Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Archives

Yi Zheng, associate professor of mechanical and industrial engineering at Northeastern, holds a sample desalination filter made of cow manure and one made of hornet nests in his lab in the Mugar Life Sciences Building. Photo by Alyssa Stone/Northeastern University

Manure makes drinking water? An unlikely solution to a global crisis

The scarcity of potable water is an increasing global problem. Yi Zheng, associate professor of mechanical and industrial engineering at Northeastern, has found some all-natural ways to remove the salt from seawater in a quest to quench the world.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki October 20, 2021

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

These engineering students are heading to Europe to grow robotics relationships

A team of robotics students is headed to an elite summer program in Europe. They hope to share what they have learned with others. Northeastern was one of several international universities with renowned robotics programs chosen for the inaugural collaborative effort.

by Peter Ramjug July 9, 2021

A sweet solution to plastic pollution

Plastic pollution is now considered one of the largest threats to the environment. It takes 400 years for plastics to decompose. Hongli Zhu, an assistant…

by Benjamin Bertsch and Adam Fischer June 22, 2021

Gabrielle Whittle works on her convertible heel design.

How a business idea ‘heeled’ her need to be an entrepreneur

Gabrielle Whittle, who recently graduated in mechanical engineering, received an inaugural $10,000 Innovator Award for her development of an adjustable sole and removable heel that will enable her product to be worn as a flat or a high-heeled shoe.

by Ian Thomsen June 16, 2021

Northeastern graduate Anvesh Gurijala in his lab

It’s strong enough to protect airplanes from lightning strikes, light enough to create performance skis

Boston Materials, a company started by a Northeastern professor and two graduates, manufactures a new type of carbon fiber that is light, tough, and as smooth as velvet. The added bonus? The company uses 100 percent reclaimed materials, an impressive statistic especially in an industry that creates so much waste.

by Emily Arntsen June 10, 2021

Yi Zheng, associate professor of mechanical and industrial engineering, created a new recyclable material that can be used to cool down buildings without relying on conventional cooling systems. Photo by Ruby Wallau/Northeastern University

How to keep cool without turning on the A/C

What if buildings could stay cool all on their own—no electricity required? That’s the premise of Yi Zheng’s new invention. The associate professor of mechanical and industrial engineering at Northeastern has created a material that can be used to make buildings or other objects able to keep cool without relying on conventional cooling systems.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki June 7, 2021

Mechanical engineering major Amanda Vasconcelos considers herself “one of the lucky people” to have always known what career she wanted. Now, she’s building animatronic toys as a co-op at toy-maker Hasbro. Photo by Ruby Wallau/Northeastern University

She deconstructed robotic toys as a kid. Now she builds them for Hasbro.

Amanda Vasconcelos considers herself “one of the lucky people” to have always known she wanted to be an engineer. Now, she’s building animatronic toys as a co-op at the multinational toy-making company Hasbro.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki April 27, 2021