Posted on October 25th, 2010 by axb
When it comes to design, engineers have a lot to learn from nature and its diverse forms of life. That’s why John Dabiri, a bioengineer and recipient of a 2010 MacArthur Genius Grant, has turned his eye to a strange and surprisingly complex creature: the jellyfish.
Known as the “jellyfish engineer,” Dabiri uses physics, mathematics, and statistical modelling to better understand the locomotion of these fascinating animals.
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Filed under: e-News, Explore Engineering, Mechanical, Ocean, Trailblazers | 5 Comments »
Tags: Biomimicry, Mechanical, Ocean
Posted on October 21st, 2010 by jxh
This country is in desperate need of road safety – in 2008, 37,000 people died in car accidents in the United States. The greatest threat to drivers is other drivers, as the leading causes of accidents are distractions such as texting, rubbernecking, or gazing at the scenery.
That’s why Google engineers have been working on vehicles that can drive themselves, using artificial-intelligence software that mimic a human driver.
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Filed under: Computer, e-News, Mechanical, Transportation | 5 Comments »
Tags: Cars, Computer, Environmental, Mechanical, Transportation
Posted on October 21st, 2010 by axb
One of the most fascinating aspects of engineering is the creative technological innovations it produces. While plenty of sci-fi television features outlandish gadgets and science experiments, only a few programs showcase real upcoming inventions being made by actual engineers and scientists. That’s why we’re particularly excited about this new show:
Dean of Invention, on the Planet Green network, follows famous inventor Dean Kamen on a quest to find the most cutting-edge technology on the planet and the most amazing and inventive engineering solutions to modern-day challenges.
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Filed under: Biomedical, Computer, e-News, Electrical, Environmental, Explore Engineering, Mechanical, Transportation | 1 Comment »
Tags: Biomedical, Computer, Electrical, Environmental, Mechanical, Robotics, Transportation
Posted on October 19th, 2010 by jxh
For the past four years, Todd Reichert, an engineering student at the University of Toronto, has been working to perfect one of Leonardo Da Vinci’s greatest concepts – an ornithopter.
An ornithopter is a human-powered aircraft that flies by flapping its wings, and with the help of 30 other students, as well as $200,000, Reichert made history by building such a vehicle and piloting a sustained flight.
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Filed under: Aerospace, e-News, Mechanical, Transportation | 3 Comments »
Tags: Aerospace, Mechanical, Transportation
Posted on October 14th, 2010 by jxh
Carlos Barrios, the thirteenth miner to be freed, emerges from the capsule
On August 5, 2010, the San José copper-gold mine near Copiapó, Chile collapsed, leaving 33 men trapped over 2,000 feet below ground.
Sixty-nine days later (a record period of time for surviving underground), all 33 of the miners were rescued.
The miners spent 17 days underground before making contact with the outside world. But once they did, engineers had to race to devise an escape shaft that could reach so deep underground – and safely, without harming the men trapped below. In the mean time, teams of rescue specialists worked to make sure the miners stayed healthy and fed.
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Filed under: Aerospace, e-News, Mechanical, Mining | 7 Comments »
Tags: Aerospace, Mechanical, Mining
