Articles tagged with Mechanical Engineering
Researchers at the University of Illinois designed a tube-in-tube heat exchanger with significantly higher volumetric power density than current state-of-the-art devices. The optimized design enables more efficient energy transfer in industries requiring compact and high-performance heat exchangers.
A Swiss research team created a nanogenerator made from functionalized wood, generating 80 times more electricity than natural wood. The device can power household LED lamps and small electronic devices, demonstrating a potential sustainable energy source for smart buildings.
Researchers from Tel Aviv and Berkeley Universities propose a model for seaweed farms to absorb nitrogen, reducing pollution in estuarine and marine environments. The study shows that these farms can produce a natural decontamination facility with significant ecological and economic value.
A team of MIT engineers has developed a drug delivery capsule that can inject large quantities of monoclonal antibodies and other proteins into the stomach lining after being swallowed. The capsule overcomes a major challenge in delivering these drugs orally, which are usually administered via injections.
Researchers at UNIST have developed a thermoelectric tube using 3D printing that can effectively convert waste heat into electricity. The new technology has a high thermoelectric performance and is more effective than conventional cuboid-shaped devices.
Researchers from Binghamton University and Harvard Medical School are using computer modeling and advanced imaging to study brain folding and growth in fetuses. They hope to understand the underlying mechanism of how brains form and how early weeks affect later life.
A low-cost prototype breathing device designed for poorer-resourced healthcare settings has shown promising results in a pilot trial involving healthy volunteers. The device provides continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy and operates with oxygen concentrators, which are commonly used in low-pressure systems.
Researchers at Caltech studied ant digging habits and uncovered mechanisms guiding their tunnel construction. Ants use efficient techniques to minimize work, digging straight tunnels along cup edges, and sensing force chains to avoid digging there.
The NIST-developed emberometer uses digital cameras to track embers in mid-air and reconstruct their 3D shapes. This tool helps researchers understand the behavior of embers, which can aid in developing better protection for structures during wildfires.
Engineers at MIT and the University of Twente study water jet impacts on droplets to inform needle-free injection systems. They developed a model predicting fluid jet behavior in human skin, aiming to minimize damage.
A POSTECH research team developed a water-driven self-operating soft actuator that exceeds the strength and speed of conventional soft actuators. The actuator is inspired by the mutable collagenous tissue of sea cucumbers, which can change shape in response to water uptake.
A UC Riverside materials scientist has received a $2 million grant to improve the scalability of quantum computers, allowing them to operate at room temperature. The project aims to create design guidelines and manufacturing strategies for hybrid organic-inorganic structures that can produce quantum computers on a larger scale.
Engineers at MIT have developed a soft, lightweight neuroprosthetic hand that enables amputees to perform daily activities with ease. The prosthetic features a system for tactile feedback, allowing users to feel sensations in their residual limb, and is potentially low-cost for low-income families.
Researchers at MIT have quantified the phenomenon for the first time, finding that boiling droplets on hot oily surfaces move rapidly due to a thin oil cloak coating the outside of each water droplet. This cloak acts as a kind of balloon skin, holding vapor bubbles in place and imparting momentum.
A POSTECH research team has developed an encrypted hologram printing platform that works in both natural light and laser light using the metasurface technology. The device can produce a holographic color image retaining specific polarization, setting it apart from previously reported holograms.
Researchers created a new type of 'chain mail' fabric with hollow octahedrons that can stiffen up to 25 times its original stiffness when vacuum-packed. This technology has potential applications in bullet-proof vests, medical support for the elderly, and protective exoskeletons.
A team of engineers discovered that the unique design of fish fins, with layered structures made up of stiff and soft materials, enables them to achieve remarkable dexterity and flexibility. This finding could lead to new materials and technologies for robotic applications and aircraft design.
The MIT-designed tactile glove can map subtle changes in pressure across the palm, helping to restore motor function after stroke. The glove's sensors can also track pulse and vital signs accurately, even during movement.
Researchers at Ohio State University developed built-in resonators that can be cut into walls or vehicle material to suppress vibrations and reduce noise. The design has potential applications in soundproofing walls and building airplane frames that minimize sound intrusion.
Researchers found significant periodic flow velocity fluctuations in fuel injector ignite combustion oscillations, leading to high mechanical stress on the combustion chamber. The findings provide a reasonable answer for why these oscillations occur and have significant implications for preventing fatal damage in critical engines.
A new research project aims to create strong, malleable biomaterials that support stem cell growth for improved skull reconstruction surgeries. The $2.4 million grant will help accelerate bone regeneration and reduce complications.
The University of Washington is leading a new NSF institute focused on using artificial intelligence to understand dynamic systems, which describe chaotic situations where conditions are constantly shifting and hard to predict. The institute aims to integrate fundamental AI theory with applications in critical technological areas.
Researchers discovered that honey bees plan ahead to create irregular-shaped cells and varying angles to bridge together uniform lattices when space constraints occur. By studying natural honeycombs and computer modeling, the team gained insights into how evolution can lead to multipurpose, strong, and resilient structures.
Researchers developed a mechanical theory to determine the critical force required for needle insertion in soft materials like skin, discovering that tissue toughness and needle radius play crucial roles. The model provides quantitative predictions and may impact future technology like self-administered disposable pads with microneedles.
Ashfaq Adnan's team uses 3D printing to create multilayered materials for smart helmets, absorbing impact energy and deflecting directed energy attacks. The resulting helmets will be lightweight and resistant to blast impacts, alerting soldiers to potential dangers.
Researchers from Florida Atlantic University developed a new technology that enables prosthetic hands to distinguish between complex, multi-textured surfaces using liquid metal sensors and machine learning algorithms. This innovation could improve control of prosthetic hands and provide haptic feedback for amputees.
A team of researchers has created a new normal brain growth curve chart for children, resolving decades-long issues in the field. The study found that male and female brains grow differently, but not in terms of cognitive ability, and that there is a universal ratio between brain size and cerebrospinal fluid volume.
Researchers at MIT have developed a sweat-proof electronic skin patch that can monitor vital signs like temperature and hydration over long periods of time. The patch's design features artificial sweat ducts and a kirigami-like pattern to prevent sweat accumulation and sensor damage, enabling reliable health tracking.
A new biosensor developed by Purdue University can record and image tissues and organs simultaneously during surgery, allowing for accurate localization of critical regions. The sensor's unique design and soft bio-inks enable seamless interfacing with the curvilinear surface of organs, making it suitable for various sizes and shapes.
A team of researchers from Penn State, University of Nebraska--Lincoln, and NIST proposed a six sigma framework of quality control for additive manufacturing. The method involves five steps: defining, measuring, analyzing, improving, and controlling, to eliminate defects and drive profits.
Researchers at Nanyang Technological University created millimetre-sized robots that can be controlled using magnetic fields to perform highly manoeuvrable manipulations. These robots improve on existing small-scale robots by optimizing their ability to move in six degrees-of-freedom, and can rotate 43 times faster than previous devices.
Kelly Patterson, a University of Texas at Arlington doctoral student, has earned a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship for her research on designing and improving critical infrastructure. With the three-year stipend, she will focus on bridge and hazard mitigation research.
Researchers at NTU and Rice University have discovered the key to h-BN's extraordinary toughness, which can withstand ten times more force than graphene. The team found that the unique chemical composition of h-BN causes cracks to branch off their path, making it less likely to fracture.
A study by Florida Atlantic University quantifies the optimal mangrove root hydrodynamic with a predictive model, providing insight into sediment transport and erosion processes. The research suggests that optimizing porosity can mitigate coastal erosion and promote biodiversity.
Researchers at Samara Polytech systematized main transformation pathways of o-quinone methides into chromene and chromanes. The review article highlights compounds of interest for medical chemistry.
Researchers at Columbia Engineering have developed a new autonomous robot called EVA, which uses artificial intelligence to teach itself how to make appropriate reactive human facial expressions. This technology has the potential to improve interactions between humans and robots in various settings, such as nursing homes and factories.
Scientists have developed a more efficient way to perform biological and chemical experiments using microfluidic chips, reducing collisions by 300% with strategically placed obstacles
Researchers at Florida Atlantic University will assess safety measures against airborne transmission of viral infections. They will evaluate various protective measures, including facemasks and air filters, to develop experimentally verified computational strategies for mitigating airborne transmission.
A team of UMass Lowell students won the Rist Campuswide DifferenceMaker award for their invention of TrueFIT, a product that detects and seals leaks in ill-fitting face masks. The team aims to protect people in their everyday lives as well as workers in various industries.
Engineers can now determine material properties like stress and strain from images of their internal structure, reducing computational complexity. The AI-powered approach uses computer vision and machine learning to generate estimates in real-time.
Professor Amro M. Farid, a Dartmouth associate professor, has been awarded the 2021 Fulbright Future Scholar award in Australia. He will work on the 'Architecting Australia's Nexus Infrastructure of Energy, Water & Hydrogen' project to contribute to the country's national hydrogen strategy.
Researchers discovered that aerosolized droplets generated by flushing a toilet and urinal in public restrooms pose a significant risk of transmitting COVID-19. The study found that these small droplets can remain suspended for hours, contaminating the air and increasing the risk of infection.
Researchers found that accelerating over speed bumps poses a danger for pregnant women and their fetuses, leading to minor injuries to the fetal brain and other complications. The study advises drivers to slow down over 45km/h when hitting a speedbump, with even lower speeds recommended for maximum safety.
Researchers at Monash University developed a new technique to speed up bone implant recovery by altering the shape and nucleus of individual stem cells. The micropillar array 'tricks' the cells into becoming bone, increasing bone production by four times compared to current methods.
A unique head-mounted mini-microscope device has enabled researchers to image complex brain functions of freely moving mice in real time over a period of more than 300 days. The device, known as the mini-MScope, allows holistic imaging of much of the mouse brain surface and captures connections between regions across the cortex.
The UMass Amherst team has made a significant breakthrough in creating ultrathin flexible materials that can self-organize and respond immediately to mechanical force. By modifying the curvature and tension of a membrane, researchers were able to control the positions of tiny solid plates within the membrane.
Isaac Elishakoff, a distinguished research professor at FAU, has received the coveted Blaise Pascal Medal for his outstanding contributions to science and technology. The award recognizes his pioneering work in various areas of applied mechanics research and education.
Researchers create liquid-lubricant surface that encourages tiny water droplets to move spontaneously into larger droplets, enhancing water harvesting. The 'coarsening droplet phenomenon' facilitates rapid collection of water droplets, clearing surfaces for new condensation.
Researchers have developed a way to harvest energy from radio waves to power wearable devices, offering a sustainable and continuous energy source. The system consists of stretchable metal antennas that convert ambient radio waves into electricity, which can be used to power health-monitoring sensors.
A multidisciplinary team of researchers has developed a new class of material with the potential to keep chips cool as they shrink in size, helping to meet the requirements of miniaturizing transistors on dense chips. The material has both low electrical conductivity and high heat transfer capability.
Researchers at Florida State University developed a method to automatically infer parameters used in quantum Boltzmann machines, which can be applied to train artificial neural networks for tasks like image recognition and drug discovery.
Researchers created a quadruple fusion optical and ultrasound imaging system, integrating four modalities: ultrasound, photoacoustic, optical coherence tomography, and fluorescence imaging. The system uses a transparent ultrasound transducer to produce high-quality images without limitations.
Engineers developed a new class of mechanical metamaterials that delocalize deformations to prevent failure. The materials feature a 25-fold enhancement in deformability and an orders-of-magnitude increase in energy absorption.
Researchers at the University of Trento have discovered that dandelion clocks can trap air when submerged in water, leading to the development of new materials that could be used in underwater operations. The discovery was made by students and professors who were inspired by a observation made by a high school student.
A RUDN University professor has developed a method to calculate the permeability of bone implants by biological fluids. The study found that both porosity and pore size affect material permeability, with higher porosity leading to increased permeability.
Researchers at UC San Diego created a four-legged robot that doesn't need electronics, using pressurized air for controls and locomotion. The robot mimics mammalian reflexes and can navigate uneven surfaces with the help of pneumatic circuits.
A new tool using machine learning predictive modeling has been developed to predict the success of extubating ICU patients on intensive mechanical ventilation. The study analyzed data from over 1,000 patients and showed a significant reduction in reintubation rate from 9% to 1%.
Researchers at UT Austin will develop methods to validate the cost and scalability of autonomous cargo operations, leveraging machine learning and computational engineering. The team aims to address public concerns about noise pollution, safety, and emissions through mathematical models and terrain-based surface design.
A research team at Pohang University of Science & Technology developed a switchable display device using nanostructures that can encrypt full-color images depending on the polarization of light. The device boasts high resolution (approximately 40,000 dpi) and wide viewing angle while being thin.
Researchers at the University of Illinois used artificial materials with defects to study topological features and demonstrate a practical approach for exploring unconventional materials. They created a method for trapping fractional charges on disclination defects, which signals the presence of certain kinds of topology.