This module compares and contrasts the structure and physiology of the living world, the underlying engineering principles, and how these are important in the appearance of animatronics. This will include:

- Abstraction versus realism
- Styles of computer generated animals and plants
- Vertebrate and invertebrate general features
- Vertebrate groups, similarities and differences
- Mammalian features, particularly human
- Skeletal structure and posture
- Levers and muscle pairs
- Joint types and dexterity
- Invertebrate groups
- Hydraulic skeletons
- Plant group features
- Evolution and zoogeography

One assessment with two components (Learning Outcomes 1, 2 and 3):
Report 2000 words critically appraising 3 computer generated figures with different levels of realism.
1 hour open book class test, testing the substance of the report.

Lectures 24 hours
Tutorials 12 hours
2 (1:n), (1:20)

Bowes, B.G., 1999, A Colour Atlas of Plant Structure, Manson Publishing Ltd., ISBN 1874545162
Dixon, D., 1982, After Man, A Zoology of the Future, Granada Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0246115777
Gray, H. Anatomy of the Human Body, 2000, 20th Edition, available on line Bartleby.com, 1976, Philadelphia: Lea Febiger ISBN 0812103777
Schmidt-Nielsen, K., 1972, How Animals Work, Cambridge University Press ISBN 0521084172 & 0521096928
Withers, P.C., 1992, Comparative Animal Physiology, Fort Worth: Saunders College Pub. ISBN 0030128471

None

Access to the web and library, plus general computing facilities.