Research « Engineering Stories

Mechanical engineer endeavors to improve hand surgeries

Sutures have been the primary way to connect muscles, tendons, or any biological tissue for 30,000 years. This fundamental method of sewing together living body parts has served humankind well, but Ravi Balasubramanian sees room for improvement. Through a new research project called R_EHand (for Re-Engineering the Hand) he is designing a mechanical implant that provides an alternative to the suture for attaching muscles to tendons in certain applications such as tendon transfer surgeries on patients with hand injuries. Continue reading →

When a massive chemical spill contaminated West Virginia’s Elk River in January, up to 300,000 residents were without access to potable water. Officials began lifting the ban on using tap water only a few days later, citing lowered concentrations of 4-methylcyclohexane methanol (MCHM), the licorice-smelling chemical used in the separation and cleaning of coal products. Continue reading →

Talia Helman (right) conducts research in Assistant Professor Joe Baio's lab (photo by Mitch Lea). — Talia Helman (right) conducts research in Assistant Professor Joe Baio’s lab (photo by Mitch Lea).

Oregon State University sophomore Talia Helman received a Johnson Scholarship Fund that enabled her to work on cutting-edge research with bioengineering faculty member Joe Baio. Her experience was made possible by Peter Johnson, ’55 ChE, and his wife Rosalie, who donated $2.4 million to the School of Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering (CBEE) to endow the Peter and Rosalie Johnson Scholarship Fund. Thanks to their generosity, more than 200 CBEE students have benefited from this unique scholarship–internship program, including Talia. Read more about her time as a Johnson Intern and how the experience shaped her career goals in medicine. Continue reading →

They say nature does it best, and researchers in the College of Engineering are discovering just how true this can be. They are turning to birds, bats, and butterflies for inspiration in the design of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). These devices can fly above ground to lower risks to fire fighters, reduce cost of collecting data on wildlife, and help locate lost hikers or skiers. Now, College of Engineering faculty are working hard alongside businesses, economic development organizations, and the state government to advance the technology. Read the whole story in Terra.

The walking, running, and jumping bipedal robot, ATRIAS, is becoming more mobile by the minute and has made its way to the Royal Veterinary College at the University of London. Developed by researchers at the College of Engineering, ATRIAS has been hanging out in London with the feathered friends that inspired its design: guinea fowl, emus, and more. Similar to a bird, the robot could not be contained to the indoors and explored the English countryside. Read more about ATRIAS’s adventures in London here.

–Aynsley Eggen

Engineering Stories

News and research, student achievements, faculty engagement, and alumnus accomplishments.

Category Archives: Research

Robotic humans, phase one

Staying fluid: Tracie Jackson takes an interdisciplinary approach to examine how pollutants move through rivers

Johnson Intern thankful for undergraduate research experience

Designing piloletless aircraft

ATRIAS the Robot Goes to London

Contact Info