Biological Altitude Testing Lab (BAT)
The BAT Lab is located in the Chemical Engineering Department in the
College of Engineering & Applied Science. Originally the lab studied
the effects of high altitude on living systems. The use of hyperbaria (the
Gamow Bag®) for the treatment of High Altitude diseases- high altitude
pulmonary edema and high altitude cerebral edema - has been shown to be
the treatment of choice. Hypobaria (High Altitude Bed) is currently being
studied as a means by which athletes can "train" (acclimatize)
at the equivalent of high altitude (i.e. Leadville) while they sleep and
then work out at the lower altitude where they live.
Other research projects study bionics - the science of living machines.
The "Gorilla Crutch" and "Spring Loaded Knees" use models
of spring mechanisms in animals to enhance orthopedic devices. The efficient
nature of dolphin and tuna swimming techniques are being modeled into human
powered swimming devices - Magic Fluke.