Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Archives

As founder of the Institute for Experiential Robotics, Padir has worked to create shared autonomy between human workers and assistive robotic collaborators. Photo by Adam Glanzman/Northeastern University

Roboticist Taskin Padir has become Northeastern's first Amazon Scholar

Through Amazon’s academic partnership program, Padir, an associate professor in electrical and computer engineering at Northeastern, will work to help delivery drivers get by with a little help from some robotic friends.

by Cody Mello-Klein June 8, 2022

The future of 6G wireless could be closer than you think

6G, an idea that was once considered science fiction, is now closer to becoming a reality thanks to Northeastern professors who have successfully tested a method that could allow telecommunication providers to move beyond 5G and into higher bandwidths.

by Cody Mello-Klein May 26, 2022

A sensor that sniffs laughing gas? Here’s why it’s no joke.

Northeastern will receive $2.1 million from the federal government to develop a lightweight, palm-sized sensor that can be installed on drones to help farmers measure harmful nitrous-oxide levels on their land.

by Peter Ramjug February 23, 2022

Photo by Alyssa Stone/Northeastern University

Ditch the bulky fitness tracker. Wearable tech is getting an upgrade.

Wearable technology monitors all kinds of signals from our bodies. But most wearables are stiff and require frequent recharging. Canek Fuentes-Hernandez, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at Northeastern, has developed a material that could make wearables more like a second skin.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki January 24, 2022

Photo of a smartphone screen showing 5G service.

Is 5G really a threat to air travel?

Why did international air carriers feel it necessary to cancel or adjust flights based on the emergence of 5G towers in the U.S.? Answers and a potential solution are offered by Tommaso Melodia, the William Lincoln Smith Chair Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Northeastern.

by Ian Thomsen January 20, 2022

Suggestions for beefing up security around the U.S. Capitol include the hiring of hundreds of officers. But Northeastern security experts warn of the dangers of a police state at the heart of American democracy. Photo By Tom Williams/AP Images

Are red states and blue states on the verge of a civil war?

The one-year anniversary of the U.S. Capitol siege underscores the growing red-blue political divide in America. But don’t mistake it for full-blown civil war, which requires a large number of deaths, says Max Abrahms, who teaches national security and counterterrorism at Northeastern.

by Peter Ramjug January 5, 2022

A robotic arm mimics the movements of a human hand

The robotics team advances to the semifinals of a global competition

Northeastern’s squad is among 37 teams from 15 countries to make it to the semifinals of a $10 million contest.

by Peter Ramjug September 3, 2021

Can a robot seal air leaks to help this old (and cold) house?

Northeastern won a $200,000 award from the U.S. Energy Department to scale up a model that could one day help with the back-breaking work of filling in energy-wasting air leaks in the crawl spaces of old homes.

by Peter Ramjug August 24, 2021

Man wearing a mechanical claw on his right arm

Nimble robotic arms that perform delicate surgery may be one step closer to reality

Northeastern researchers have discovered a way to reduce the friction that causes stiffness in robotic arms. New technology makes the arms lighter and more graceful, offering hope for remote surgery and other applications where safety is paramount.

by Peter Ramjug July 23, 2021

A new wave of COVID-19 infections is surging through Africa. These students want to help.

Africa just marked its worst pandemic week ever. Vaccine shipments to the continent are rolling out slowly. The new president and vice president of Northeastern’s African student club are trying to figure out the best way to lend a hand.

by Peter Ramjug July 12, 2021