Engineering Commons^™

Pole Arrangements That Introduce Prismatic Joints Into The Design Space Of Four- And Five-Position Rigid-Body Synthesis, David H. Myszka, Andrew P. Murray

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Although a general five-position, rigid-body guidance problem admits a discrete number of revolute–revolute (RR) dyads, this paper identifies arrangements of five task positions that result in a center-point curve. For these special arrangements, a one-dimensional set of revolute-prismatic (RP) dyads exist to achieve the task positions. Other five-position arrangements are identified where a one-dimensional set of prismatic-revolute (PR) dyads exist to achieve the task positions. For a general case of five task positions, neither PR nor RP dyads are possible. In a general case of four-position rigid-body guidance problems, a unique PR dyad and RP dyad exist. Four-position arrangements are …

Pre-Swing Deficits In Forward Propulsion, Swing Initiation And Power Generation By Individual Muscles In Hemiparetic Walking, Carrie L. Peterson, Allison Kinney, Steven A. Kautz, Richard R. Neptune

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Clinical studies of hemiparetic walking have shown pre-swing abnormalities in the paretic leg suggesting that paretic muscle contributions to important biomechanical walking subtasks are different than those of non-disabled individuals. Three-dimensional forward dynamics simulations of two representative hemiparetic subjects with different levels of walking function classified by self-selected walking speed (i.e., limited community=0.4–0.8 m/s and community walkers=>0.8 m/s) and a speed-matched control were generated to quantify individual muscle contributions to forward propulsion, swing initiation and power generation during the pre-swing phase (i.e., double support phase proceeding toe-off). Simulation analyses identified decreased paretic soleus and gastrocnemius contributions to forward propulsion …

Relationships Between Muscle Contributions To Walking Subtasks And Functional Walking Status In Persons With Post-Stroke Hemiparesis, Allison Kinney, Carrie L. Peterson, Steven A. Kautz, Richard R. Neptune

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Walking speed is commonly used to predict stroke severity and assess functional walking status (i.e., household, limited community and community walking status) post-stroke. The underlying mechanisms that limit walking speed (and functional walking status by extension) need to be understood to improve post-stroke rehabilitation. Previous experimental studies have shown correlations between paretic plantarflexor output during the pre-swing phase and walking speed and suggest that the paretic hip flexors can compensate in some hemiparetic subjects. Modeling and simulation studies of healthy walking have shown that the ankle plantarflexors, soleus (SOL) and gastrocnemius (GAS), and uniarticular hip flexors (IL) are essential contributors …

In Search Of Something More: My Path Towards International Service-Learning In Engineering Education, Margaret Pinnell

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

My personal and professional travels led me toward global education, in particular the University of Dayton (UD) program Engineers in Technical Humanitarian Opportunities for Service-Learning (ETHOS). I do not believe I ever intended to become part of an international engineering education program. In fact, I think the international piece was just a bonus. What really drew me to the ETHOS program was what initially draws our students to the program - a desire to "help" people. In order for the reader to understand how I ended up being involved in global education through the ETHOS program, I must first explain …

Gains In Knowledge And Perception Of Engineering After Participation In An Engineering Design Web-Experience Are Gender-Dependent, Kimberly Edginton Bigelow, Gail Wheatley, David Tomasko

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Web-based activities have the potential to teach engineering in both formal and informal science education settings, maximizing outreach efforts. To date, many activities available on the internet teach about engineering, but few allow students to truly “do” engineering.

This project utilized web animation and interaction in the design of a web-based experience focused on engineering design. In this activity, targeted toward middle school students, users played the role of engineer and engaged in the process of designing a cell phone for the older adult market. It was hoped that this web-based activity would increase participant understanding of what engineering is …

Reflections Of College Students Promoting Engineering Through Biomechanical Outreach Activities Indicate Dual Benefits, Kimberly Edginton Bigelow

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Recent work by the National Academy of Engineering revealed that the public has a poor understanding of what engineers actually do on a day-to-day basis. This issue is compounded for non-traditional fields in engineering, such as biomechanical engineering. This is particularly problematic as such fields could draw interest from students not interested in traditional engineering careers, resulting in increased diversity.

To address this, mechanical engineering students taking an elective course, Biomechanical Engineering, were given an outreach assignment to teach at least one individual under the age of 18 about the field of biomechanical engineering through a hands-on activity. Students worked …