Articles tagged with Mechanical Engineering
Researchers at Texas A&M University have developed a new type of adhesive that could improve the comfort and safety of wearable medical devices. The adhesive, made from polyelectrolyte-complex coatings, is water-based and has been shown to match the strength of commercial-grade adhesives while reducing skin irritation.
The study successfully demonstrated impedance tuning of a 250 GHz waveguide transition, validating the effectiveness of mechanical tuning as a method to compensate for fabrication-induced performance variation. Terahertz frequencies above 100 GHz offer extremely wide bandwidths suitable for next-generation wireless communications.
Researchers at SwRI create a custom test rig to study how blending hydrogen into liquid natural gas affects storage tank temperatures and steel material integrity. The goal is to determine if tanks can endure lower temperatures without compromising safety.
Researchers developed an AI system that enables a four-legged robot to adapt its gait to different terrain, just like animals. The robot learned to switch gaits on the fly and navigate uneven surfaces without any alterations to the system itself, overcoming previous limitations around adaptability.
A new laser machining method enables high-precision patterned laser micro-grooving with root mean square errors below 0.5 μm. This technique allows for rapid and scalable manufacturing of custom microstructures, advancing applications in microfluidic devices, sensors, and heat dissipation systems.
A University of Houston engineer has developed a method to create strong and eco-friendly materials from bacterial cellulose, which could replace plastic in various industries. The new material has high tensile strength flexibility, foldability, optical transparency, and long-term mechanical stability.
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is expanding its heat exchanger testing capabilities to include megawatt-scale performance evaluations. This move addresses a significant market gap for high-heat transfer rates involving high-temperature and -flowrate applications in data centers, defense, and other fields.
A team of researchers has developed a heat sink system using a wax-based phase change material to efficiently cool electronics in space. The system has shown promising results in its first satellite experiments, with the melting wax significantly increasing the time that electronics can operate within a safe temperature range.
Researchers at Pohang University of Science and Technology developed a novel dry adhesive technology using shape memory polymers, allowing for precise micro-LED chip transfer with minimal residue. The technology offers significant advantages over conventional methods, including high adhesion strength and easy release.
Researchers used foam-entrapped supercritical CO2 to prevent stored carbon from moving back to the surface. The approach shows promise for enhancing oil recovery and reducing CO2 migration.
Researchers found that intercellular flow plays a major role in tissue response to deformation, affecting organs' adaptability to conditions like aging and cancer. The study's findings could inform the design of artificial tissues and organs.
International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing (IJEM) achieves a new Impact Factor of 21.3, surpassing 20 for the first time and maintaining its position as top journal in the field. IJEM has attracted submissions from 853 institutions in 81 countries.
Researchers have developed a technique to observe phonon dynamics in nanoparticle self-assemblies, enabling the creation of reconfigurable metamaterials with desired mechanical properties. This advance has wide-ranging applications in fields such as robotics, mechanical engineering, and information technology.
Researchers at MIT developed a machine learning-based adaptive control algorithm that enables autonomous drones to adapt to unknown disturbances like gusting winds. The system achieves 50% less trajectory tracking error than baseline methods in simulations.
Researchers have developed a new method to physically restore original paintings using digitally constructed films that can be removed if desired. The process uses a polymer film mask printed on a very thin film and aligned to an original painting, which takes around 3.5 hours from start to finish.
Rice University students have developed a cutting-edge wearable haptic wristband that can deliver two distinct forms of tactile feedback. The device aims to make virtual reality more immersive and accessible, and is entirely self-contained with a modular design that makes it easy to repair and integrate into different environments.
Researchers at Harvard developed link-bots, centimeter-scale robots composed of V-shaped chains with notched links, capable of coordinated movements and emergent collective behavior. The team demonstrated link-bots' ability to move forward, stop, change direction, squeeze through gaps, and cooperate on tasks.
MIT engineers developed a new resin that turns into two different solids depending on the type of light, enabling the creation of complex structures with easily dissolvable supports. This method speeds up the 3D-printing process and reduces waste by allowing for recycling and reuse of the supports.
Researchers at UH found cells can detect weak electric fields due to active matter in the cell membrane. This discovery could lead to breakthroughs in medical devices, biosensors, and disease therapies.
Quaise Energy has successfully demonstrated its novel drilling technique on a full-scale oil rig, aiming to prove that clean, renewable geothermal energy can power the world. The company's three-tier approach involves replacing conventional drill bits with millimeter-wave energy to create deeper holes and access supercritical water.
Researchers created dynamic metashells that leap into the air on a predetermined schedule without intervention, jumping up to nine times their height. The structures were engineered to store energy and release it at a controlled timing, with scheduled jumps possible from three seconds to 58 hours in advance.
A team of researchers at Texas A&M University has received a $1.6 million grant to develop a system for rapidly accelerating the certification process of 3D-printed critical components used in military applications.
Rice University's student-led Rice Wind Energy team took second place overall at the 2025 Collegiate Wind Competition. The team designed and built a powerful wind turbine, achieving over 20 watts of power in the wind tunnel, and hosted community outreach initiatives to promote renewable energy.
Researchers have demonstrated a new technique using lasers to create ceramics that can withstand ultra-high temperatures. The technique allows for the creation of ceramic coatings, tiles, or complex three-dimensional structures, enabling increased versatility in engineering new devices and technologies.
Researchers from Florida Atlantic University and the German Electron Synchrotron mapped the internal structure of blacktip sharks in unprecedented detail, discovering a microscopic 'sharkitecture' composed of densely packed collagen and bioapatite. This intricate structure gives cartilage surprising strength while allowing flexibility.
A new imaging system can capture high-quality still images of rotating objects in real-time, enabling early detection of wear or damage. The system uses a single-pixel detector and structured illumination to overcome challenges of traditional cameras.
A new robot designed to physically support the elderly and prevent falls as they move around their homes. The Elderly Bodily Assistance Robot (E-BAR) has a set of robotic handlebars that can be used for support, with airbags that inflate instantly to catch users if they fall.
Researchers at Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH) have developed an achromatic metagrating that handles all colors in a single glass layer, eliminating the need for multiple layers. This breakthrough enables vivid full-color images using a 500-µm-thick single-layer waveguide.
Researchers at MIT created a table tennis bot that can return shots with high-speed precision, achieving a hit rate of 88% in tests. The technology could be adapted to improve the speed and responsiveness of humanoid robots for search-and-rescue operations.
Researchers at Texas A&M University are developing a new method to recover rare earth elements from old electronics, such as tablets and phones, using solid-phase extraction technology. This method aims to reduce energy use, cut down on solvents, and streamline the process, making it more environmentally friendly and commercially viable.
Engineers at Princeton University and Georgia Institute of Technology have created a method to reinforce structures without creating new weaknesses. The approach uses microstructures designed to protect against multiple loads, allowing designers to counter various stresses simultaneously.
Kavraki's interdisciplinary research in robotics and biomedicine has been recognized for its impact on manufacturing, space exploration, and medicine. Her work bridges theory and application, with contributions to novel robot motion planning, personalized cancer treatments, and drug discovery.
Researchers develop advanced materials from plant waste, enhancing wood strength without increasing weight or harming the environment. The treatment used is simple, cost-effective and safe, making it a potential replacement for traditional construction materials.
A new robotic system uses cues in a scene to determine a human's objective and quickly identify relevant objects, enabling intuitive assistance in household, workplace, and warehouse settings. The approach achieved 90% accuracy in predicting human objectives and 96% accuracy in identifying relevant objects.
Researchers at the University of Houston create ceramic materials with origami-inspired shapes and a soft polymer coating, allowing them to bend under pressure without breaking. The resulting structures have improved toughness and can be used in medical prosthetics, aerospace, and robotics.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new method to fabricate stretchable ceramics, glass, and metals using a double-network design. This material can stretch over four times its size without breaking, making it suitable for tear-resistant textiles and flexible semiconductors.
MIT engineers developed ultrathin electronic films that sense heat and other signals, reducing the bulk of conventional goggles and scopes. The new pyroelectric thin film is highly sensitive to heat and radiation across the far-infrared spectrum, enabling lighter, more portable night-vision eyewear.
A team of UVA engineering students is testing a novel, low-cost design for hypersonic research using a miniature spacecraft technology. If successful, the project could save millions of dollars per test flight and pave the way for future academic research in hypersonic flight.
The Harvard RoboBee has been equipped with crane fly-inspired legs and an updated controller, allowing it to land safely on various surfaces. The robot's delicate actuators were protected by the improved design, which enabled controlled landing tests on a leaf and rigid surfaces.
University of Cincinnati researchers, in collaboration with end users, develop a user-centered, easy-to-use assistive device to help restore hand grasping motions. The team aims to combine an exoskeleton device with functional electrical stimulation (FES) technology to create a hybrid system.
Researchers from Waseda University used machine learning to enhance the performance of photomechanical crystals, achieving up to 3.7 times greater force output compared to previously reported values. This breakthrough has significant implications for remote-controlled actuators, medical devices, and energy-efficient systems.
Researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University developed an explainable AI model for ship navigation that explains the basis for its decisions and intentions using numerical values. This technology aims to increase trust among maritime workers and contribute to the realization of unmanned ships.
Researchers found that roofs with shorter peak heights (less than three feet) should be wider to minimize heat loss, while taller peaks require equilateral triangles with a specific height-to-width ratio. These findings are similar to those seen in ancient architecture across the world.
Researchers developed a bio-inspired thermoelectric cement with a Seebeck coefficient of −40.5 mV/K, surpassing previous materials by ten times. The composite achieves superior mechanical strength and energy storage potential, enabling continuous power supply for electronic devices.
A novel machine learning-driven approach uses deep-learning operator-surrogate models to monitor critical degradation indicators in nuclear power facilities. This technique provides real-time predictions and addresses limitations of physical sensors or classical modeling predictions.
Researchers at Nagoya University developed an ultra-thin loop heat pipe to improve heat control in smartphones and tablets. The device transports heat without electricity, enabling sustained high performance without compromising on design or user experience.
Four UTA faculty members - Cameron, Dias, Shiakolas, and Yuan - recognized by the National Academy of Inventors for their outstanding research discoveries. Their innovations have made a tangible impact on society through patents, licensing, and commercialization.
Jiawei Yang creates bioadhesives with two layers, a transparent solid hydrogel layer and a clear liquid adhesive layer, to provide fast, strong, stable, and deep adhesion in the body. The new bioadhesives have potential applications in treating Parkinson's disease, heart failure, and healing damaged cartilage.
Dr. Wei Li is creating a virtual lunar welding platform to simulate welding in the moon's harsh environment, addressing temperature fluctuations and extreme vacuum conditions. The project aims to enable reliable large structure assembly on the moon, a crucial step for human colonization.
The new robotic gripper, called GRIP-tape, uses a combination of softness and stiffness to grasp fragile fruits and vegetables with precision. With its ability to navigate obstacles and deposit objects into containers, the gripper has shown promising results in lifting large fruits like lemons.
Researchers at Florida Atlantic University developed an innovative real-time ASL interpretation system using AI and deep learning. The system achieved a 98.2% accuracy rate with minimal latency, enabling fast and reliable performance for applications such as live video processing and interactive technologies.
Engineered materials mimic quantum behaviors, allowing for the simulation of Schrödinger dynamics in classical systems. This breakthrough enables the study of quantum phenomena in more accessible environments, paving the way for novel technologies.
Researchers will use sensors and software to predict AM part lifespan, enabling cost savings and extending part life. The project aims to improve Darwin software to provide detailed insights into manufacturing processes.
Researchers have developed a new type of metamaterial that stores large amounts of energy through twisting rods, with enthalpy levels 2-160 times higher than other materials. The material has potential applications in various fields such as spring-based energy storage, shock absorption, and flexible structures.
The device uses AI technology to detect potential heart problems and provides real-time health insights. It has multiple points touching the skin near the heart, allowing for more accurate tracking even during movement.
Researchers at Waseda University developed a novel self-assembly process to create multilayered films with superior thermal, mechanical, and gas barrier properties. The film exhibits enhanced hardness and self-healing ability compared to conventional materials.
Three UVA Engineering faculty members have been elected as AAAS Fellows for their groundbreaking work in computer architecture, energy transport, and hydrology. Sandhya Dwarkadas, Patrick E. Hopkins, and Venkataraman Lakshmi were recognized for their innovative research and contributions to their respective fields.
Researchers developed a new liquid-crystal-based platform to handle hundreds of optical modes in compact two-dimensional setups, overcoming optical losses. This breakthrough enables the scalability of quantum simulations and all-optical AI systems.
A team of engineers at the University of Texas at Dallas has developed a new surface design that collects and removes condensates rapidly, challenging conventional theory. The discovery reveals a limitation in existing heat transfer models and inspires a new theory to explain the phenomenon.
A team of researchers at MIT has developed a system that makes pesticides stick to plant leaves, reducing waste and costs for farmers. The new technology, which involves coating droplets with an oily material, improves the 'stickiness' of the droplets by up to a hundredfold.