MakerSpace
Moment
June 2021 | Issue 30
LATEST MAKER TUTORIAL
Make an adorable bird out of yarn to celebrate the Ohio Bird Watch our Adult Services department is running. More info about the Ohio Bird Watch:

The Ohio Bird Watch
From May 31-July 31, (each Monday begins a new challenge) take a picture of the bird of the week, turn it in at the main desk of any of our libraries–and add your recommendation for where to find it–or share on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter: be sure to tag @dplslibraries and use the hashtag #defiancebirdwatch.

Each picture will earn an entry into a drawing to win a pair of binoculars. The winner will be announced Aug. 5.

Tech Tails
Scientists are taking inspiration from animal tails to help stabilize robotics. Some are incorporating tail technology to help stabilize their robots, while others are looking to use robotic tails to stabilize people.

#Cheetah'sTail
Cheetahs are able to use their tails to help them change directions while moving fast without falling over. Scientists developing robotic vehicles are using this idea. The first developers to do this were located at UC Berkley and involved a robotic car fitted with a rod that had a weight on the end. These robots use the principle of inertia. Upon further research on cheetah's tails, scientists found that the end of the tail was not heavy but was rather fluffy instead. This means that to create more agile and stable robots can be created without adding more weight. Aerodynamics plays a big part in this instead of the initial inertia design.

#SeahorseTailForPeople
On the side of inertia design tails, a Japanese company is developing robotic tails called Arque to help balance people. Their inspiration was taken from studying the muscular tails of seahorses. Developed to give balance to people working in situations that balance is important like construction these tails may have alternate uses. These tails swing to counter-movements to keep the wearing upright, but applications in Virtual Reality might have the tails destabilize their users to create a realistic feeling. The downfall of these tails is the space needed to use them and their prominence when worn. The typical physical laborer may not be interested in wearing these tails. An additional use of these tails which might be the most beneficial, rehabilitation. During physical therapy, users can be protected from falls and assisted in their recovery. See more in-depth information for both robotic tails below.
Cheetah Tail Inspired Robotics
Arque: Seahorse Inspired
References
 Saraiji, Y. (2019). Arque: Artificial biomimicry-inspired tail for extending innate body functions. YouTube. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tr1-IhEhXYQ&t=109s.

Ackerman, E. (n.d.). The Cheetah's fluffy tail points the way for robots with high-speed agility. IEEE Spectrum: Technology, Engineering, and Science News. https://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/robotics-hardware/robots-show-how-cheetahs-leverage-fluffy-tails-for-highspeed-agility.

College of Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University. (2021). Joe Norby: Cheetah-inspired tails aid robot locomotion. YouTube. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ARiknLTOZs.

Jeffrey-Wilensky, J. (2019, August 13). This robotic tail gives humans key abilities that evolution took away. NBCNews.com. https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/robotic-tail-gives-humans-key-abilities-evolution-took-away-ncna1041431.

Yeung, J. (2019, August 15). Robotic tail for humans was inspired by seahorses. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/style/article/japan-robotic-tail-intl-hnk-trnd/index.html