CHARLESHARPER

I am CHARLES HARPER, a paleobiomechanist specializing in reconstructing dinosaur locomotion through multi-physics computational simulations. With a Ph.D. in Integrative Paleorobotics (Stanford University, 2022) and a Royal Society Wolfson Fellowship (2024–2029), I have pioneered the integration of musculoskeletal modeling, finite element analysis, and deep reinforcement learning to decode the gait dynamics of extinct theropods. As the Director of the Dinosaur Motion Laboratory and Lead Investigator for the NSF-funded Jurassic Kinetics project, I bridge paleontology, robotics, and high-performance computing to resurrect the biomechanical secrets of Mesozoic giants. My 2023 development of GaitSim-3D, an AI-driven simulation platform that reduced Tyrannosaurus rex gait reconstruction errors by 55%, earned the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Innovation Award and is now utilized by 12 natural history museums globally.

Research Motivation

Dinosaurs dominated Earth for 165 million years, yet their movement remains enigmatic due to three unresolved challenges:

1. Fossil Fragmentation: Incomplete skeletal preservation obscures joint mobility and soft tissue constraints.

2. Scale-Power Paradox: Balancing mass estimates (e.g., 9-ton Spinosaurus) with energy efficiency in bipedal vs. quadrupedal gaits.

3. Evolutionary Divergence: Extrapolating avian/dinosaurian locomotion homology under varying ecological pressures.

My work redefines paleobiomechanics as a computational inverse problem, where probabilistic simulations fuse fossil morphology, trackway data, and extant phylogenetic bracketing to map extinct locomotion strategies.

Methodological Framework

My research integrates multi-physics modeling, evolutionary robotics, and field paleontology:

1. Musculoskeletal Digital Twins

• Developed DinoMove:

  • A GPU-accelerated simulator combining CT-derived bone geometry, ligament elasticity maps, and muscle activation patterns.

  • Resolved the "Allosaurus limp debate" by proving a 12° hip rotation compensated for healed femoral fractures (RMSE <0.3 m/s speed deviation).

  • Guided the Smithsonian’s T. rex exhibit redesign to reflect tail-driven balance mechanics.

2. Deep Reinforcement Learning Gaits

• Engineered RaptorRL:

  • Trained neural networks on 1.2 million simulated theropod trials to optimize energy-minimizing strides.

  • Predicted Velociraptor’s 38 km/h sprint capability with ground reaction forces matching Mongolian trackways (±15% confidence interval).

  • Adapted for Hollywood’s Jurassic Reborn film series to animate scientifically accurate dromaeosaur chases.

3. Paleoenvironment Interaction

• Launched EcoGait:

  • Simulates locomotion in Mesozoic terrains (e.g., Cretaceous mudflats, Jurassic dunes) using LIDAR-scanned paleolandscapes.

  • Revealed Brachiosaurus’s 2.4-meter stride adaptation to floodplain vegetation density (2024 Morrison Formation study).

  • Deployed in Argentina’s La Rioja Province to correlate sauropod trackways with herd migration algorithms.

Technical and Ethical Innovations

1. Open-Source Paleorobotics

   • Founded FossilSim:

     • Provides 3D printable dinosaur joint models and cloud-based simulation templates for 50+ species.

     • Collaborates with Indigenous communities to integrate oral histories of fossil sites into ecological priors (e.g., Navajo Dinetah narratives).

2. Ethical Simulation Standards

   • Co-authored Berlin Protocol:

     • Prohibits military applications of dinosaur gait models for bio-inspired combat robotics.

     • Mandates transparency in commercial use (e.g., theme park animatronics must disclose accuracy metrics).

3. Public Science Engagement

   • Created DinoStep VR:

     • Immersive experience allowing users to "walk" in a Triceratops’ gait while monitoring metabolic rates.

     • Deployed in 300+ schools to teach biomechanics through virtual paleoexpeditions.

Global Impact and Future Visions

• 2022–2025 Milestones:

  • Validated Stegosaurus plate function as dynamic stabilizers during 3.8 m/s trotting (Colorado Synchrotron study).

  • Traced theropod gait evolution to Triassic proto-dinosaurs using Markov chain phylodynamics.

  • Authored ISO 29045:2025, the first standard for paleontological simulation validation.

• Vision 2026–2030:
  Quantum Bone Dynamics: Modeling subcellular osteocyte responses to Mesozoic gravitational stresses.
  Exoplanetary Exopaleontology: Adapting frameworks to hypothesize locomotion of alien megafauna.
  Living Fossil Robotics: Embedding simulations into biohybrid robots that "learn" extinct gaits via embodied AI.

By treating each fossil as a biomechanical puzzle frozen in deep time, I strive to transform kinetic simulations from speculative animations into rigorous tools of discovery—bridging the footsteps of dinosaurs with humanity’s quest to understand life’s evolutionary choreography.