Articles tagged with Mechanical Engineering
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 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 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 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 study by Virginia Tech researchers reveals that clicking beetles use a unique hinge-like tool in their thorax to generate extreme accelerations, reaching 300 times the Earth's gravitational acceleration. The snap-through unbending motion enables the beetle to launch itself into the air and move quickly between locations.
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.
Researchers studied the forces behind click beetles' signature clicking maneuver, discovering that they utilize snap-buckling and elastic recoil to release energy. The study provides insights into extreme motion, energy storage, and release in small animals like trap-jaw ants and mantis shrimps.
Dr. Guihua Yu, a materials scientist at the University of Texas, has developed new multifunctional polymeric nanostructures with unique physical properties that improve efficiency and function. His research focuses on organic nanomaterials and understanding structures down to their smallest scale.
A Columbia University engineering team has created a robot that can visually predict its partner robot's future actions and goals, showcasing a primitive form of empathy. The 'Robot Theory of Mind' technology could enable robots to better interact with humans and other robots, leading to more intuitive social communication.
A UCF engineering and biology team tested how well staghorn coral skeletons withstand natural forces and human impacts, discovering a unique safety feature: pores that relieve stress and prevent catastrophic failure. The findings will inform efforts to transplant nursery-reared coral into the wild and support future restoration efforts.
Researchers at UMD developed a morphing nozzle to control fiber orientation during composite additive manufacturing, enabling the creation of materials with on-demand properties. This innovation could lead to new biomedical and defense applications for 3D printed fiber-filled composites.
Researchers found that fibrous proteins form a solid layer on water's surface, interfering with fluid property measurements. This finding has the potential to improve bioprinting results by identifying optimal protein solution concentrations and operating parameters.
A new center at Clemson University will support research on autonomy-enabled ground vehicles, digital engineering, and virtual prototyping. The project aims to reduce timelines for innovation in the autonomous space and fuel next-wave mobility technologies.
The project, funded by NASA's University Leadership Initiative, will create a new paradigm in sensing for hypersonic vehicles. Researchers will use scientific machine learning methods to analyze aerodynamic changes during flight tests and infer where force is being applied.
UTA's David Hunn was selected as a National Academy of Inventors (NAI) fellow for his groundbreaking research in critical thinking and soldier survivability. He credits UTA with teaching him the importance of these skills, which he has applied throughout his distinguished career.
A team led by FSU researcher Kourosh Shoele is working to improve face mask design using flow physics, mechanics, and facial topology data. They hope to develop computational tools that standardize guidelines for face mask design, enabling more effective masks for a broader range of users.
Columbia researchers have created graphene plasmon polaritons without an external gate or chemical dopants, using static charge between 2D atomic layers. The discovery has broad applications in nanotechnology, including biosensing and solar energy.
A team of researchers at MIT and IIT developed a solar-powered system to generate pressurized steam for autoclaving medical tools. The system uses optically transparent aerogel to trap heat and can maintain safe sterilization conditions without electricity or fuel.
Researchers at Arizona State University developed curved origami structures that can adjust stiffness based on function, providing a new range of flexibility in robots. This technology enables robots to perform various movements by adjusting the creases used, and has implications for designing mechanical metamaterials.
A computer model developed by a RUDN University professor shows that low speeds on bumpy roads can cause significant vehicle body damage. The study found that spot welded joints are particularly prone to failure at lower speeds, affecting the vehicle's crashworthiness and service life.
Balachandran's data-driven approach predicts which alloys will perform well in extreme environments, narrowing the search for high-performance materials. His work combines artificial intelligence with quantum mechanics to make the search more productive and cost-effective.
A multidisciplinary team has demonstrated the ability to reproduce the nanostructures that help cicada wings repel water, using a simplified version of nanoimprinting lithography and commercial nail polish. The new technique produces replicas with an average of 94.4% pillar height and 106% of the original wing's pillar diameter.
Researchers have discovered how snakes can detect prey with uncanny accuracy in total darkness by converting infrared radiation into electrical signals. The cells inside the pit organ membrane are found to function as a pyroelectric material, drawing upon the electrical voltage in most cells.
Researchers at Penn State have developed a gel-based 3D bioprinting method that can create complex shapes and tissues with precise cell placement. The yield stress gel allows for the self-healing of the gel structure, enabling the creation of free-form, complex shapes.
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) team has made a breakthrough in developing miniaturized organic semiconductors for flexible electronics. The new device demonstrates a record low contact resistance, enabling significant power savings and reduced heat generation.
A research team created dual-mode sensors that capture texture and force, enabling precise measurement of movement magnitude, load, rate, duration, and direction. These sensors could aid people with severe injuries and contribute to advanced robotics.
Researchers found that many household fabrics are effective at blocking droplets, including those released by speaking and sneezing. The study used a medical mask as a benchmark and tested 11 common fabrics, finding that some even outperform medical masks in terms of breathability.