Mechanical engineering

AUVs: From idea to implementationOne day, researchers predict, these robots will be able to do tasks without a human in the loop.

Highly efficient oxygen catalyst foundNew catalyst, made of inexpensive and abundant materials, could prove useful in rechargeable batteries and hydrogen-fuel production.

Where the wind blowsHow far can wind power go toward reducing global carbon emissions from electricity production?

A new approach to solar powerHybrid solar-thermoelectric systems could provide advantages over conventional solar cells or solar thermal plants.

Tiny stamps for tiny sensorsNew glass stamp may make cheaper, more precise biosensors.

Bristly particles could be boon for powerplantsMulti-scale material may have applications in heat transfer, potentially helping powerplants be more efficient.

Smooth sailing for Alicia Lenis, LGO ’13A Q&A on how the shipping industry is timely and exciting.

American made?MIT forum examines the role of manufacturing in rebuilding the economy.

Printing off the paperMIT research continues to push the boundaries of the burgeoning technology of 3-D printing.

Shake, rattle and … power up?A new MEMS device generates energy from small vibrations.

‘I speak MISTI’MIT program sends students abroad for experiences tailor-made for their academic and professional interests.

Undergraduate energy research ‘fueled’ by team approach

Stopping arthritis before it startsA commonly used drug may prevent osteoarthritis in people who suffer severe joint injuries.

In the World: Design summit’s inventions find willing buyersDevices to improve lives in developing countries are so appealing that even the initial prototypes attract buyers.

Disease-causing tangle could spawn new materialsAmyloids, associated with Alzheimer’s and other diseases, could be inspiration for tough synthetic polymers.

How to make solar power 24/7MIT team designs concentrated solar thermal system that could store heat in vats of molten salts, supplying constant power.

Research update: Improving batteries’ energy storageNew method allows a dramatic boost in capacity for a given weight.

Inside the innards of a nuclear reactorTiny robots may monitor underground pipes for radioactive leaks.

Pedro Reis, of CEE and MechE, attends NAE's Japan-America Frontiers of Engineering Symposium

A new way to build nanostructuresCombining top-down and bottom-up approaches, new low-cost method could be a boon to research with a variety of applications.

Moving inventions to the marketplaceMIT/Harvard symposium seeks commercial opportunities for emerging technologies.

‘Smart cars’ that are actually, well, smartMechanical engineers work to develop intelligent onboard transportation systems that can prevent car crashes.

How to choose a catalystMIT researchers provide a simple principle to predict which materials will perform best in fuel cells and metal air batteries.

Extreme electric racingMIT’s eSuperbike charges up for an eco-friendly edition of the Isle of Man motorcycle race.

‘Artificial leaf’ moves closer to realityMIT researchers develop a device that combines a solar cell with a catalyst to split water molecules and generate energy.

Doroski wins 2011 Dean A. Horn AwardGiven for undergraduate study in marine research

Making materials to orderNew method of forming composites allows fine-tuning of mechanical, electrical, thermal and other properties.

When is it worth remanufacturing?MIT study shows sometimes it saves energy, sometimes it doesn’t — and sometimes it makes things worse.

How to control complex networksNew algorithm offers ability to influence systems such as living cells or social networks.