Friends Visited the Franklin Institute September through January of 1998. Eight robot animals and plenty of hands-on interactives illustrate how real animals achieve amazing feats. Machinery in the robot animals simulates the body parts of the real animals.
Muscles become pistons, intestines become filtering pipes, and, of course, brains become computers.
Three of the exhibit interactives are powered by powerful Silicon Graphics workstations, offering visitors a chance to use some of the latest, most innovative computer technology. Use real-time color image processing to change the chameleon's color. Interact with a three-dimensional rhino in a virtual reality environment. Propel a digital squid using computational fluid dynamics. For more information about biomechanics and robotics, explore The Franklin Institute Online's Spotlight Feature about the Zoo.