Blog: Play-Powered Engineering—From Puppets to Inclusive Toys

Engineering doesn’t always appear as machines or circuits. Sometimes it takes the form of a sock puppet explaining a chemical reaction, a Plexiglas enzyme in motion, or a robotic dog navigating a maze. Across classrooms and workshops, these playful projects turn complex science into tangible, interactive experiences, showing how imagination can make engineering both approachable and impactful.

Puppets as engineers of the imagination

At the University of Portsmouth, the “Puppets as Engineers of the Imagination” project set out to make enzyme science visible and memorable. Researchers and students wanted to show how enzymes break down plastic—an invisible molecular process—by translating it into live performance. Puppetry became the medium because it allowed chemistry to be given movement, character, and narrative, turning abstract science into something audiences could see and respond to.
Behind the stage, however, the effort was as much about mechanics as storytelling. Sock puppets were stitched with flexible seams and simple hinged inserts, allowing mouths to open and close in sync with spoken explanations. Shadow figures were cut from card and mounted on rods with small pivot points, so the enzymes could “reach” and “snap” toward plastic fragments. Marionettes, suspended by strings, used lightweight wooden joints that gave the puppets a natural flexibility—echoing the way real enzymes shift shape when binding to molecules. The Plexiglas shadow-puppet enzymes brought the most technical precision: laser-cut forms with hinged sections that rotated to “capture” plastic cutouts and release them under a spotlight.

This repeatable binding-and-breaking sequence became a mechanical model of catalysis, turning the hidden workings of chemistry into visible motion.

Pupper, an AI-powered robot dog

The same spirit is alive at Stanford University, where students in the CS 123 course build their own robotic dogs—adorably named Pupper—that straddle the line between classroom project and real-world robotics lab.

Pupper may look like a toy at first glance, but its mechanics are anything but simple. Each leg is powered by torque-controlled brushless motors and precision linkages, giving the robot balance, agility, and the ability to adapt to uneven terrain. Its carbon-fiber and 3D-printed frame is light enough for experimentation yet robust enough to withstand repeated testing.

What makes Pupper truly distinctive is how students infuse it with intelligence. Using onboard microcontrollers and single-board computers, they integrate sensors, cameras, and accelerometers that allow the robot to learn from its environment. Reinforcement learning algorithms fine-tune its gait, while computer vision modules let it track objects or respond to voice commands.

Teams push the design further with attachments ranging from articulated robotic arms to water-spraying modules for simulated firefighting. Like the puppetry workshops or toy adaptation projects, Pupper reveals how engineering is not just about technical precision but also about creativity, iteration, and responsiveness to the world around it.

Even if it is a robotic dog trotting on four legs, the lesson is the same: play is a powerful gateway to innovation.

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Reimagined ride-on cars

Meanwhile, at Rutgers University, the focus shifts from playful prototypes to purposeful design, though the joy of creation remains just as profound. Senior electrical engineering students launched A’s 4 All (A4A), a student-led club dedicated to adapting battery-powered ride-on toys for children with disabilities. 

The students don’t just decorate these miniature cars—they carefully retrofit each one so children can operate them safely and independently using customized switches, supports, or modified controllers tailored to their unique needs. Families receive the toys at no cost, but the real gift is the mobility, freedom, and laughter they inspire. In a single semester, the club’s 50 active members transformed toys for five families, with plans to assist even more. For some students, the experience has been life-changing; one member described how seeing the tangible impact of accessible engineering inspired a shift in career goals toward prosthetics, a field where innovation meets empathy.

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A4A organizes its work around individual projects named for each child, allowing engineers to address specific physical and sensory requirements. For example, in the “Robertron” project, the team added a five-point harness designed to stabilize Robert’s posture, accommodating his strong legs and weaker arms while allowing room for growth. They engineered adjustable seating with stackable layers held by Velcro, carefully maintaining a 90-degree leg angle that could be fine-tuned over time.

To ensure the harness remained secure and reliable, a supportive pipe structure was built behind the seat, providing reinforcement and stability. Across all projects, students consider factors such as balance, force distribution, tactile feedback, and ergonomics, creating toys that are as functional as they are fun. What starts as a simple ride-on car becomes a complex exercise in mechanical design, human-centered engineering, and compassionate problem-solving—a vehicle not just for play, but for inclusion, independence, and connection.

The takeaway

From puppets explaining enzymes to robotic dogs and adapted ride-on cars, they share a common thread. They demonstrate how engineering thrives when it engages with people, with curiosity, and with creativity. Puppets and play may seem simple, but they carry significant educational and societal value. A sock puppet explaining a chemical reaction can spark a student’s lifelong fascination with science. A robotic dog built in a classroom can reveal the mechanics of motion and the possibilities of AI in a way that feels immediate and tangible. A reengineered ride-on car can demonstrate to children and engineers alike that creativity can enhance quality of life, one playful innovation at a time.

Aida M. Toro is a lifestyle writer from New York City.