Mechanical Engineering
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Contact the Mechanical Engineering Department

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

Dynamic systems & robotics research

Mechanical Engineering research involvement at NAU

Our research in dynamics and robotics covers a wide variety of topics ranging from UAV systems to advanced prosthesis to new actuators. Details on some of our research projects in dynamics & robotics 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 on its head

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.

Twisted Polymer Actuators Accordion Closed

graphic of twisted polymer actuators

Lead: Heidi Feigenbaum and Michael Shafer
Keywords: biomimetic, artificial muscles, twisted polymer actuators, super coiled

Magnetic shape memory alloys (MSMAs) can undergo a recoverable deformation in the presence of a magnetic field or mechanical load. In this project, our group has developed several thermodynamic based models to predict the magneto-mechanical behavior of MSMAs, the most recent of which is fully three-dimensional. We are also trying to optimize use of MSMAs for various applications, most notably current work focuses on power harvesting with MSMAs.

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

photo of nau mechanical engineering students using equipment

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.

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