Engineering Discovery Days 2024

Katie Landwehr News, Outreach , , , ,

The University of Washington College of Engineering re-launched Engineering Discovery Days this spring. Discovery Days has been a signature outreach event for over 100 years, providing fun and enriching hands-on experiences for students, teachers, and families from across the state. Discovery Days is also an opportunity for our community of UW Engineering students, staff, and faculty to share their passion for engineering with the next generation of innovators.

The UW Biomechanics Faculty put together an exhibit titled “Biomechanics Assemble! From Exoskeletons to Cytoskeletons” with the goal of demonstrating how we study movement and forces in humans and cells at UW.

Two people stand outside, one with a robotic leg, holding a sign reading, "The Human Body: The Ultimate Machine." Both wear "Engineering" shirts. Trees and an event tent are in the background.
A person wearing an exoskeleton suit stands facing a small group of people in a room with various individuals and equipment.
Two people engaged in a discussion while one is wearing a 3D printed prosthetic hand.
Two people fist bumping. One person is wearing a 3D printed prosthetic hand.
A person in a lab wearing an exoskeleton, ready to teach students about biomechanics research.
A woman instructing a child how to use a 3D printed prosthetic hand to pick up a small bottle
A group of students standing around while one is wearing a 3D printed prosthetic hand
A group of students standing around while one is wearing a 3D printed prosthetic hand

The Steele Lab along with the Ingraham Lab hosted two booths. Each booth featured hand-on activities and games for students to engage with.

The first booth features an ensemble of exoskeletons and assistive devices, including the Biomotum Spark and 3D printed prosthetic hands.

The second booth featured two games for students to engage with, including “Myodino” using Delsys EMG sensors, and “UltraLeap Ring Sorting” VR game using the UltraLeap hand tracking technology.

In this lab, we think the human body is “The Ultimate Machine” and we were so excited to share HOW we study the human body at Discovery Days 2024.

A woman showing a young student how to play the game "MyoDino" by activating forearm muscles
A man placing an EMG sensor on the forearm of a young student
A small group of people standing around watching a student play MyoDino on a laptop
A small group of students standing around looking at a laptop as a woman explains how to play the "UltraLeap Ring Sorting"
A small group of students standing a laptop while a student plays the "UltraLeap Ring Sorting"
A small group of students standing a laptop while a person wearing an exoskeleton plays the "UltraLeap Ring Sorting"

UW CREATE Presents at the UWFB Meeting Spring 2024

Katie Landwehr HuskyADAPT, News , , ,

The Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences (CREATE) presented at the University of Washington Foundation Board Meeting Spring 2024.

A group of people on a stage

Kat Steele, Associate Director of CREATE introduced the impact of the center over its first 5 years and trainees, including former CREATE postdoc Kim Ingraham, present our research on the impact of access to early powered mobility at the board meeting. Check out the presentation (starting at 59 minutes, link to video on YouTube HERE ).

During the Cocktail Hour Showcase, Heather Feldner and Mia Hoffman also shared their work with HuskyADAPT and the development of accessible design and play technology.

As highlighted through these presentations, CREATE’s mission is to make technology accessible and to make the world accessible through technology.

A person standing next to a table

National Biomechanics Day 2024

Katie Landwehr News, Outreach , , , ,

Last week the Steele Lab celebrated National Biomechanics Day (NBD) on April 3, 2024 at the VA Puget Sound. Mia Hoffman, Sasha Portnova, and Katie Landwehr, alongside fellow Biomechanics researchers with the Ingraham Lab, and Center for Limb Loss and MoBility (CLiMB) hosted over 75 students from a local high school.

A group of five people posing for a photo

NBD is a world-wide celebration of Biomechanics in its many forms for high school students and teachers. Steele Lab PhD student Mia Hoffman, and Ingraham Lab PhD student Annika Pfister were recently awarded a $1000 grant from the American Society of Biomechanics and National Biomechanics Day to host an outreach event for high school students focused on disability biomechanics.

Mia and Katie hosted a station on “Switch-Adapted Toys & Accessible Design”

Two women (Mia and Katie) standing in front of a wall with pictures and holding adaptive toys and DIY switches.
A group of people standing around a table of DIY switches and switch adapted toys
A group of people standing around a table of DIY switches and playing games on an iPad

Sasha, Annika, and Zijie hosted a station on “Myodino: Activate your Muscles”

A group of people holding a sign that says "MyoDino Scoreboard"
A group of people standing around a table with computers. One person is wearing an EMG sensor on their forearm
A group of people standing around a table with computers. One person is wearing an EMG sensor on their forearm

Winter Quarter Recap 2024

Katie Landwehr News, Outreach

Here’s a look at what some of our lab members have been up to this quarter – in the lab, around campus, and out in the community!

January:

Steele lab members, Mia, Kate, Alisha, and Katie volunteered at a UW GoBabyGo (GBG) Build Workshop. GBG is a community-based outreach program that works with families, clinicians and industry partners to provide pediatric mobility equipment to children with disabilities. The primary mission of GBG is to provide modified ride-on cars to these children to use as a powered mobility device for fun, function, and exploration.

A group of people posing for a photo with their finished Go Baby Go Car
A group of people building their Go Baby Go Car
Two people posing for a photo with their finished Go Baby Go Car
A group of people posing for a photo while building their Go Baby Go Car

February:

Lab members, Kate, Mia, and Megan volunteered at the Special Olympics Regional Alpine & Snowboarding Competition at the Summit at Snoqualmie.

Kate, Mia, and Megan standing together and bundled up in warm winter clothes.
A snow covered slope with orange poles
A snow covered hill with people skiing

Also in February:

Mackenzie standing at a podium in front of a group of students in a lecture hall

As part of her duties as a TA this quarter, Mackenzie Pitts gave a Dynamics (ME230) lecture to a 200-person class. She crushed it.

March:

Mia Hoffman presented a poster on “Quantitative methods are more accurate than caregiver-reported measures for tracking a child’s mobility device use” at the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Association Poster Competition.

Mia has blonde hair and is wearing a polka dot blouse with a green skirt. She is standing next to her poster on "Quantitative methods are more accurate than caregiver-reported measures for tracking a child's mobility device use."

Also in March:

The iconic UW Cherry Blossoms graced us with their presence. Photos captured by local photographer and lab member, Megan Ebers.

A brick path with cherry blossom trees, grass, and benches
Close-up of a branch with white flowers
A tree with white blossoms on it