@article{KunkelSauerIsaacsetal.2025, author = {Kunkel, Maria Elizete and Sauer, Alexander and Isaacs, Carlos and Alc{\^a}ntara Ferreira Ganga, Thabata and Fazan, Leonardo Henrique and Keller Rorato, Eduardo}, title = {Teaching Bioinspired Design for Assistive Technologies Using Additive Manufacturing: A Collaborative Experience}, series = {Biomimetics}, volume = {2025}, journal = {Biomimetics}, number = {10(6), Special Issue Bioinspired Designs for Additive Manufacturing in Advanced Engineering Applications}, publisher = {MDPI}, doi = {10.3390/biomimetics10060391}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:1010-opus4-48123}, pages = {1 -- 22}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Abstract Integrating bioinspired design and additive manufacturing into engineering education fosters innovation to meet the growing demand for accessible, personalized assistive technologies. This paper presents the outcomes of an international course, "3D Prosthetics and Orthotics", offered to undergraduate students in the Biomimetic program at Westf{\"a}lische Hochschule (Germany), in collaboration with the 3D Orthotics and Prosthetics Laboratory at the Federal University of S{\~a}o Paulo—UNIFESP (Brazil). The course combined theoretical and hands-on modules covering digital modeling (CAD), simulation (CAE), and fabrication (CAM), enabling students to develop bioinspired assistive devices through a Project-based learning approach. Working in interdisciplinary teams, students addressed real-world rehabilitation challenges by translating biological mechanisms into engineered solutions using additive manufacturing. Resulting prototypes included a hand prosthesis based on the Fin Ray effect, a modular finger prosthesis inspired by tendon-muscle antagonism, and a cervical orthosis designed based on stingray morphology. Each device was digitally modeled, mechanically analyzed, and physically fabricated using open-source and low-cost methods. This initiative illustrates how biomimetic mechanisms and design can be integrated into education to generate functional outcomes and socially impactful health technologies. Grounded in the Mao3D open-source methodology, this experience demonstrates the value of combining nature-inspired principles, digital fabrication, Design Thinking, and international collaboration to advance inclusive, low-cost innovations in assistive technology.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{Sauer2019, author = {Sauer, Alexander}, title = {Bionik in der Strukturoptimierung: Bauteilgestaltung nach dem Vorbild der Natur [Hannover Messe 2019]}, series = {Konferenz: Hannover Messe 2019, 01.-05. April 2019 in Hannover}, booktitle = {Konferenz: Hannover Messe 2019, 01.-05. April 2019 in Hannover}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:1010-opus4-36959}, pages = {23}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Einen {\"U}berblick der bionischen Strukturoptimierung zeigt Prof. Dr. Alexander Sauer in dem Vortrag "Bionik in der Strukturoptimierung (Biomimetic Structural Optimization)".}, subject = {Bionik}, language = {de} }