Design & Manufacturing research

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.

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.

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.