2013 MechE Grads

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 07:08:45 GMT

Photos of 2013 MechE grad students

The Hairdryer and the Ping Pong Ball

Thu, 30 May 2013 17:31:00 GMT

This video explains the fluid mechanics principles underlying the classic classroom demonstration of a ping pong ball suspended in the air stream of a hair dryer.

Tipping Criteria for Robots

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:09:19 GMT

This video demonstrates the techniques and principles behind how to design a stable robot that will not tip in motion.

Equipartition Calibration

Tue, 07 May 2013 14:30:59 GMT

Nano-to-Macro Transport Processes - Lecture 11: Energy Transfer by Waves: Plane Waves

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:08:33 GMT

Description: The main focus is the microscopic picture of waves. This lecture discusses the energy transport by waves, by using the Maxwell's equations in different electric/magnetic fields and between different interfaces. Instructor: Prof. Gang Chen

Nano-to-Macro Transport Processes - Lecture 17: Solutions to Boltzmann Equation: Diffusion Laws

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:08:33 GMT

Description: Students learn to solve the Boltzmann equation in the classical limit under relaxation time approximation in this lecture. Students also learn to derive the Fourier law, Newton shear law, and the electron transport process with the Ohm's Law. Instructor: Prof. Gang Chen

Nano-to-Macro Transport Processes - Lecture 20: Classical Size Effects, Perpendicular Direction

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:08:33 GMT

Description: This lecture continues discussion on energy transport when it travels perpendicularly to a film. It also provides solving Boltzmann equation with consideration of classical size effects under circumstances of heat carriers colliding with boundaries. Instructor: Prof. Gang Chen

Nano-to-Macro Transport Processes - Lecture 23: Liquids: Brownian Motion and Forces in Liquids

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:08:31 GMT

Description: The lecture first continues discussion on liquids. It investigates transport properties of bulk liquids, and different forces and potentials between particles and surfaces in liquids. It also explores current research in solar-cells. Instructor: Prof. Gang Chen

Nano-to-Macro Transport Processes - Lecture 10: Fundamental of Statistical Thermodynamics

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:08:01 GMT

Description: The discussion on statistical physics continues in this lecture. The instructor gives several examples in different ensemble cases, and also an application example in gas molecule. Instructor: Prof. Gang Chen

Nano-to-Macro Transport Processes - Lecture 14: Wave Phenomena and Landauer Formalism

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:08:01 GMT

Description: This lecture continues previous discussion of wave propagation in thin films, and determines the energy exchange between two points. It also explores various examples in application of tunneling. Instructor: Prof. Gang Chen

Nano-to-Macro Transport Processes - Lecture 2: Characteristic Time and Length, Simple Kinetic Theory

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:08:00 GMT

Description: This lecture elaborates on the microscopic pictures of energy carriers. It explains more details on energy transfer, and compares between micro and nanoscale phenomena, including classical size effects and quantum size effects. Instructor: Prof. Gang Chen

Nano-to-Macro Transport Processes - Lecture 4: Solutions to Schrödinger Equation, Energy Quantization

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:08:00 GMT

Description: This lecture provides the example solutions to Schrodinger equation. It also investigates the quantized energy in material waves with different quantum numbers and quantum states, including 1-D quantum well and 2-D quantum wire. Instructor: Prof. Gang Chen

Nano-to-Macro Transport Processes - Lecture 8: Density of States and Statistical Distributions

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:08:00 GMT

Description: This lecture emphasizes on density of (quantum mechanical) states in electrons, phonons, and photons, elaborating the topic with examples in the 2-D and 3-D structure. It also talks about quantum statistics. Instructor: Prof. Gang Chen

Nano-to-Macro Transport Processes - Lecture 24: Electrical Double Layer, Size Effects in Phase Change

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:07:56 GMT

Description: This lecture continues to explore the repulsive force between particles and surfaces in liquids and learn more on electrokinetics. It also investigates the size effect on phase transition. Instructor: Prof. Gang Chen

Nano-to-Macro Transport Processes - Lecture 12: EM Waves: Reflection at a Single Interface

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:07:55 GMT

Description: In this lecture, students learn to calculate the energy carried by electromagnetic (EM) waves, and understand how EM waves propagate in a medium and at an interface. Instructor: Prof. Gang Chen

Nano-to-Macro Transport Processes - Lecture 13: EM Wave Propagation Through Thin Films & Multilayers

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:07:55 GMT

Description: This lecture provides more details on the application of Snell's Law at one single interface; later, more discussion of the wave propagation in multi-layered structures, for instance thin films. It also gives out information about the first midterm exam. Instructor: Prof. Gang Chen

Nano-to-Macro Transport Processes - Lecture 21: Slip Condition, Coupled Energy Transport & Conversion

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:07:55 GMT

Description: The lecture introduces various approximate ways to tribute all effects to different boundaries/interfaces conditions, and covers topics in energy conversion and coupled transport processes. It also provides details of the second midterm exam. Instructor: Prof. Gang Chen

Nano-to-Macro Transport Processes - Lecture 22: PN Junction, Diode and Photovoltaic Cells

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:07:55 GMT

Description: This lecture uncovers the basic science of semiconductor devices and solar cells, including p-n junction and photovoltaic effects. Also, it explains the phenomenon of Shockley-Queisser limit. Instructor: Prof. Gang Chen

Nano-to-Macro Transport Processes - Lecture 1: Intro to Nanotechnology, Nanoscale Transport Phenomena

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:07:54 GMT

Description: This intro lecture gives an overview of the course and the research in the field of nanoscience and technology. It starts with review of the classical laws related to energy transport processes, and introduces microscopic pictures of energy carriers. Instructor: Prof. Gang Chen

Nano-to-Macro Transport Processes - Lecture 5: Electronic Levels in One-Dimensional Lattice Chain

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:07:54 GMT

Description: This lecture investigates the electron's energy levels in solids, including metals, insulators, and semiconductors. It also introduces the Bloch theorem to calculate the periodic potential in crystals. Instructor: Prof. Gang Chen

Nano-to-Macro Transport Processes - Lecture 9: Specific Heat and Planck's Law

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:07:54 GMT

Description: The discussion on density of states continues with quantum statistical distributions. Students also learn how to apply quantum statistics in examples of photons, phonons, and electrons. Later, it explains the fundamentals in statistical physics. Instructor: Prof. Gang Chen

Nano-to-Macro Transport Processes - Lecture 25: Statistical Foundation for Molecular Dynamics Simulation

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:07:50 GMT

Description: In this lecture, students learn about molecular dynamic simulation. Instructor: Prof. Gang Chen

Nano-to-Macro Transport Processes - Lecture 16: Fermi Golden Rule and Relaxation Time Approximation

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:07:49 GMT

Description: This lecture begins with description of term paper project and discussion on first midterm exam. It covers topics, including the collision term and scattering term in Boltzmann transport equation, relaxation time approximation, and scattering mechanics. Instructor: Prof. Gang Chen

Nano-to-Macro Transport Processes - Lecture 18: Electron Transport and Thermoelectric Effects

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:07:49 GMT

Description: This lecture starts from Boltzmann equation under time relaxation approximation, and discusses more on electron transport process. Later, it explains thermoelectric effects and other fundamentals related to the phenomena. Instructor: Prof. Gang Chen

Nano-to-Macro Transport Processes - Lecture 19: Classical Size Effects, Parallel Direction

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:07:49 GMT

Description: In this lecture, using Boltzmann equation to solve the heat and electrical conduction problem along a two-dimensional thin film is the main focus. It discusses current research in thermoelectrics and further covers the topic of classical size effects. Instructor: Prof. Gang Chen

Nano-to-Macro Transport Processes - Lecture 15: Particle Description, Liouville & Boltzmann Equations

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:07:48 GMT

Description: In this lecture, students learn to determine how fast particles travel, and topics including wave to particle transition and particle transport processes with Liouville equation and Boltzmann equation. It also commented on the result of first midterm exam. Instructor: Prof. Gang Chen

Nano-to-Macro Transport Processes - Lecture 3: Schrödinger Equation and Material Waves

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:07:48 GMT

Description: This lecture covers topics, including the basic wave characteristics, wave-particle duality in both electromagnetic waves and material waves, and also the fundamentals in the mathematical description of wave mechanics. Instructor: Prof. Gang Chen

Nano-to-Macro Transport Processes - Lecture 6: Crystal Bonding & Electronic Energy Levels in Crystals

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:07:48 GMT

Description: This lecture extends the discussion of electronic band structure, crystal structure, crystal bonding, and reciprocal space to 3-D crystals. It also explains the Bragg condition. Instructor: Prof. Gang Chen

Nano-to-Macro Transport Processes - Lecture 7: Phonon Energy Levels in Crystal and Crystal Structures

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:07:48 GMT

Description: This lecture continues with reciprocal space and Bragg condition which determines the diffraction patterns in crystals. It also provides the mathematical proof of Bragg condition, and discusses the energy on atomic vibration of crystals and phonons. Instructor: Prof. Gang Chen

'Cheetah' robot's first run

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 14:43:32 GMT

A “cheetah” robot designed at MIT may soon outpace its animal counterparts in running efficiency: In treadmill tests, the researchers have found that it wastes very little energy as it trots continuously for up to an hour and a half.

Nikolai Begg: The 2013 $30,000 Lemelson-MIT Student Prize Winner

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 08:07:34 GMT

Profile video of Nikolai Begg, 2013 $30,000 winner of the Lemelson-MIT Student Prize for his portfolio of novel medical devices that are helping to make surgical procedures less invasive.

Office Hours: On Angular Momentum

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 15:30:45 GMT

Scanning droplets

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 08:07:04 GMT

Animation showing how the base of a water droplet forms small "necks" as it moves across a surface that has pillars etched on it.

Student profile: Jaqueline Durazo

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 21:34:25 GMT

Jacqueline Durazo, a mechanical engineering major, discusses her work building robots and participating in pageants.

Staying afloat: the annual Cardboard Boat Regatta

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:31:20 GMT

In the annual Head of the Zesiger, students design and then race boats constructed solely out of cardboard, paint and tape.

Water-repellent surfaces that last

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 21:31:21 GMT

Ceramic forms of hydrophobic materials could be far more durable than existing coatings or surface treatments.

BioInspiration and Interfacial Engineering

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 15:30:12 GMT

Fluid Mechanics Lab: Working with Industry

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 15:30:12 GMT

Humidification, Dehumidification, Desalination

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 15:30:12 GMT

A brief discussion with John Lienhard, the Samuel C. Collins Professor of Mechanical Engineering.

Improving Efficiencies and Economics of Traditional Desalination Processes

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 15:30:12 GMT

A brief discussion with John Lienhard, the Samuel C. Collins Professor of Mechanical Engineering.

Lab Overview: Student Profile

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 15:30:12 GMT

MIT Water Technology Research: Applications for Industry and Public Utilities

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 15:30:12 GMT

A brief discussion with John Lienhard, the Samuel C. Collins Professor of Mechanical Engineering.

Non-Newtonian Fluids

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 15:30:12 GMT

A brief presentation by MIT Professor of Mechanical Engineering Gareth McKinley.

Water Scarcity and Desalination

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 15:30:12 GMT

A brief discussion with John Lienhard, the Samuel C. Collins Professor of Mechanical Engineering.

Jumping water droplets improve power-plant efficiency

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 15:30:12 GMT

Scalable nanopatterned surfaces designed by MIT researchers could make for more efficient power generation and desalination.

TEDx Talks: Amos Winter — The cheap all-terrain wheelchair

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 14:37:50 GMT

How do you build a wheelchair ready to blaze through mud and sand, all for under $200?

On the hunt for rare cancer cells

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 18:30:12 GMT

Jellyfish-inspired device that rapidly and efficiently captures cancer cells from blood samples could enable better patient monitoring.

Getting (drugs) under your skin

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 14:30:15 GMT

MIT engineers have found a way to enhance the permeability of the skin to drugs, making transdermal drug delivery more efficient.

Light-activated skeletal muscles

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 07:10:02 GMT

Scientists at MIT and the University of Pennsylvania are taking more than inspiration from nature — they’re taking ingredients.

Varanasi Group: Achieving New Efficiencies in Existing Technologies

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 20:30:15 GMT

Kripa K. Varanasi
Doherty Chair in Ocean Utilization
Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Read more: http://varanasi.mit.edu

Varanasi Group: Industry Applications for Nano-engineered Surfaces-Coatings

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 20:30:15 GMT

Kripa K. Varanasi
Doherty Chair in Ocean Utilization
Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Read more: http://varanasi.mit.edu

Varanasi Group: New Efficiencies in Thermal Desalination.

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 20:30:15 GMT

Kripa K. Varanasi
Doherty Chair in Ocean Utilization
Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Read more: http://varanasi.mit.edu

Effect of roughness during off-road driving

Sat, 25 Aug 2012 07:08:55 GMT

This video shows a simulation of a vehicle driving on two types of off-road surfaces. One vehicle is on a flat, sloped surface, and the other vehicle is on a rough, sloped surface. It can be seen that the roughness causes one vehicle to rollover.

Read more at the Robotic Mobility Group's website: http://web.mit.edu/mobility/

Soft Robotic Manipulator Enabled by Jamming of Granular Media

Sat, 25 Aug 2012 07:08:55 GMT

This video demonstrates a robotic manipulator that is robust, high-force, low-cost, and highly articulated without employing traditional actuators mounted at the manipulator joints. Rather, local tunable stiffness is coupled with off-board spooler motors and tension cables to achieve complex manipulator configurations. Tunable stiffness is achieved by reversible jamming of granular media, which—by applying a vacuum to enclosed grains—causes the grains to transition between solid-like states and liquid-like ones.

These videos were first presented at IEEE ICRA, 2012. The paper title is: "Design and Analysis of a Robust, Low-cost, Highly Articulated Manipulator Enabled by Jamming of Granular Media"

Stabilizing a Vehicle Near Rollover: an Analogy to Cart-Pole Stabilization

Sat, 25 Aug 2012 07:08:55 GMT

This video contains animations of the two simulation results described in a conference paper presented at ICRA 2010. The results show tip-up of a vehicle on a surface with two different friction coefficients.

In the first simulation, the surface friction coefficient is 1.5, and the c.g. lies in the friction cone from the start. As such, it is able to reach tip-up while pushing in a single direction.

In the second simulation, the surface friction coefficient is 1.0, and the c.g. does not lie in the friction cone from the start. After pumping to one side and then back to the other, the c.g. is able to enter the friction cone and the vehicle reaches tip-up.

The paper is located at dx.doi.org/10.1109/ROBOT.2010.5509367

Vehicle Dynamics Simulation - Fish Hook, Flat ground, Tip-up

Sat, 25 Aug 2012 07:08:55 GMT

Read more at the Robotic Mobility Group's website: http://web.mit.edu/mobility/

Vehicle dynamics simulation - Fish hook, off-road, rollover

Sat, 25 Aug 2012 07:08:55 GMT

Read more at the Robotic Mobility Group's website: http://web.mit.edu/mobility/

Soft Robotic Manipulator Enabled by Jamming of Granular Media

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 17:18:14 GMT

This video demonstrates a robotic manipulator that is robust, high-force, low-cost and highly articulated without employing traditional actuators mounted at the manipulator joints.

Sprout: a pencil with a seed

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 15:52:48 GMT

Students in Product Design (2.744) asked, "What if pencils could grow?"

Soft autonomous earthworm robot

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 02:26:26 GMT

Researchers have engineered a soft autonomous robot that moves via peristalsis, crawling across surfaces by contracting segments of its body, much like an earthworm.

Making Wrinkles

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 07:04:13 GMT

A team of researchers at MIT has discovered a way to harness the wrinkling process in a controlled and orderly way.

Chryssostomidis: Advances in AUV Development

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 14:30:14 GMT