3-D Printed Robotic Dinosaurs (IMAGE)

Drexel University

3-D Printed Robotic Dinosaurs

Caption

Researchers at Drexel University are bringing the latest technological advancements in 3-D printing to the study of ancient life. Using scale models of real fossils, for the first time, they will be able to test hypotheses about how dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals moved and lived in their environments. An original fossil is laser scanned into a 3-D image and printed as an exact copy of the bone's shape. A working robotic model can be assembled and tested. Researchers expect to have a working model robotic limb by the end of 2012, and potentially a fully-reconstructed robotic dinosaur model within 1-2 years.

Credit

Drexel University

Usage Restrictions

None

License

Licensed content

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.