Mechanical Engineering
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Contact the Mechanical Engineering Department

Email:
ceias​@nau.edu
Call:
928-523-2704

Design & Manufacturing research

Research projects at NAU focused on design & manufacturing

We have active research projects that include the design and manufacturing of UAV systems, advanced prosthesis, and energy harvesting systems. Details on some of our research projects in design and manufacturing are described below. Please contact the lead faculty to learn more about any of our research projects.

Project abstracts

Marine energy harvesting for remote sensor systems Accordion Closed

photo of a seal with a sensor system on its head, part of nau mechanical engineering design lab

Lead: Micahel Shafer
Keywords: Energy harvesting, wildlife telemetry, marine, solar power

Energy harvesting is used in terrestrial sensor applications, but is largely absent in the marine sensor field despite several possible harvesting methods and calls for use by the ocean science community. This project has focused on working with wildlife telemetry manufactures to identify practical ambient marine energy transduction methods and then developing methods to assess their potential for supplementing telemetry system energy budgets. Despite the inherent benefits of solar power, the inability to quantify energy production capacity in the marine environment has precluded adoption. This project has worked to develop the methods for marine environment solar power energy assessment through both analytic and experimental methods.

 

 

UAV Tracking System for Monitoring Wildlife Accordion Closed

photo of a drone flying on nau campus

Lead: Michael Shafer
Keywords: Unmanned aerial vehicle, radio telemetry, wildlife tracking
Current methods of locating and tracking small tagged animals are hampered by the inaccessibility of their habitats. The high costs, risk to human safety, and small sample sizes resulting from current radio telemetry methods limit our understanding of the movement and behaviors of many species. UAV-based technologies promise to revolutionize a range of ecological field study paradigms due to the ability of a sensing platform to fly in close proximity to rough terrain at very low cost.

Wearable exoskeletons to improve gait in individuals with movement disorders Accordion Closed

photo of nau mechanical engineering students testing technology using a device and computer

Lead: Zach Lerner
Keywords: Robotics, Exoskeleton, Biomechanics

Dr. Lerner’s Biomechatronics Lab is conducting research on the design and control of wearable exoskeletons to improve walking efficiency and posture in individuals with neurological disorders.

Test fixture development for Powered Prosthesis Accordion Closed

Lead: John Tester
Keywords: Prosthesis, robotics, automation, orthotics

Powered lower limb (ankle-foot) prostheses are now in the marketplace, yet their effective operation is limited to level walking.  Stair ascent and particularly descent proves problematic in their operation.  In order to test new control operational concepts, we are developing automated test systems for these prosthesis devices.  The test systems will enable repeatable inputs into the wearable robotic devices, allowing for rapid control redesign without the need for direct human testing until the final device design is proven in the laboratory.

 

Mechanical Engineering
Location
Building Building 69
Engineering
15600 S. McConnell Dr. NAU bldg. 69
Flagstaff, AZ 86001-5600
Mailing Address
Northern Arizona University PO Box: 15600
Flagstaff, AZ 86001-5600
Email
CEIAS@nau.edu
Phone
928-523-2704