mechanical engineering
Hand-held robot points to less invasive prostate surgery
Jul. 18, 2019—Vanderbilt collaborators focused on minimally invasive prostate surgery are developing an endoscopic robotic system with two-handed dexterity at a much smaller scale than existing options.
Yohn named Postdoc of the Year at annual symposium; Sappington named Mentor of the Year
Apr. 22, 2019—Postdoctoral scholars Samantha Yohn and Anneke Sanders and ophthalmology professor Rebecca Sappington were honored by the Graduate School at the 13th Annual Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Association Symposium on April 9.
Hatzell awarded NSF CAREER grant to expand research on lithium-ion batteries
Apr. 12, 2019—Kelsey Hatzell, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, has received a National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development grant.
Happy Helping Others: Robby Perry, BE’19
Apr. 11, 2019—From an Alternative Spring Break trip to renovate houses with Habitat for Humanity, to a Home Depot–sponsored web-coding hackathon, to a semester of study abroad that took him to cities such as Madrid, Marrakesh and Istanbul—Robby Perry’s time at Vanderbilt exemplifies just how much you can pack into four years.
New low-profile ankle exoskeleton fits under clothes for potential broad adoption
Mar. 22, 2019—Developed by Vanderbilt mechanical engineers, the device is believed to be the first ankle exoskeleton that could be worn under clothes without restricting motion. It does not require additional components such as batteries or actuators carried on the back or waist.
Vanderbilt senior earns prestigious fellowship from Luce Scholars Program
Feb. 22, 2019—Connor Morency, a senior from Wheaton, Illinois, studying mechanical engineering, has been named to the 2019-20 class of Luce Scholars. As a Luce Scholar, he will gain new perspectives through immersive living and professional work experiences in Asia.
Stress fractures and running wearables: The mistake that could mean injuries
Jan. 17, 2019—Working with an orthopedic specialist who advises the NFL Players Association, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Karl Zelik discovered that sensors only measuring the impact of the foot hitting pavement tell users little about the forces on bones that lead to stress fractures.
Exoskeleton developed at Vanderbilt University collects R&D 100 Award
Nov. 28, 2018—The R&D 100 Awards are an international competition that recognizes the 100 most exceptional innovations in science and technology from the past year.
Sara Tsai: Runner and engineer
Oct. 25, 2018—A serious injury inspired senior student-athlete Sara Tsai to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering and a future in helping others.
Safe solid-state lithium batteries herald ‘paradigm shift’ in energy storage
Jul. 19, 2018—Kelsey Hatzell studied the performance of a promising electrolyte for solid-state lithium batteries under real-world conditions.
Mechanical engineering student dives into conservation with Seychelles internship
Jul. 11, 2018—Rising junior Jillian Bremner is steering beyond her academic focus this summer to explore her passions for scuba diving and ocean conservation, with the aim of eventually combining engineering with a marine career.
“These could revolutionize the world” — Pint cracks code to cheap, small carbon nanotubes
May. 23, 2018—Imagine a box you plug into the wall that cleans your toxic air and pays you cash. That's essentially what Vanderbilt University researchers produced after discovering the blueprint for turning carbon dioxide into the most valuable material ever sold – carbon nanotubes with small diameters.