Mechanical Engineering News
Lessons in leadership from a 92-year-old product designer
Monday, March 7, 2016
Barbara Beskind discusses the importance of observing, listening, trusting, and learning from mistakes
Manu Prakash: "You Suddenly Stumble Upon Completely New and Creative Solutions"
Friday, March 4, 2016
Stanford bioengineers explore the inner workings of a novel mode of insect flight.
On the road to a safer driving experience
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
By testing the physical limits of speeding cars, a group of engineers hope to develop safer autonomous driving systems.
What if we could shape ideas the way a sculptor molds clay?
Thursday, February 11, 2016
An engineer designs computers that let us think with our hands.
Meet "Hedgehog": Your tour guide to asteroids, comets and other things that whirl around the solar system
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
A team of engineers builds a cube-like rover for exploration in some of the most extreme conditions in space.
Stanford researchers develop microscope that allows first-ever look at live muscle units in action
Thursday, December 17, 2015
The basic process of force-generation in muscle has been known for decades, but until now no one has ever seen it work at a microscopic level in a living human. The new microscope could provide unique insights into treating muscular degenerative diseases.
Stanford team develops software to predict and prevent drone collisions
Friday, December 11, 2015
How do we prevent collisions when thousands of drones are flying in congested areas? A software-enabled system could play the role of an autonomous air traffic manager for unmanned flights.
Stanford-led skyscraper-style chip design could boost electronic performance by factor of a thousand
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
In modern computer systems, processor and memory chips are laid out like single-story structures in a suburb. But suburban layouts waste time and energy. A new skyscraper-like design, based on materials more advanced than silicon, provides the next computing platform.
Stanford engineers among recipients of Precourt Institute and TomKat Center $2.1 million grants
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Grants will fund groundbreaking energy research
Plasma experiments bring astrophysics down to Earth
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
New laboratory technique allows researchers to replicate on a tiny scale the swirling clouds of ionized gases that power the sun, to further our understanding of fusion energy, solar flares and other cosmic phenomena.
Atom-sized craters make a catalyst much more active
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
SLAC, Stanford Engineering discovery could speed important chemical reactions, such as making hydrogen fuel
Introducing MARTY, Stanford's self-driving, electric, drifting DeLorean
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Stanford engineers built an autonomous DeLorean capable of stable, precise drifting at large angles in order to study how cars perform in extreme situations, which could ultimately guide the development of autonomous safety protocols.
Tension helps heart cells develop normally in the lab, according to Stanford engineers
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Researchers have long been able to prod stem cells into forming heart-like beating clumps in the lab, but those cells don't behave like normal heart cells. Getting them to mimic normal adult cells – a critical step for eventually using them to test drugs – requires tension and a specific shape.
Arun Majumdar named co-director of Stanford's Precourt Institute for Energy
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Arun Majumdar, a professor of mechanical engineering at Stanford, will serve as co-director of the university's Precourt Institute for Energy. He will serve with the current director, Sally M. Benson, professor of energy resources engineering.
Stanford engineers find secret to steady drone cameras in swan necks
Friday, August 28, 2015
By solving how whooper swans keep their heads steady during flapping flight, Stanford engineers have developed a camera suspension system that could allow drones to produce crisper video images.
Stanford d.school's Bernie Roth recommends a bias toward action
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
In his new book, Roth says he believes that people can lead more fulfilling lives by actually doing things, instead of merely trying to do things.
Stanford high-speed video reveals how lovebirds keep a clear line of sight during acrobatic flight
Monday, July 6, 2015
Lovebirds turn their heads at record speeds to maneuver through densely crowded airspace. Stanford Engineering's David Lentink says this strategy could be applied to drone cameras to improve visual systems.
Stanford researchers stretch a thin crystal to get better solar cells
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Crystalline semiconductors such as silicon can catch photons and convert their energy into electron flows. New research shows that a little stretching could give one of silicon's lesser-known cousins its own place in the sun.
Stanford collaboration with General Motors recognized by the American Society for Engineering Education
Monday, June 22, 2015
Excellence in Engineering Education Collaboration Award recognizes joint development of course that helps GM engineers improve products, processes and services.
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.
