Ancient Art Inspires Engineers to Fuel-Saving Solution

Dr. Ashley P. Thrall, director of the University’s Kinetic Structure Laboratory, and her team drew inspiration from origami, the ancient art of folding paper into amazing creations. Thrall is the Myron and Rosemary Noble Assistant Professor of Structural Engineering. The Kinetic Structures Laboratory is the only university laboratory in the United States that is dedicated to investigating kinetic structures for civil engineering applications.

“When Dr. Thrall showed me around the lab, there were moving structures and origami structures,” said Angelene Dascanio, an undergraduate student on the team. “It really changed my view of what I thought research entailed. She encouraged me to use my creativity in creating these designs.”