Mechanical Engineering News
Grippy, not sticky: Stanford engineers debut an incredibly adhesive material that doesn't get stuck
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
A material inspired by the unique physics of geckos' fingertips could allow robotic hands to grip nearly any type of object without applying excessive pressure.
Mechanical engineering students showcase imaginative research at first MECON
Friday, May 22, 2015
Students and faculty organized this inaugural Mechanical Engineering Conference to showcase the breadth of interdisciplinary research by the ME community.
Beth Pruitt elected a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Friday, April 10, 2015
In an interdisciplinary blend of engineering and medicine, Pruitt seeks to detect and measure the minute forces generated by living cells.
Five faculty members receive NSF Early Career Development awards
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Assistant professors Amin Arbabian, Michael Lepech, Marco Pavone, Manu Prakash and Sindy Tang awarded grants to help promising junior faculty pursue outstanding research while also improving education.
Stanford engineer helps crack mystery of bird flight
Monday, March 23, 2015
A team led by mechanical engineer David Lentink has identified the design qualities that make bird wings famously efficient over a wide range of flight styles. The research could lead to improved aircraft design.
Stanford engineering students build basketball-shooting robots
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Students in Mechanical Engineering 210 design and build bots that shoot and dunk as many "basketballs" as possible in less than two minutes.
Engineering a rowing team
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Engineering is a popular and useful major for members of Stanford's rowing team.
Stanford engineer produces free Braille-writer app
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
A touchscreen Braille writer developed during a Stanford Engineering summer course is now an app that turns an iPad into an invaluable tool for blind and visually impaired people.
Stanford-designed Hapkit brings physical touch to the virtual classroom
Thursday, January 29, 2015
National Science Foundation grant allows Stanford Engineering team to experiment with a way to combine online learning with hands-on experience.
Stanford engineers develop a device for measuring how birds take flight
Thursday, January 15, 2015
A new device invented by Assistant Professor David Lentink will answer long-held questions about the forces birds generate while flying and could lead to the development of innovative, efficient unmanned aerial vehicles.
Stanford faculty awarded seed grants for innovative energy research
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Stanford's Precourt Institute, Precourt Energy Efficiency Center and TomKat Center have awarded eight seed grants to Stanford faculty for early-stage energy research.
Stanford d.school students humanize a truck for a good cause
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Stanford students get their hands dirty designing and rebuilding a truck to serve the specific needs of San Jose's Tech Museum of Innovation.
Stanford Engineering Professor Kenneth Goodson named a Fellow of the American Physical Society
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Mechanical Engineering chairman cited 'for contributions to the understanding of phonon and electron conduction in solid films, nanostructures and in semiconductor nanoelectronics.'
Arun Majumdar named U.S. Science Envoy
Thursday, December 4, 2014
Mechanical engineering professor will focus on interactions with Poland and the Baltic Region.
Stanford honors engineering professor and LGBT center with 2014 President's Awards for Excellence Through Diversity
Monday, December 1, 2014
This year's individual winner is Sheri D. Sheppard, a professor of mechanical engineering. The 2014 program winner is the LGBT Community Resources Center.
Stanford engineers climb walls using gecko-inspired climbing device
Friday, November 21, 2014
Gecko toes have the exciting ability to adhere strongly to nearly any surface and yet release with minimal effort. In an attempt to mimic those properties of the lizards, Stanford engineers have designed a controllable adhesive system that can stick to glass and support a person's weight.
Stanford mechanical engineer Sheri Sheppard named U.S. Professor of the Year
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Sheppard receives a national honor for her innovative approach to teaching undergraduate students in a hands-on, problem-solving way that transforms large classes into small group-learning laboratories.
Two Stanford Engineering professors elected fellows of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Mark Cutkosky has been recognized for achievements in robotics, and Thomas Kenny has been honored for achievements in microelectromechanical systems.
Engineering students program smartphones to control quadcopters
Thursday, November 6, 2014
In mechanical engineering course ME 202, Stanford students learn how to turn open-source smartphone operating systems into powerful control of mechatronic devices.
Stanford engineers discover how to record the forensic history of chemical contaminations in water
Monday, November 3, 2014
An invention called a time capsule is a tiny chemistry lab designed to take a fingerprint of contamination and also disclose when it occurred.
Kenneth Goodson receives Semiconductor Research Corporation’s Technical Excellence Award
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
The award recognizes Goodson’s work studying heat transfer in electronic nanostructures and packaging, microfluidic heat sinks, and thermoelectric and photonic energy conversion devices.
Hummingbirds vs. helicopters: Stanford engineers compare flight dynamics
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
A quantitative analysis of hummingbird wings shows that they generate lift more efficiently than the best microhelicopter blades. The findings could lead to more powerful, bird-inspired robotic vehicles.
Stanford students learn to build their own bikes
Thursday, July 17, 2014
One of the most popular courses run by the Product Realization Lab, ME 204 teaches students how to build bicycles, but also patience and project management.
Professor Kenneth Goodson receives ASME’s 2014 Heat Transfer Memorial Award
Friday, June 20, 2014
The award recognizes contributions to the science and technology of phonon and electron transport and scattering in films and nanostructures.
Stanford Engineer Named a National Geographic Emerging Explorer
Friday, May 16, 2014
Xiaolin Zheng’s work developing peel-and-stick solar panels earns her a spot in 2014 class of young innovators.
