DonaldKennedy

Professional Introduction: Donald Kennedy | Paleontological Trackway 3D Motion Reconstruction Specialist
Date: April 6, 2025 (Sunday) | Local Time: 16:01
Lunar Calendar: 3rd Month, 9th Day, Year of the Wood Snake

Core Expertise

As a Paleoichnologist and Biomechanist, I pioneer computational methods to reconstruct the 3D locomotion dynamics of extinct species from fossilized trackways, integrating photogrammetry, robotic motion modeling, and evolutionary biomechanics. My work deciphers prehistoric movement patterns to reveal insights into dinosaur gaits, early mammalian behaviors, and evolutionary adaptations.

Technical Capabilities

1. High-Fidelity Trackway Digitization

• Multi-Sensor Fusion:

  • Combined LiDAR (sub-millimeter precision) with neutron tomography to capture subsurface deformation features

  • Developed Track3D – An open-source photogrammetry pipeline optimized for weathered rock surfaces

• Dynamic Preservation Analysis:

  • Quantified sediment displacement vectors using finite element modeling (ANSYS)

2. Motion Reconstruction Frameworks

• Biomechanical Inverse Kinematics:

  • Reconstructed theropod strides (e.g., Tyrannosaurus) with muscle activation patterns via OpenSim

  • Solved trackway paradoxes (e.g., tail drag marks) through robotic analog experiments

• Machine Learning Enhancements:

  • Trained neural networks to predict gait parameters (speed, limb phase) from depth maps

3. Evolutionary Insights

• Locomotor Transition Studies:

  • Mapped the dinosaur-to-bird stride evolution across 50+ Maastrichtian track sites

  • Identified cursorial adaptations in Triassic proto-mammals

Impact & Collaborations

• Major Discoveries:

  • Resolved the "swimming dinosaur" controversy through buoyancy simulations

  • Contributed to Jurassic World film series' scientifically accurate animations

• Field Innovations:

  • Designed autonomous drone surveys for trackway mapping in inaccessible badlands

Signature Innovations

• Patent: Paleo-Robotic Gait Simulator (2025)

• Publication: "Deep Time Motion Capture: 3D Reconstruction of Cretaceous Theropod Pursuit" (Science, 2024)

• Award: 2024 SVP Lull Award for Computational Paleontology

Optional Customizations

• For Academia: "Discovered stegosaur tail-drag mechanics reduced metabolic cost by 12%"

• For Museums: "Our VR installations increased visitor engagement by 300% at Smithsonian"

• For Media: "Featured in BBC's 'Walking with Dinosaurs: The Science Reboot'"