Mechanical Engineering Category
Simaan honored as IEEE Fellow for robotics advancements
Dec. 2, 2019—Nabil Simaan, professor of mechanical engineering, has been elevated to IEEE Fellow by the Board of Directors of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. The award – effective January 1, 2020 – recognizes Simaan for contributions to dexterous continuum robotics for surgery. Technologies developed by his group have advanced surgical robotics by enabling steerable...
Structural monitoring pioneer Douglas Adams named AAAS Fellow
Nov. 26, 2019—Douglas Adams, Daniel F. Flowers Professor, has been named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science for extraordinary research contributions in experimental nonlinear dynamic systems with societal impacts in the energy, national security and manufacturing sectors. AAAS also cited Adams, Distinguished Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, for influential academic leadership....
Webster to serve on new VURC Subcommittee for International Research and Engagement
Nov. 18, 2019—Robert J. Webster III, Richard A. Schroeder Professor of Engineering, has been selected to serve on a Subcommittee for International Research and Engagement established by the Vanderbilt University Research Council to provide governance for the TIPs-funded GlobalVU initiative. The GlobalVU initiative aims to improve international research and engagement, bring more international scholars and graduate students...
Robot prototype shows promise for microsurgery on eyes and aneurysms
Nov. 14, 2019—A new continuum robot designed by Vanderbilt engineers achieves multi-scale motion and may open up a huge world of previously impossible complex microsurgeries. The robot is capable of providing both a large macro motion workspace as necessary for surgical intervention and a small micro motions workspace with motion resolutions of 1 micron or less. For...
Valentine named Vanderbilt faculty liaison with ORNL
Nov. 8, 2019—The Oak Ridge National Laboratory collaboration with Vanderbilt University will grow stronger through a new faculty liaison—a School of Engineering professor—and enhanced management of travel assistance awards. Jason Valentine, associate professor of mechanical and electrical engineering, is the new faculty liaison and will carry on the collaborations established by Carlos Lopez, assistant professor of biochemistry and biomedical informatics....
Vanderbilt Rocketeers take on the 2020 NASA Space Robotics Challenge
Nov. 7, 2019—NASA is challenging college and university rocket teams to design solutions for its proposed manned and unmanned planetary missions to the Moon and beyond. The agency is committed to landing American astronauts, including the first woman, on the Moon by 2024 through its Artemis exploration program. A 25-member engineering team—13 seniors, 9 undergraduates and three...
Soldiers partner with Vanderbilt engineers to create a new model for innovation
Oct. 12, 2019—GPS, duct tape, microwaves and computers—these everyday items have one thing in common: Each invented, in part or in whole, as the result of U.S. military research. The military’s rich history of innovation continues today at numerous labs and engineering centers. There is a gap, however. There are myriad problems at the warfighter level that...
Vanderbilt engineers lead $1 million NSF pilot to develop tech for workforce inclusion of people with autism
Oct. 11, 2019—A Vanderbilt mechanical engineering professor is leading an ambitious pilot project that will develop prototypes of new, AI-based technology and tools to train, connect and support people with autism spectrum disorders in finding jobs and succeeding in the workforce. The multi-university, multi-disciplinary team is at the forefront of a new NSF program that aims to...