Autovation
Autovation is a collaboration between OMSI, Dick Hannah Dealerships and Washington State University Vancouver’s Creative Media and Digital Culture (CMDC) program. As part of OMSI’s educational focus on the areas of Innovation & Engineering and Energy & the Environment, it is designed to highlight how advances in automobile technology have improved safety and increased fuel efficiency. The students of WSU Vancouver’s CMDC program not only conceptualized the exhibit piece, but also designed and developed all of its interactive components, which entailed coding, programming and media production.
Directly inside the Turbine Hall entrance, a full-sized automobile unibody is mounted dramatically in an elevated position. Though this structure is stripped down to its bare bones, the vehicle’s “inner workings” come into view with the help of state-of-the art AR (augmented reality) technology. Visitors can point built-in iPad viewers or even their own smart phones at key areas of the car to bring it to life.
Earthquake House
Drop, cover, and hold on in OMSI's newly renovated Earthquake House, where you can experience simulations of two earthquakes that happened in the Pacific Northwest—one a magnitude 5.6 and the other a 6.8! Find out how likely damage from natural disasters is to occur in your neighborhood using the new Natural Hazards in Portland computer kiosk. Print out and take home hazard information about your neighborhood and tips on preparing for such events.
Engineer It
This 7300 square foot exhibit in the main area of the Turbine Hall. It introduces the principles of engineering with fun and challenging hands-on activities, including bridge building sets, CAD workstations, and boat building kits.
Engineer It!
Human Plus (New)
This exhibit is on view at OMSI for a limited time before moving on to its new location at The New York Hall of Science. Human Plus: Real Lives + Real Engineering offers visitors a chance to explore and create a range of low and high-tech tools that extend human abilities. The interactive exhibit involves riding a mono-ski in a simulated ski race, controlling a DJ station using the wheels of a wheelchair, engineering unique solutions to design challenges and even discovering how someone can control a neuroprosthetic limb with their thoughts!
Human Plus showcases compelling engineering stories from an innovative field that improves lives every day.
Innovation Station
Technology fills every day of our lives. At Innovation Station you can experience the excitement of invention as you explore technology in a whole new way. Then, get creative and invent something incredible yourself. Program a robot, build an aqueduct, or design your own flying machine. Step inside the Inventors Ball Room and build your own crazy contraptions to send balls whizzing, flying, and bouncing!
