Author(s)

H. A. Bruck, A. L. Gershon, I. Golden, S. K. Gupta, L. S. Gyger Jr., E. B. Magrab & B. W.

Abstract

The use of bio-inspiration to create new products and devices requires the development of new design tools and manufacturing technologies, as well as the education of students capable of using them. At the University of Maryland, we have developed new educational tools that emphasize bio-inspired product realization. These tools include the development of a bio-inspired design repository, a concurrent fabrication and assembly technology that focuses on the use of multi-piece, multi-stage molds to affordably manufacture large numbers of bio-inspired products, and a series of undergraduate curriculum enhancements. This paper provides an overview of these two technologies and describes how these technologies are integrated into the Mechanical Engineering curriculum. The new educational tools provide students with the fundamental design and manufacturing principles needed in bio-inspired product and device development. The curriculum changes culminate in an elective course undertaken in their senior year. Keywords: bio-inspired design and manufacturing, design repository, concurrent fabrication and assembly, multi-piece multi-stage molding, mechanical engineering curriculum. 1 Introduction For millions of years, nature has been creating materials, plants, insects, and animals that are optimized in many regards. These materials and creatures have

Keywords

bio-inspired design and manufacturing, design repository, concurrent fabrication and assembly, multi-piece multi-stage molding, mechanical engineering curriculum.