MechE News - August 2020 | Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering

MechE News - August 2020

Alumni, Industry Partners & Friends:听

This summer, Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering has been hard at work planning the best possible educational experience for fall 2020.听Though the semester will look different, we are committed to delivering a high-quality engineering experience. A great example听of this has听been the birth of the ME Summer Design Intensive and ME SPUR programs which have given our students opportunities to learn and grow as engineers despite challenges of canceled internships and working remotely. If you would like to partner with us in supporting students, we encourage you to to indicate your interest in events and volunteer opportunities that will take place virtually this semester.听

Sincerely,

Mike Hannigan
Department Chair

automated bag valve mask and Adrian Gutierrez

Self-guided design project turns into an opportunity to save lives

Rising听senior Adrian Gutierrez successfully developed an automated bag valve mask, a device he hopes will help those with coronavirus in Mexico, his home for 18 years.

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Alumni Spotlight

engineering alumna helps during coronavirus

Engineering alumna's family food truck serves hospital staff in Portland

In just one day, mechanical engineering alumna Suzi Jewett and her husband served 500 bowls of ramen and 1,200 gyoza to hospital staff. Two of their children, 10-year-old Sami and 12-year-old Jacob, helped cook and serve meals.

Beer Buffs: CU Engineering alumni become brewers

In Colorado鈥檚 craft beer industry, precision is required and innovation is mandatory. CU Engineers bring both in spades. Meet a few of our local alumni brewers and learn how they鈥檙e engineering a better brew.

Spinout soft robotics company receives NSF SBIR funding

Artimus Robotics, a spinout company of the mechanical engineering department, recently received $225,000 through the National Science Foundation鈥檚 Small Business Innovation Research Phase I program.听

Research Spotlight

Return to Research: Animal Inspired Movement and Robotics Lab hits the ground running

Researchers are gradually and safely returning to campus to continue their work in the lab. Read about Assistant Professor Kaushik Jayaram and graduate student Parker McDonnell's return to research.

Return to Research: A new normal for the Labbe Lab

Researchers are gradually and safely returning to campus to continue their work in the lab. Read about Assistant Professor Nicole Labbe's return to research.

Cockroach-inspired robot among smallest, fastest ever

Say hello to HAMR-Jr, the little robot鈥攊nspired by insects鈥攖hat can do incredible things. Its diameter is just about the size of a penny and it weighs far less than a paperclip.

CU Boulder researchers uncover the secret to a faster soft actuator

Researchers Philipp Rothemund and Christoph Keplinger in the mechanical engineering department听recently uncovered new information that could revolutionize the design of electrohydraulic soft actuators to enable robots to perform at faster speeds.

Experts weigh in on airborne transmission of COVID-19

The novel coronavirus may be able to travel from person to person through tiny particles floating in the air, according to a recent letter signed by 239 scientists from across the globe.

Research into mechanics of snakeskin could shape soft robotics technology

Professor Yifu Ding is starting a new research project that explores how soft robots of the future could include new materials inspired by snakeskin.

Student Spotlight

A path back to teaching

For PhD student Brodie Hoyer, the opportunity to instruct and mentor cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point is well worth the rigor of getting his PhD in three years. Having attended West Point himself, he wanted to return to share with students what he has learned.

Meet class of 2020 Outstanding Student Award winners

Mohammed Alwakeel, Jonathan Bosnich, Morgan Kauss, Luke Pagni, Gabe Rodriguez, Paul Salame听and Sam Simons-Wellin received honors for their service, international engagement, research, and academic achievement.