Andrew Schulz
Postdoctoral Researcher
Stuttgart
Andrew K. Schulz is currently a postdoctoral researcher in the Haptic Ingelligence department. Andrew earned his doctorate from Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) in August 2022. He received his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics in 2018 from Oklahoma State University.
Andrew’s doctoral dissertation, Mechanics and Materials of Elephant Trunks with Applications to Conservation Technology, focused on understanding the muscular hydrostat mechanics of the African Elephant (Loxodonta africana). Andrew also focused on understanding conservation perspectives and how to work with engineering, biologists, and computer scientists to advance conservation technology, starting the non-profit organization Tech4Wildlife. Andrew worked in Atlanta to bridge the gap between technical universities and zoological organizations to study various species of animals. Andrew successfully defended his thesis on 3 August 2022 under the direction of Dr. David Hu. During his Ph.D., Andrew’s work was covered in numerous media outlets, including the New York Times, The Atlantic, NPR, and Science Friday. Andrew's research also made the cover of the journal PNAS. Outside of research, he advocated for mental health in academics as well as increased resources for academics with Autism.
Andrew’s work in the LBaSS group is to understand how to design and develop bio-inspired robotic systems that help understand complex specialist species. These robotic systems will be interfaced with computer vision techniques to inform conservation practices for more successful species reintroductions. Andrew is also working on developing an open-source textbook for future conservation technology educators and advancing machine learning for conservation at the institute. Andrew is the postdoc representative for the Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) Division of Comparative Biomechanics (DCB), as well as a leader of the Conservation Technology working group for the Society of Conservation Biology (SCB). Andrew also serves as a founding member of the Engineering One Planet (EOP) network as well as a scientific advisor for several non-profits in the conservation space, including Alveus Sanctuary. Upon completion of his postdoc, Andrew is actively seeking faculty positions on the interface of biomechanics-biomaterials and conservation technology.
Using technology, we can help prevent the sixth mass extinction from wiping out all endangered species on the planet.
Biomechanics Soft Matter Physics Bio-inspired materials Conservation Technology
Elephant Grabbing Food Cubes
Despite having a trunk that weighs over 100 kg, elephants mainly feed on lightweight vegetation. How do elephants manipulate such small items? In this experimental and theoretical investigation, we filmed elephants at Zoo Atlanta showing that they can use suction to grab food, performing a behavior previously thought to be restricted to fish. We use a mathematical model to show that an elephant’s nostril size and lung capacity enables them to grab items using comparable pressures as the human lung. Ultrasonographic imaging of the elephant sucking viscous fluids show that the elephant’s nostrils dilate up to 30% in radius, which increases the nasal volume by 64%. Based on the pressures applied, we estimate that the elephants can inhale at speeds of over 150 m/s, nearly 30 times the speed of a human sneeze. These high air speeds enable the elephant to vacuum up piles of rutabaga cubes as well as fragile tortilla chips. We hope these findings inspire further work in suction-based manipulation in animals and robots.
Suction Feeding by Elephants
An elephant’s trunk is iconic. But understanding what happens inside that muscular structure during feeding has been sorely lacking. Experiments with a patient pachyderm at Zoo Atlanta reveal its tricks for inhaling everything from small cubes of rutabaga to massive volumes of water.
Elephant Skin Flexiblity
The elephant’s trunk is multifunctional: It must be flexible to wrap around vegetation but tough to knock down trees and resist attack. How can one appendage satisfy both constraints? In this combined experimental and theoretical study, we challenged African elephants to reach far-away objects with only horizontal extensions of their trunk. Surprisingly, the trunk does not extend uniformly but instead exhibits a dorsal “joint” that stretches 15% more than the corresponding ventral section. Using material testing with the skin of a deceased elephant, we show that the asymmetry is due in part to patterns of the skin. The dorsal skin is folded and 15% more pliable than the wrinkled ventral skin. Skin folds protect the dorsal section and stretch to facilitate downward wrapping, the most common gripping style when picking up items. The elephant’s skin is also sufficiently stiff to influence its mechanics: At the joint, the skin requires 13 times more energy to stretch than the corresponding length of the muscle. Using wrinkles and folds to modulate stiffness may provide a valuable concept for biology and soft robotics.
Elephant True Facts
Much of my work is highlighted on the many uses of the elephant trunk in this video describing many of the true facts regarding elephants.
Elephant Suction in Science
Science highlighted much of my work on the suction capabilities of elephant trunks along with their ability to pick up a tortilla chip without breaking it.