Explore bio-inspired design with arthropods, including spiders, crabs, insects, and isopods! This VIP will utilize the BAM Laboratory's 3D printing facilities to focus on macro- to micro-scale fabrication technology, select specific features students can additively manufacture, and integrate microhydraulics to build compliant structures such as micro-grippers and invertebrate-inspired metamaterials. This project will study arthropods through 3D printing. Arthropods, including spiders, crabs, insects, and isopods, are a phylum of invertebrates with bodies built of hardened segments connected by membranous joints. These hard-soft compliant structures, which can be driven by internal hydraulic systems, are a fantastic model for bio-inspiration of soft robots and lightweight actuators. This project will take place in the Bio-Inspired Manufacturing (BAM) Laboratory, who previously established methods to 3D print soft structures with fully integrated fluidic circuitry in a single print run. The project will take advantage of the lab's printing facilities, from macro- to micro-scale fabrication technology. Students will explore this ubiquitous group of animals, select specific features they can additively manufacture, and integrate microhydraulics to build compliant structures such as micro-grippers and invertebrate-inspired metamaterials.