Mechanical Engineering

MIT Professor Ernesto Blanco stands next to a model of his invention, the stair-climbing wheelchair, during the 2011 MIT 150 kickoff celebration at the MIT Museum.

Ernesto Blanco, mechanical design professor and inventor of the stair-climbing wheelchair, dies at 94

Longtime professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering patented over a dozen inventions and inspired generations of engineers.

April 5, 2017

Engineers at MIT have devised a microfluidic technique to capture and count circulating plasma cells from small samples of blood. The technique, which relies on conventional blood draws, may provide patients with a less painful test for multiple myeloma.

Method may help myeloma patients avoid painful biopsies

Microfluidic device isolates plasma cells from blood rather than bone marrow.

April 4, 2017

As part of a $35 million materials science discovery program, The Toyota Research Institute will support three MIT-affiliated projects directed at advancing technologies that underpin the future of mobility and autonomous systems and energy storage, such as rechargeable batteries used in hybrid and electric cars.

Multi-university effort will advance materials, define the future of mobility

With support from the Toyota Research Institute, MIT faculty will focus on next-generation energy storage.

April 3, 2017

Researchers at MIT have found a way to make graphene with fewer wrinkles, and to iron out the wrinkles that do appear. They found each wafer exhibited uniform performance, meaning that electrons flowed freely across each wafer, at similar speeds, even across previously wrinkled regions.

Researchers “iron out” graphene’s wrinkles

New technique produces highly conductive graphene wafers.

April 3, 2017

MIT seniors Victoria Gregory and Gabe Alba intend to bring their product, the Coffee Cookie, to market before graduation. “We like the idea of seeing if we can pull it off,” says Gregory.

With Coffee Cookie, MIT duo takes product from idea to launch

“We really want to make something fun and get it to people fast," says senior Gabe Alba.

March 30, 2017

“My upbringing fostered the desire to tackle big problems that have a global impact," says MIT grad student Julien Barber. "Fusion fits the bill of a global remedy for both energy needs and some environmental problems. It’s trying to change the game.”

Julien Barber: Protecting magnets and the environment

Master's candidate explores ways to cool high-temperature superconductors used in fusion research.

March 27, 2017

Plastic sliding calipers known as Squirrel Devices, developed by MIT grad students, make geometry’s continuous shapes and lengths measurable for blind and limited-vision students, who can read measurements in Braille.

A measurable improvement in STEM access for the blind

Two MIT graduate students have developed a device that provides better access to STEM materials for the blind and low-vision community.

March 22, 2017

At Hollywood studios in Los Angeles, a celebration of MIT’s ingenuity and drive

Mexico City and Washington are upcoming host cities for the Better World tour.

March 20, 2017

Engineers have designed a microfluidic device they call a “tree-on-a-chip,” which mimics the pumping mechanism of trees and other plants.

Engineers design “tree-on-a-chip”

Microfluidic device generates passive hydraulic power, may be used to make small robots move.

March 20, 2017

The Aviation Week Network’s 2017 “20 Twenties” winners were honored during an awards ceremony in March. MIT graduate students Kristen Railey (front row, fourth from left) and Alexander Feldstein (second row from bottom, first from left) were among the honorees.

Two from MIT recognized as outstanding engineering leaders

Grad students Kristen Railey and Alexander Feldstein were named to the Aviation Week Network’s “20 Twenties” for 2017.

March 15, 2017

Mapping the effects of crystal defects

Study sheds light on interactions that change the way heat and electricity move through microchips.

March 14, 2017

MIT graduate programs earn top marks from US News

Graduate engineering and economics programs are No. 1 in the nation; MIT Sloan is No. 4.

March 14, 2017

MIT professors Maria Yang (left), Caspar Hare (center), and Scott Hughes have been named 2017 MacVicar Fellows.

Three professors named 2017 MacVicar Fellows

Hare, Hughes, and Yang receive the Institute’s highest undergraduate teaching award.

March 13, 2017

Researchers at MIT have devised tiny “microlenses” from complex liquid droplets, such as these pictured here, that are comparable in size to the width of a human hair.

Scientists make microscopes from droplets

With chemistry and light, researchers can tune the focus of tiny beads of liquid.

March 10, 2017

Equipment to Go kits can be checked out for one week from Rotch Library.

MIT Libraries and MIT MakerWorkshop launch Equipment to Go

Pilot program lends tools to makers across the MIT community.

March 9, 2017

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