washington, D.C., will provide opportunities for the visitors to benefit from the virtual demonstration of land and marine robots.
Supported by NSF, Maurizio Porfiri, an NYU-Poly associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and his research team have developed learn a robotic fish that can mimic a leader fish’s natural movements. The movements of its body, tail and fin proportions and its impact on swimming performance have been demonstrated to protect marine creatures from hazards such as oil spills.
At the festival, a video game called “Scoop!" developed by Katherine Isbister will be exhibited that will help reduce math anxiety, which is faced by a majority of learners. Based on body gestures, digital ice cream cones are positioned, where ice cream scoops hold the falling fractions. This demonstrates the link between contracted body positions and power.
Magued Iskander will demonstrate an innovative robot, which is a part of the GK-12 Fellows project directed by Ben Esner to support NYU’s K-12 Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Education. In addition to a LEGO-based game of rock-paper-scissors, a LEGO-based robot with variable feet will be demonstrated to explain about the adaptation of biological creatures to environmental changes.
Among the 36 best selling STEM K-12 authors, NYU-Poly doctoral candidate Dustyn Roberts was recognized by the Science Festival Book Fair. A 45-minute presentation will be delivered by the authors, followed by book signings.
Source: http://www.poly.edu/