January 2023 Mechanical Engineering Blog
January 17, 2023
Objects Can Be Moved Without Contact Using Metamaterial Physics
Objects Can Be Moved Without Contact Using Metamaterial Physics
Mechanical engineering researchers at the University of Minnesota discovered a way to move objects without physical contact or an internal energy source. This discovery could pave the way for contactless movement technology in industries like manufacturing or robotics. The notion of moving objects using sound or light isn't necessarily new, however, in past instances where this idea was applied the objects have always been smaller than the wavelength of sound or light. In this case, researchers at the University of Minnesota discovered a way to move much larger objects using the principles of metamaterial physics. Essentially, the researchers place a metamaterial pattern onto the surface of an object and then use soundwaves to move the object in a specific direction. Learn more about this discovery here.
January 31, 2023
Mechanical Engineering Researchers Create a Shapeshifting Robot
Mechanical Engineering Researchers Create a Shapeshifting Robot
Mechanical engineering researchers designed and built mini shapeshifting robots . Interestingly, the robots' magnetic nature and electrical conductivity also allows them to move in response to magnetic fields. These robots are made out of a new phase-shifting material which researchers named "magnetoactive solid-liquid phase transitional machine". The material is made by embedding magnetic particles in gallium which has a super low melting point. As mentioned the magnetic particles play an important role in the robots' mobility but they are also what allows them to shapeshift. This is because the magnetic particles make the robots responsive to an alternating magnetic field which in turn can cause the shapeshift through heat induction. Learn more here.
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