We had an interesting start to our day by listening to an engineering professor discuss his research and development of the Balance device. This project is about designing a platform system that can be used to help diagnose balance problems. It is similar to the Oreka-Balance machine, but instead of one connected platform, its two platforms. Each foot is placed on a separate platform, and the platforms can move independently of one another. This machine can run various programs to help detect how a person adapts to changes in their base of support and how their center of pressure changes with the manipulation of the platform positions. We got taken to the lab room where the device is, and I actually got to try out the machine! A program was run where the plates moved forwards, backwards and tilted various times and it was interesting to think about how I was adjusting and my balance was improving as the program continued. The engineering professor also explained how the software was implemented into the device’s hardware, and how they designed the code for the device, as well as implemented emergency/security checks at numerous points in the program’s code.
Afterwards, we headed to lunch where I got seafood rice cooked in squid ink as my appetizer, and cow tongue as my main course, and of course chocolate flan for dessert. It was all very delicious to try and it was the perfect midday break. Following lunch we were introduced to the leader of the rocket club at the university. She explained what projects they had completed, and what they were working towards. She also showed us various prototypes and pieces of equipment they had used, explaining what components were typically made of fiberglass and carbon fiber.
Our final visit of the day was to the city’s soccer stadium. We received a behind-the-scenes tour of the stadium. We visited the field, the locker rooms, the club’s presidential suite (which has a food catering service of 1 Micheline star), the press rooms, the fancy bench seats, and a museum of the history of the football club. The stadium seats over 60 thousand fans, and has a cool oval shape and covering to shield the fans from the frequent Bilbao showers. The facilities were super cool to visit and perhaps next time I’m in town I will come watch a game!
We wrapped up our day with a whole-group excursion to Casco Viejo where we went souvenir shopping before also getting gelato! That, along with some quick pintxos for dinner completed the evening, and it was another lovely day in Bilbao.
