Mechanical Engineering

  • Vanderbilt University

    Quantum dots made from fool’s gold boost battery performance

      Anna Douglas holding one of the batteries that she has modified by adding millions of quantum dots made from iron pyrite, fool’s gold. (John Russell / Vanderbilt) If you add quantum dots – nanocrystals 10,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair – to a… Read More

    Nov. 11, 2015

  • Vanderbilt University

    Tiny mechanical wrist gives new dexterity to needlescopic surgery

    With the flick of a tiny mechanical wrist, a team of engineers and doctors at Vanderbilt University’s Medical Engineering and Discovery Laboratory hope to give needlescopic surgery a whole new degree of dexterity. Needlescopic surgery, which uses surgical instruments shrunk to the diameter of a sewing… Read More

    Jul. 23, 2015

  • Vanderbilt University

    Zelik, team discover hip, foot muscles more important to walking than previously thought

    Karl Zelik (Vanderbilt University) In his effort to develop better prosthetic limbs, Karl Zelik had to start with deciphering more clearly how muscles function in walking. His path not only led to a better way of quantifying human locomotion, but also to the discovery that muscles around… Read More

    Jul. 9, 2015

  • Vanderbilt University

    Engineer uses cotton candy to build artificial blood vessels

    Vanderbilt University mechanical engineer Leon Bellan is working to create artificial human capillary blood vessels using cotton candy and gelatin. His goal is for researchers to use these man-made capillaries to help keep artificial organs and other tissues alive, which could dramatically impact the field of regenerative medicine. Vascular… Read More

    Apr. 1, 2015

  • Vanderbilt University

    Mars rocket demo wows at Nashville school’s assembly

    Montgomery Bell Academy students enjoy a demonstration of Vanderbilt Aerospace Club's 2014-2015 entry (far left) in NASA's Student Launch Competition. Vanderbilt students are (L-R) William Emfinger, Pranav Kumar, Conner Caldwell, Alex Goodman, Cameron Ridgewell, Fred Folz, Chris Lyne and Jacob Moore. A robotic arm moves directly over a Vanderbilt Aerospace… Read More

    Mar. 19, 2015

  • Vanderbilt University

    Sophisticated application of magnetic force enhances laparoscopic surgery

    Pietro Valdastri is convinced that the clever application of magnetic force can make minimally invasive surgery easier and more effective. “In 2007, a team of University of Texas researchers did some basic experiments using magnets in laparoscopic surgery,” said Valdastri, assistant professor of mechanical engineering and director of Vanderbilt… Read More

    Mar. 3, 2015

  • Vanderbilt University

    Engineering grad gets cameo in Nissan’s Super Bowl commercial

    Race car driver and engineering alumnus Brad Jaeger can be seen very briefly in a 90-second Nissan commercial during the 2015 Super Bowl on Feb. 1 featuring the relationship between a race car driver and his… Read More

    Feb. 6, 2015

  • Vanderbilt University

    Webster earns IEEE Early Career Award for his pioneering robotics work

    A Vanderbilt University researcher credited with pioneering work in robotics has earned one of electrical engineering’s highest honors, being recognized for innovations involving flexible, minimally invasive surgical robots. Robert Webster, associate professor of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, otolaryngology, neurological surgery and urologic surgery, will collect his Institute of Electrical and… Read More

    Dec. 10, 2014

  • Vanderbilt University

    Engineering, NROTC provide Vanderbilt undergrad challenging ways to serve

    It’s just a typical Wednesday, but mechanical engineering senior and Naval ROTC Midshipman William Bearden arrives for an interview in a pressed suit, red tie and black patent leather shoes polished to a mirror shine. If you ever see him wearing jeans, he jokes, the day is not going well. Read More

    Dec. 9, 2014

  • Jonathan Goff

    Former Redskins linebacker and ME grad to be honored as Vanderbilt legend at SEC event

    Former standout linebacker Jonathan Goff will be saluted as Vanderbilt’s legend as part of Southeastern Conference Championship activities this weekend in Atlanta. A product of St. John’s Preparatory School in Lynn, Mass., Goff was a two-time all-conference middle linebacker for Bobby Johnson-guided Vanderbilt squads. He earned four letters from… Read More

    Dec. 5, 2014