Active Faculty Research Projects

 Mechanics and Materials

• Modeling, simulation, and design optimization of the actuator metrics of multifunctional transducers

• Multiphysics simulation of the effects of anticlastic curvature in the constraint of soft, hydrogel and liquid crystalline elastomer actuators

• Study of the improvement in the power output of magneto-mechano electric energy harvesters from flux concentrators

Robotics and Controls

• • Design and construction of magneto-mechano electric energy harvesting testing rig for high magnetic flux densities

  • Design optimization of distributed, multilayer magneto-mechano electric energy harvesters

  • Implementation of energy harvesters for long-term, long-range geospatial data collection

  • Power sensors for wireless sensor nodes: Evalution of piezoelectric energy harvesters of complex beam geometries

  • Integration of multifunctional materials with energy storage actuators for rehabilitation robotics

  • Powering of electrostatic actuators through high-voltage flexible electronics

Chemical Engineering

• Design and fabrication of encapsulated battery actuators

Engineering Education

• Implementation and assessment of the effectiveness of active learning techniques in the classroom