Biological Systems
Biological systems produce extraordinarily fast, small, repeated-use movements for myriad uses - from puncture to projectile launch. Even as the kinematics of these systems are impressive, the underlying mechanisms and general physical principles of repeated-use, latch-mediated spring actuation are the primary focus of our biological investigations. With this lens, we probe these systems experimentally to determine the mechanisms and pathways of energy flow within their mechanical systems, between these systems and their environment, and across their evolutionary diversity.