Spring 2010 Vol. 1, No. 1 Published twice a year Massachusetts Institute of Technology In Professor Ain Sonin’s Professor David Wallace’s The MIT Electric

MechEConnects This legacy of support to 2.009 course responds to Vehicle Team hits graduate students…. emergencies… the road…. Issue: News from the MIT | > p. 8 | | > p. 11 | | > p. 15 | Department of Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering Professor Gang Chen with vacuum chamber

Pushing the boundaries of Professor Gang Chen made headlines last summer when he and his colleagues solved a century-old energy—theoretical, practical, problem in the physics of heat transfer … and personal | > p. 4 | MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering 2

Introducing Dear Friends, I am happy to introduce the first issue ofMechE Connects. We see this publication as a MechE Connects platform linking more than 5,000 undergraduate and 6,000 graduate program alumni to the department. We also see it as a vehicle for sharing snapshots of the advances emerging from the labs, classrooms, and students of Mechanical Engineering @ MIT. With more than 70 faculty members, 450 undergraduates, 450 graduate students, and 60 postdoctoral associates/fellows pushing the frontiers of mechanical engineering, there is a lot of news to share.

We have maintained our U.S. News and World Report ranking as the number one mechanical engineering department at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Our research is bringing engineering to a spectrum of global challenges, including clean and renewable energy technologies, next generation technologies for water purification and desalination, and breakthrough instrumentation and controls for medical treatment and biomedical exploration. We are designing systems for underwater exploration and environmental monitoring and materials and technologies for protection of our first responders and soldiers. We also are exploring and decoding optimized designs stemming from the biomimetics of fish swimming, clam burrowing, snail locomotion, and natural structures. These projects range from the fundamental engineering science underpinnings to the design and fabrication of new structures, devices, and systems.

This inaugural edition of MechE Connects features Professor Gang Chen. Together with colleagues, Gang has just solved a one-hundred-year-old physics challenge. But that is just a small part of his research portfolio. Gang led a multi-department and multi-university team of researchers to win a DOE Engineering Frontier Research Center (EFRC)—the Solid-State Solar-Thermal Energy Conversion Center (S3TEC). S3TEC aims to advance fundamental science and engineering in the development of materials and devices to harness heat—from the sun and terrestrial sources—and convert it into electricity via solid- state thermoelectric and thermophotovoltaic technologies.

MechE Connects will be disseminated twice a year by mail and on the Web, giving everyone with an internet connection the opportunity to stay . As you read this print edition, we hope you will be inspired to log on and see the extra content in the online version and to strengthen your connection to Mechanical Engineering @ MIT.

Enjoy this first issue ofMechE Connects, and please drop us a line at [email protected] with ideas for news or features. I hope this venture opens dynamic new dialogues with our alumni and friends and connects a community engaged in lifelong learning.

Mary C. Boyce, Gail E. Kendall Professor and Department Head Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Spring 2010 Vol. 1, No. 1 Published twice a year

News from the MIT MechEConnects Department of Mechanical Engineering

> http://mecheconnects.mit.edu

About MechE Table of Contents

Mechanical engineering was one of the 4-7 Gang Chen, pushing the boundaries of energy original courses of study offered when classes began at the Massachusetts Institute of 8 Ain A. Sonin Fellowship: a tribute Technology in 1865. Today, the Department of Mechanical Engineering (MechE) comprises 9 Fuel cells get a boost seven principal research areas: 10 Around campus

• Mechanics: modeling, experimentation 11 High-flying alumni and computation 13-14 RoboClam: underwater innovation • Design, manufacturing, and product development 15 MIT Electric Vehicle Team hits the road

• Controls, instrumentation, 16-19 Awards and honors and robotics 20 New faculty • Energy science and engineering 21 Professor Franz Hover talks shop • Ocean science and engineering 22-23 MechE research news

• Bioengineering

• Nano/micro science and technology Contact MechE Newsletter Staff:

Each of these disciplines encompasses Department of Mechanical Engineering Jordan Lewis several laboratories and academic programs Massachusetts Institute of Technology Producer/Writer 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Room 3-173 that foster modeling, analysis, computation, Cambridge, MA 02139 Sucharita Berger Ghosh and experimentation. MechE educational Administrative Officer E-mail: [email protected] programs remain leading-edge by providing B. Harris Crist in-depth instruction in engineering principles http://mecheconnects.mit.edu Webmaster and unparalleled opportunities for students to Robert & Kathleen Thurston-Lighty apply their knowledge. Editorial Contributors

Wing Ngan Designer

This newsletter was printed on Green Seal certified Mohawk Options which contains 100% postconsumer waste fiber and manufactured with Green-e certified renewable wind energy credits that match 100% of the electricity used in the operations. MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering 4

Gang Chen, pushing the boundaries of energy—theoretical, practical, and personal

Mechanical Engineering Professor Gang Chen

Gang Chen—one of the seminars from one end of the planet have relied on the fact that the law pioneers on the front lines of energy to the other. And in whatever time describes the maximum thermal science—is an energy phenomenon is left at the end of the day, Gang emission possible from any radiating himself. The Carl Richard Soderberg Chen is helping to redefine the laws object. Up to a point, that is. Professor of Power Engineering of physics. Beyond Planck’s Law is one of the world’s leading Chen made headlines last summer researchers in the nanoengineering As Planck himself suspected, the when he and his colleagues, MIT of energy transfer. He heads the new theory breaks down when the graduate student Sheng Shen and Solid State Solar Thermal Energy distance between objects becomes Columbia University Professor Conversion Center (S3TEC) with a minute. But over the ensuing Arvind Narayaswamy (who was also staff of 50+, serves on the editorial hundred years, no one has found Chen’s student), solved a century- boards of five scientific journals, a way to measure this anomaly old problem in the physics of heat teaches undergraduate and graduate precisely. A big part of the challenge transfer. Since 1900, when German classes, advises 21 graduate students, has been mechanical—keeping physicist Max Planck formulated his 12 postdocs, and two research two objects in very close proximity blackbody radiation law, scientists scientists, and delivers lectures and without allowing them to touch. > http://mecheconnects.mit.edu MechE Connects Spring 2010 5

“We tried for many years using man himself does not betray the “ parallel plates,” says Chen. The best extraordinary dynamism that propels No doubt that he and his colleagues could his accomplishments. The modest, achieve with this approach, however, affable Chen, who is known for his about it. was a separation of about one micron collaborative zeal, will never be the The students (one millionth of a meter). first person in the room to point out at MIT are that his findings on Planck’s Law, The ground shifted when the team published in the August 2009 issue exceptional. I have reconsidered the shape of one of the of the journal Nano Letters, could well a very dynamic objects. They replaced one of the flat have seismic impact. group of students plates with a small silica glass bead. “Because there is just a single point Chen’s discovery can have many and postdocs, and of near-contact between the bead and potential applications. The magnetic I love to challenge the plate, it proved much easier to data recording systems used in them and see them close the gap to the nanometer scale,” computer hard disks, for example, grow. I keep telling explains Chen. Using the bead, typically have spacing in the five to them to get their they’ve reduced the distance between six nanometer range. Because the the objects to 30 nanometers (30 recording heads tend to heat up hands dirty. Always billionths of a meter)—one-thirtieth in these devices, researchers have be on the lookout of the gap they had accomplished been looking for ways to manage or for new areas of with two flat surfaces. even exploit the heat to control the exploration. My spacing. The fundamental insights Once they had transformed the goal: when they revealed by Chen and his colleagues distance parameter, the team then will allow designers to improve the are done here, they introduced a bimetallic cantilever performance of such devices. will be leading from an atomic microscope. researchers.” This significantly increased the Chen also is becoming increasingly precision of the and heat excited at possibilities for the flow measurements and produced development of a new generation of Professor Gang Chen startling results. It turned out that at thermophotovoltaics (TPVs)—energy the nanoscale, heat transfer between conversion devices that harness the two objects can be 1,000 times photons emitted by a heat source. greater than Planck’s Law predicts. “The high photon flux can potentially enable higher efficiency in existing Although the force of Chen’s technologies as well as new energy accomplishments is palpable density conversion devices,” Chen to students and colleagues, the says. “We don’t yet know what the

Find out more > Read about Chen’s research on Planck’s Law in “Surface Phonon Polaritons Mediated Energy Transfer Between Nanoscale Gaps” at http://pubs.acs.org (Journal of the American Chemical Society, “Nano Letters,” 2009, Vol.9, #8 2909-2913). MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering 6

limit is on how much heat can convert solar energy and other be dissipated in closely spaced man-made heat into electricity using systems. But current theory won’t thermoelectric and TPV technologies. be valid once we push down to a one “At the fundamental level, we’ll be nanometer gap.” advancing our understanding of how electrons and phonons move The birth of S3TEC—and the through materials and interfaces,” rebirth of solar Chen explains. “This will enable us to Of course, the plain truth about engineer materials with significantly science in modern times is that improved heat to electricity discoveries are just a gleam in the conversion efficiency.” They also are eye of the researcher without the designing surfaces that maximize funding to move them beyond the radiation absorption and minimize theoretical. Gang’s leadership in thermal loss so that solar radiation micro- and nanoscale thermal and can be efficiently converted into mechanical phenomena recently electricity via solid-state heat engines. helped MIT secure a $17.5 million S3TEC researchers may well prove to grant from the U.S. Department be game-changers for solar electricity of Energy to establish an Energy generators. Whereas current silicon- Frontier Research Center (EFRC). based photovoltaic solar cells produce Chen heads the new initiative, called electricity at $3 to $4 per Watt, the the Solid State Solar-Thermal Energy next generation of thermoelectrics TPV cell. “If we can understand Conversion Center or S3TEC. He also could reduce that cost to as low at the fundamental science at oversees a staff of 50+, including 12 fifty cents per Watt. nanoscale,” he says, “we’ll stand a co-investigators from MIT, Boston better chance of successfully scaling College, and Oak Ridge National Scaling up to gigawatts up to gigawatts.” Laboratory, 32 graduate students, and S3TEC scientists also will be pushing six postdocs. Both thermoelectric and TPV the structural design of solar technologies can be applied to S3TEC’s mission is to lay the TPVs toward its theoretical limits. terrestrial heat sources such as scientific groundwork for The highest recorded efficiency geothermal and waste heat from transformational solid-state solar- of multiple junction solar cells is industrial production, transportation, thermal to electric energy conversion slightly more than 40%, but theory and buildings. Thermoelectrics, technologies. Working at nanoscale, indicates that it is possible to nearly too, can be combined with existing researchers will be developing double that performance with a solar technologies and used for materials that can harness and nanoengineered single junction

3 Find out more > Explore the work of S TEC at http://s3tec.mit.edu. > http://mecheconnects.mit.edu MechE Connects Spring 2010 7

Planck’s Trivia

Contrary to popular myth, Planck did not derive his law in an attempt to resolve the “ultraviolet catastrophe”— the paradoxical result that the total energy of a cavity tends to infinity when the equipartition theorem of classical statistical mechanics is applied to blackbody radiation. Planck did not consider the equipartition theorem to be universally valid, so he never noticed any sort of catastrophe. It was pointed out later and independently by Einstein, Lord Rayleigh, and Sir James

Professor Chen in Jeans. his office at MIT

refrigeration and air-conditioning asking the question ‘What’s the without producing any greenhouse potential impact of these findings? gases. How can it be put to work to make life better?’” With a characteristic mix of modesty and candor, Chen pays tribute to Gang Chen has clearly made it his the Mens et Manus credo. “Before I life’s work to find out. came to MIT in 2001, I was primarily focused on fundamental science,” A diagram of the setup, including a cantilever from an atomic force microscope, used to he admits. “I’ve definitely seen an measure the heat transfer between objects expansion in my thinking to include separated by nanoscale distances. the real-world impact of research. Image: Sheng Shen It’s one of the great strengths of the Institute. Everyone is continually

Earlier this year, Gang Chen was elected to the National Academy of Engineering for his contributions to heat transfer at the nanoscale and to thermoelectric energy conversion technology. MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering 8

Ain A. Sonin Fellowship A tribute to the MechE professor’s legacy of support to graduate students

Professor Emeritus Ain Sonin retired in 2009

Image: Juhan Sonin

“We’ll figure it out,” MechE PhD at the University of Toronto, he the challenge, he always found a way Professor Emeritus Ain A. Sonin found his intellectual home at MIT. to work through to a calmly would tell his students as he steered Sonin retired in 2009 after touching and rationally.” them through one challenge after the lives of thousands of students. Mary C. Boyce, Gail E. Kendall another. Benny Budiman, ScD ’04, In addition to being a top researcher Professor and Mechanical Engineering remembers Professor Sonin, who in fluid and thermal sciences, Sonin Department Head, says that such was a graduate officer for 20 years, has a successful line of furniture to fellowship funds are critical to helping him to cope with a family his credit. But his greatest passion has the strength of the department. crisis without losing his academic always been his students. Sonin was “The Department of Mechanical momentum. “Professor Sonin was awarded the MIT Graduate Student Engineering draws much of its a tremendous resource to graduate Council Award for Outstanding international renown from its students, guiding them through Graduate Teaching twice in his graduate students, who are widely difficulties with grace and dignity. MIT career—once in 1973 and again acknowledged to be the best in the I have adopted ‘We’ll figure it out,’ in 1989. field. First-year fellowships are a as my own philosophy in facing key element in continuing to recruit challenges, personal and professional.” The Ain A. Sonin Fellowship the most talented students to MIT, has been established in his name to Born in Tallinn, Estonia in 1937, especially in the face of increasing recognize that extraordinary dedication Sonin fled with his family to competition for the best students and impact. “Ain’s door was always Stockholm in 1944. They eventually growing among the world’s top open,” says Epp Sonin, founder of the made their way to Toronto, where universities. Alumni support of funds Lexington Music School and Ain’s wife Sonin pursued his interest in like the Ain A. Sonin Fellowship has of 39 years. “No matter how difficult aerophysics. Shortly after earning his never been more critical.”

Find out more > To make a gift to MechE, visit http://meche.mit.edu/giving. > http://mecheconnects.mit.edu MechE Connects Spring 2010 9

Fuel cells get a boost A MechE led team discovers the secret to increasing fuel cell efficiency

A high-resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) image of platinum nanoparticles on the electrode of a fuel cell reveals surface steps that researchers say are responsible for dramatically improving efficiency.

Image: Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2009, Vol. 131, NO. 43, 15669-15677

One of the most promising of the electrodes in a particular type electric current. The researchers new technologies on the of cell that uses methanol instead believe that further development of energy frontier is the fuel of hydrogen as its fuel. These fuel these surface structures could end cell. Fuel cells can produce cells are considered promising as a up producing far greater increases, electricity from hydrogen or replacement for batteries in portable yielding more electric current for a other fuels without burning them electronic devices. Because the given amount of platinum. and have the potential to power electrodes are made of platinum, One focus of the research is to everything from homes and cars to increasing their efficiency means that develop active and stable catalysts. portable devices like mobile phones much less of the expensive metal is According to Shao-Horn, the new and laptop computers. Their big needed to produce a given amount work is a significant step toward advantage, eliminating emissions of power. figuring out how the surface atomic of greenhouse gases and other Stepping up the current structure can enhance the activity pollutants, has been outweighed by of the catalyst in direct methanol their high cost, and researchers have The key to boosting efficiency, the fuel cells. been trying to find ways to make the team found, was to change the devices less expensive. surface texture of the material. The results of the team’s research are Instead of leaving it smooth, reported in the October 13 issue of Now, an MIT team led by Associate the researchers gave it tiny stair the Journal of the American Chemical Professor Yang Shao-Horn has steps. This approximately doubled Society. The paper’s eight authors found a method that promises to the electrode’s ability to catalyze include chemical engineering dramatically increase the efficiency oxidation of the fuel and produce

Find out more > Explore Yang Shao-Horn’s Electrochemical Energy Lab at http://web.mit.edu/eel. MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering 10

Doctoral student Yi-Chun Lu preparing electrolyte for lithium air battery testing graduate student Seung Woo Lee and nanoparticles and relate the amount mechanical engineering postdoctoral of surface steps to the activity,” researcher Shuo Chen, along with Chen says. By producing a surface Fuel Shao-Horn and other researchers at with multiple steps on it, the team MIT, the Japan Institute of Science doubled the activity of the electrode. cells are and Technology, and Brookhaven Team members are now working on promising as a National Laboratory. creating surfaces with even more steps to try to increase the activity replacement Resolving a controversy further. Theoretically, it should be In their experiments, the team possible to enhance the activity by for batteries in used platinum nanoparticles orders of magnitude. portable electronic deposited on the surface of multi- Shao-Horn suggests that the key wall carbon nanotubes. Lee devices. Because the factor is the addition of the edges observes that many researchers electrodes are made of of the steps, which seem to provide have been experimenting with the platinum, increasing a site where it’s easier for atoms use of platinum nanoparticles for to form new bonds. More steps their efficiency means fuel cells, but the results of the create more of those active sites. In that much less of the particle size effect on the activity addition, the team has shown that so far have been contradictory and expensive metal is the step structures are stable enough controversial. “Some people see the needed to produce a to be maintained over hundreds of activity increase, some people see it given amount of power. cycles. That stability is key to being decrease,” Lee explains. “There has able to develop practical and effective been a controversy about how size direct methanol fuel cells. affects activity.”

The new work shows that the key Excerpted from the article in MIT factor is not the size of the particles News by David Chandler. but the details of their surface structure. “We show the details of surface steps presented on > http://mecheconnects.mit.edu MechE Connects Spring 2010 11

Around campus The MIT Museum, course 2.009, and commencement

MechE at the Museum instrument used to study the tiny Ixa Walker—A stable and life cycles of zooplankton. The maneuverable walker engineered Exploring the Arctic Seafloor imaging system was jointly created to help users rise from a seated Photographs by Chris Linder by Mechanical Engineering Associate position to an upright walking Through June 7, 2010 Professor George Barbastathis, position. The lightweight device Compton Gallery, 77 Massachusetts graduate students Nick Loomis incorporates a custom-designed Avenue, Cambridge and Jose Dominguez-Caballero, hinge that assists the transition A new MIT Museum exhibition and Woods Hole Oceanographic from sitting to standing. Exploring the Arctic Seafloor Institution scientists. chronicles the 2007 voyage of the Isis Helmet—A cycling helmet icebreaker Oden, a historic Woods capable of detecting severe crashes. Learn more about these exhibitions at Hole Oceanographic Institution When the helmet senses a significant http://web.mit.edu/museum. (WHOI) expedition launched in impact and the rider is unable to the International Polar Year. MIT/ signal wellbeing, the device initiates 2.009 course highlights WHOI Joint Program alumni Dr. a rescue by sending an emergency Hanumant Singh PhD ‘95, co-leader Teams of seniors in David message to 911. of the expedition, and photographer Wallace’s 2.009 course pooled their Chris Linder SM ‘96 joined a team engineering talent and creativity Find information and videos of scientists, researchers, and last fall to construct prototype of the final presentations at photographers for a 40-day journey inventions that addressed the theme http://web.mit.edu/2.009. to study the 1,800 kilometer-long of “emergency.” Final products were Gakkel Ridge. Linder created the graded on ingenuity, performance, Join us in the tent exhibition in collaboration with and the sustainability of the business The Department of Mechanical Chicago’s Field Museum and plan. The class culminated in an Engineering will host a graphics experts at WHOI. evening of presentations when reception immediately following teams marketed their inventions to commencement on Friday, June 4, The Holopod Camera fellow students, product designers, 2010. We hope you’ll join us as we Installation by Professor entrepreneurs, and alumni. celebrate our graduates, reconnect George Barbastathis and Emergency innovations included: with friends, and showcase our Cabell Davis latest research. The MechE tent will Ongoing AquAirius—An adjustable be located on Memorial Drive in MIT Museum, 265 Massachusetts backboard for rescuing injured front of Hayden Memorial Library. Avenue, Cambridge swimmers. The design is easier to See you there! In this interactive exhibit, visitors maneuver than the classic backboard experiment with a modified version and allows for greater neck of the state-of-the-art Holopod stabilization during rescues. camera, an innovative oceanographic MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering 12

High-flying alumni MechE alumni are soaring—in the entrepreneurial realm and in low-Earth orbit

Image: IRobot Image: NASA Image: NASA

Helen Greiner SB ’89, SM ’90 Christopher Cassidy SM ’00 Michael Massimino SM ’88, ME ’90, PhD ’92 With CEO Helen Greiner at the NASA Chris Cassidy is helm, all eyes are on CyPhy Works, the latest MechE alumnus to return NASA astronaut and engineer a new skunk works for robotics that from space. Cassidy completed Michael Massimino has given the Greiner launched as a sequel to his first orbital flight on board the Hubble space telescope its final her celebrated tenure at iRobot. As Endeavor in July tune-up. Massimino was part of cofounder, president, and chairman, 2009. He was part of the NASA the seven-person crew of the Space she and cofounders Colin Angle and mission STS-127 charged with Shuttle Atlantis mission STS-125 Rodney Brooks transformed iRobot delivering essential components that completed a series of delicate from a fledgling MIT spin-off into a to the International Space Station adjustments to the aging telescope $300 million business and the global (ISS). Upon docking, Cassidy was in May 2009. Hubble was released leader of practical robots. Greiner’s one of 13 at the ISS—the into orbit nearly twenty years ago, numerous accolades include a largest single contingent in the Space and these latest fixes are expected place on the prestigious “America’s Station’s history. He performed three to extend the lifespan of the deep Best Leaders” list compiled by the spacewalks and logged more than space imaging telescope another Kennedy School and U.S. News and 18 hours of five to seven years. While in space, World Report. She also has been during the mission. Before joining Massimino completed more than 15 honored with the Pioneer Award NASA, Cassidy served ten years as a hours of spacewalks and worked to from the Association for Unmanned member of the U.S. Navy SEALs. overcome obstacles like frozen bolts, Vehicle Systems International, stripped screws, and stuck handrails. recognized as an “Innovator for the Next Century” by Technology Review, and selected as one of Filling the skies Ernst & Young’s “New England Entrepreneurs of the Year” for Thirty four NASA astronauts – including nine from MechE – hail from MIT, 2003. Greiner was inducted into the more than from any other nonmilitary institution in the country. In fact, MIT Women in Technology International fliers have traveled on more than a third of U.S. space flights. In addition Hall of Fame in 2007. to Cassidy and Massamino, recent missions placed four MIT alumni in orbit simultaneously: Stephen Bowen ENG ’93, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper SB ’84, SM ’85, Michael Fincke SB ’89, and PhD ’92.

Find out more > Michael Massamino and Helen Greiner were both on campus last fall. See videos from their visits at http://mitworld.mit.edu. > http://mecheconnects.mit.edu MechE Connects Spring 2010 13

RoboClam The humble razor clam inspires underwater innovation

The RoboClam anchoring device Mechanical Engineering Professor Anette RoboClam, the metal device on the right, next Hosoi and graduate student Amos Winter to the inspirational razor clam to the left Images: Donna Coveney developed RoboClam, which could lead to “smart” anchoring technologies

Dubbed “the Ferrari of the ocean floor to reposition itself So when faced with the anchor underwater diggers,” the and even reverse, making it easier problem, the team thought, “Is tenacious razor clam has inspired to recover. there an animal that’s well adapted the invention of a new MIT robot to moving through sediment on Such a device could be useful, for by a team lead by Anette “Peko” the seafloor?” The first stage of example, as a tether for small robotic Hosoi, associate professor in the research, Winter says, involved submarines that are routinely the Department of Mechanical “looking at all the organisms I could repositioned to monitor variables, Engineering. Hosoi and Amos find that dig into the ocean bottom, such as currents and temperature. Winter, a graduate student in her stick to it, or cling to it mechanically.” Further, a device that can burrow lab, along with engineers at Bluefin His search uncovered the razor into the seabed and be directed to a Robotics Corp, are collaborating to clam. About seven inches long by specific location could be useful as explore the performance capabilities an inch wide, the razor clam can a detonator for buried underwater of clam-inspired digging. move at approximately a centimeter mines. Winter presented the team’s a second. “You have to dig fast results at a recent meeting of the “Our goal was to develop a to catch them,” says Winter, who American Physical Society. lightweight anchor that you could became a licensed clam digger as a set and then easily unset, something Novel propulsion mechanisms result of the research. that’s not possible with conventional devices,” Hosoi says. RoboClam may For several years, Hosoi’s research Another reason the razor clam indeed lead to the development of a has focused on propulsion makes a good model for novel “smart” anchor that burrows through mechanisms inspired by nature. anchors: it can dig deeply (up MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering 14

to about 70 centimeters). Most discovery. The clam’s quick up- important, in a measure of anchoring and-down and opening-and-closing force—how hard you pull before an movements turned the waterlogged anchor rips out of the soil compared sand around it into a liquid-like to the energy required to embed quicksand. Experiments showed that it—the razor clam reigns supreme. moving through a fluidized substrate “It beats everything, including the (the quicksand) rather than a packed best anchors,” Winter explains, “by at granular medium (ordinary sand) least a factor of 10.” drastically reduces the drag force on the clam’s body, bringing it to a Research subject in hand, one of point within the animal’s strength the team’s first tests gave perplexing capabilities. results. They pushed a clam shell cast Mechanical Engineering Professor Anette in epoxy into sand composed of glass Over the summer, Winter completed Hosoi and graduate student Amos Winter beads and compared the amount of construction of the RoboClam testing the RoboClam force necessary to do so to the razor itself. Although only about the size clam’s performance. They found a of a lighter, it is supported by a large In a measure of major discrepancy between the two. apparatus of regulators and anchoring force—how “They’re much too weak to do what pistons that control such variables as hard you pull before they do,” Hosoi says, “so we knew how hard the robot is pushed in an anchor rips out of they were doing something tricky.” each direction. the soil compared to To test the discrepancy, Winter This work was sponsored by Bluefin, the energy required to created a glass-sided box filled with Battelle, and Chevron. embed it—the razor water and beads, added a living clam, clam reigns supreme... and watched the animal burrow. It Excerpted from the MIT Tech Talk turns out to be a multistep process. article by Elizabeth Thomson The animal wiggles its tongue- like “foot” down into the sand, then makes a quick up-and-down movement while opening and closing its shell. Together, these movements propel it.

Making quicksand

By filming the movement of the beads, Winter made a startling > http://mecheconnects.mit.edu MechE Connects Spring 2010 15

EVT hits the road Students pursue an all-electric vehicle with rapid recharge

Under the hood after EVT students test drive their electric vehicle Mechanical Engineering sophomore conversion to battery power in Cambridge, MA Mike Nawrot trimming the alignment of the 250 horsepower drivetrain

If you take the 2010 Mercury cars under real-world operating “The EVT’s primary motivation Milan modified by the MIT conditions. “Every component of the is to demonstrate the potential Electric Vehicle Team (EVT) drive train conversion was designed, of new battery and electric drive out for a spin, you might easily machined, and installed by EVT technologies,” explains Gogoana. mistake it for a typical sedan—minus members,” says MechE senior Radu “We provide research and educational the engine noise, of course. This Gogoana. “That includes the quad- opportunities for MIT students, battery-powered conversion, dubbed chain 12,000 rpm speed reducer.” present our research at energy, “elEVen,” comfortably seats four transportation, and technical events, The lithium-ion battery pack at the adults, does 0 to 60 in nine seconds and teach classes for middle school heart of the elEVen is a product of with a top speed of 100 mph, has a and high school students. We truly A123Systems, a company cofounded range of 65 miles (with the ultimate believe that by getting the word out by MIT professor Yet-Ming Chiang goal of 200 miles), and recharges in we can accelerate the transition to and MIT Sloan alumnus Ric Fulop less than 11 minutes. electric vehicles.” SF ’06. The battery is ideal for A conversion of the Ford CD3 automotive applications because The EVT is partially supported by platform—the core of the Ford its lithium-ion phosphate cells have the MIT Department of Mechanical Fusion, Lincoln MKZ, and Mercury extremely low internal resistance, Engineering. The students are Milan—the elEVen demonstrates thus can be recharged rapidly. actively seeking new sponsors to fund how an all-electric vehicle can meet They are also chemically stable, further work on the elEVen project the needs of the average driver and which helps make them safe for through component donations and perform on a par with conventional consumer use. financial support.

Find out more > Learn more about the EVT’s work and its fleet of electric vehicles at http://web.mit.edu/evt. MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering 16

Student awards Awards ceremony May 2009

GRADUATE STUDENT UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS AWARDS

American Society for Precision Meredith Kamm Memorial Award AMP Inc. Award for Outstanding Engineering 2008 R.V. Jones Memorial for the Outstanding ME Woman Performance in Course 2.002 Scholarship for Best Paper Graduate Student Maria R. Bageant, John G. Vijay Shilpiekandula Kirki Kofiani, Chen-Rei Wan Boghossian, Vazrik Chiloyan, Teerawu Wannaphahoon Clement F. Burnap Award for National Inventors Hall of Fame Outstanding Masters of Science in the Collegiate Inventors Award Alfred A.H. Keil Ocean Engineering Marine Field Heejin Lee, Timothy Lu Development Fund Award for Filippos Chasparis Excellence in Broad-Based Research in SoE Graduate Student Extraordinary Ocean Engineering Department Service Award for Teaching and Mentoring Award Stephanie J. Chin, Charles D. Field Outstanding Service to the ME Gunaranjan Chaudhry Department BJ and Chunghi Park Award Barry M. Kudrowitz Wunsch Foundation Silent Hoist and for Outstanding Performance in Crane Award for Academic Excellence Manufacturing Goodwin Medal for Most Outstanding and Outstanding Master’s Thesis Mary Beth DiGenova, Ethan A. Huwe Teaching Assistantship (conferred by the Yi (Ellen) Chen, Irene M. Berry MIT Office of Graduate Education) Carl G. Sontheimer Prize for Creativity Barry M. Kudrowitz Wunsch Foundation Silent Hoist and and Innovation in Design Crane Award for Academic Excellence Justin Y. Lai, Zachary A. Trimble Luis de Florez Award for Scholarly and Outstanding PhD Thesis Invention/Innovation Award Keith V. Durand International Design Competition Daniel S. Codd, Randy H. Ewoldt Edward M. Grinnell, Pablo J. Bello, Wunsch Foundation Silent Hoist and Elvine P. Pineda, Arielle G. Fischer Crane Award (for outstanding TAs in Luis de Florez Award for Technology (top four individual winners of 2.007 Course 2.002) Invention/Innovation Award Spring 2009) Shawn A. Chester, David L. Henann Brian Chan, Amos G. Winter

Wunsch Foundation Silent Hoist and MIT 50K Arab Business Plan Crane Award (for outstanding TAs in Competition Course 2.003) Husain Al-Mohssen, Ghassan Fayad Brendan J. Englot, Brendan P. Epps > http://mecheconnects.mit.edu MechE Connects Spring 2010 17

SELECT HONORS 2009

James Dyson People’s Choice Peter Griffith Prize for Outstanding Gates Cambridge Trust Scholarship Design Award Undergraduate Thesis Orian Welling Andrew Bishara, Adelaide Calbry- Adam T. Paxson Muzyka, Kwame Hall, Josh Karges, Marshall Scholarship Michelle Lustrino, Nicole O’Keeffe, Society of Naval Architecture and Nathaniel Sharpe Sam Phillips, Sarah Shieh, Xiao Wei Marine Engineering Award for Chen, Isa Castro, Wenxian Hong, Outstanding Undergraduate in the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Jennifer Moore, Karina Pikhart, Marine Field Natasha Scolnik Rachel Tatem, Jodie Wu (2.009 Stephanie J. Chin, Charles D. Field 6DOT team) National Defense Science & Engineering Wallace Prize for Scholarship in Ocean Graduate Fellowships John C. and Elizabeth J. Chato Award Engineering Matthew Gilbertson for Excellence in Bioengineering Jenna McKown William Hesse Julia C. Zimmerman Whitelaw Prize (for originality in National Science Foundation Graduate Lauren Tsai Memorial Award for 2.007 design and contest) Research Fellowships Academic Excellence by a John M. Walton, Charles Z. Michael Barry Graduating Senior Guan, Blake A. Sessions, David S. Madalyn Berns Julia C. Zimmerman Anderson, Benjamin J. Peters Batya Fellman Maria Luckyanova Luis de Florez Award for Invention/ Wunsch Foundation Silent Hoist and Raathai Molian Innovation (team project) Crane Award (for academic excellence Adelaide S. Calbry-Muzyka, Joshua and outstanding senior thesis) M. Karges, Karina N. Pikhart, Maria Michael L. Stern, Fiona R. Hughes N. Prus, Trevor J. Shannon, Rachel E. Tatem, Tylor J. Hess Wunsch Foundation Silent Hoist and Crane Award (for academic excellence) Luis de Florez Award for Invention/ Fiona R. Hughes, Adam Paxson, Innovation (individual projects) Nathaniel Sharpe, Julia C. Adrienne Watral, Mario A. Bollini, Zimmerman Blake A. Sessions MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering 18

Faculty awards

Rohan Abeyaratne Stephen H. Crandall John B. Heywood Abeyaratne has accepted a three-year Crandall received the ASME Applied Heywood received the SAE Barry appointment in Singapore to serve Mechanics Division Thomas K. D. McNutt Award for Excellence in as codirector of the MIT Singapore Caughey Dynamics Award. Automotive Policy Analysis. SMART program. He recently completed a distinguished seven-year C. Forbes Dewey, Jr. Neville J. Hogan term as Department Head. Dewey was named a fellow of the Hogan was named the Sun Royal Academy of Engineering of the Jae Professor of Mechanical Lallit Anand United Kingdom. Engineering. He also was the ASME Anand was named the Warren and Rufus Oldenburger Medalist and Towneley Rohsenow Professor of Daniel D. Frey received the ASME Henry Paynter Mechanical Engineering. Frey received the Joel Spira Teaching Outstanding Investigator Award. Award and the Big Screw Award. John G. Brisson Anette (Peko) Hosoi Brisson received the Best Paper Ahmed F. Ghoniem Hosoi was promoted to Associate Award from the Journal of Cryogenics. Ghoniem received the KAUST Professor with Tenure. She also Investigator Award. was selected to deliver the Batchelor Cullen R. Buie Lecture at Cambridge University. Buie received the Best Student Paper Leon R. Glicksman award from ASME. Glicksman received the ASME Heat Roger D. Kamm Transfer Memorial Award. He also Kamm was selected to speak at the Tonio Buonassisi received the American Society of Midwest Mechanics Lecture Series. Buonassisi was named the SMA Heating, Refrigeration and Air- He also was elected a Fellow of Career Development Assistant Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) the American Association for the Professor in Manufacturing. Distinguished Service Award. Advancement of Science.

Gang Chen Alan J. Grodzinsky Rohit Karnik Chen was named the Carl Richard Grodzinsky received the Institute Karnik was named an Alex d’Arbeloff Soderberg Professor of Power for Advanced Studies Award from Career Development Assistant Engineering. He was elected a University of Western Australia. Professor. He also won a National fellow of the American Association Science Foundation Career for the Advancement of Science David E. Hardt Award with a proposal titled “Cell and a member of the National Hardt was appointed as the Graduate Separation by Rolling on Asymmetric Academy of Engineering. He also Officer for the MIT Department of Receptor Patterns.” received the ASME Heat Transfer Mechanical Engineering. Memorial Award. > http://mecheconnects.mit.edu MechE Connects Spring 2010 19

John J. Leonard Yang Shao-Horn David R. Wallace Leonard was named Director of the Shao-Horn was promoted to Wallace received the Jacob P. Den MIT-Ford Alliance. Associate Professor with Tenure. Hartog Distinguished Educator She also received the Charles W. Award. Pierre Lermusiaux Tobias Young Investigator Award of Lermusiaux was named the Doherty the Electrochemical Society and the Evelyn N. Wang Associate Professor in Ocean Tajima Prize of the International Wang received the DARPA Young Utilization. Society of Electrochemistry. Faculty Award. She also was named the Esther and Harold E. Edgerton John H. Lienhard Alexander H. Slocum Career Development Assistant Lienhard was named the Samuel Slocum received the ASME Machine Professor. C. Collins Professor of Mechanical Design Award. Engineering. He also was appointed Maria C. Yang the Associate Head for Education of Michael S. Triantafyllou Yang was named the Robert N. the MIT Department of Mechanical Triantafyllou was named the Noyce Career Development Assistant Engineering. William I. Koch Professor of Marine Professor of Mechanical Engineering Technology. and Engineering Systems. Henry S. Marcus Marcus received the William Selkirk Nam P. Suh Dick K.-P. Yue Owen Lifetime Achievement Award Suh received the ASME Medal. Yue was the Peachman Distinguished of the Webb Institute Alumni Lecturer at the University of Association. Kripa K. Varanasi Michigan at Ann Arbor. Varanasi was named a d’Arbeloff Gareth H. McKinley Career Development Assistant McKinley was appointed the Professor. He won a National Science Associate Head of Research for the Foundation Career Award with a MIT Department of Mechanical proposal titled “Fundamental Studies Engineering. of Condensation Phenomena on Heterogeneous and Hierarchical Sanjay E. Sarma Nanoengineered Surfaces.” Sarma was named a MacVicar He also received the ASME faculty fellow. Nanotechnology Best Poster Award and the Charles E. Reed Award. MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering 20

New MechE faculty

Cullen R. Buie Sangbae Kim Alexander Mitsos Kripa K. Varanasi Assistant Professor Assistant Professor Assistant Professor d’Arbeloff Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Images: Tony Pulsone

Cullen R. Buie, Based on cues from biological Kripa K. Varanasi, Assistant Professor systems, Kim is pursuing a new d’Arbeloff Assistant Professor research field called hyperdynamic of Mechanical Engineering As director of the MIT Laboratory robotics by establishing a multi- for Energy and Microsystems Professor Varanasi received his PhD disciplinary research foundation that Innovation (LEMI), Professor Buie is in mechanical engineering from MIT includes elastomeric compliance studying the electrokinetic properties in 2004. Since that time, he has been design, composite manufacturing, of bacteria used in microbial fuel a lead research scientist in the Energy high power density actuator cells with a grant from the MIT & Propulsion and Nanotechnology development, and hierarchical Research Support Committee. He is programs at the GE Global Research control architecture. He received also using electrokinetics to create Center, Niskayuna, NY, where he his PhD in mechanical engineering nanoporous surfaces for applications established research programs on from Stanford in 2008 and joined in electrochemical systems, biological nano-engineered materials, was the the MIT faculty in May 2009. systems, and surface coatings. Buie PI for the DARPA Thermal Ground received his PhD in mechanical Alexander Mitsos, Plane program, and received several engineering from Stanford in 2009 Assistant Professor technical and leadership awards. and joined the MIT faculty in The primary focus of his research Professor Mitsos’ work centers on the January 2010. at MIT is in the development of optimization of chemical, biological, nano-engineered surfaces and Sangbae Kim, and energy systems using modeling coating technologies that can result Assistant Professor and simulations. His research in transformational performance interests include the optimal design Professor Kim’s research focuses enhancements and avoidance of and operation of microchemical on the convergence of mechanical CO2 emissions. He has filed more systems, phase equilibrium engineering, biology, and material than 25 patents in this area. He thermodynamics, combustion with science on robotic systems. His joined the MIT faculty as d’Arbeloff CO2 sequestration, solar thermal and design approaches integrate a range Assistant Professor of Mechanical clean water, and the development of technologies based on biological Engineering in January 2009. of numerical algorithms for global observations as manifested in his optimization. Mitsos received his previous research on the directional PhD in chemical engineering from adhesive and the robotic gecko. MIT in 2006 and joined the MIT faculty in January 2009. > http://mecheconnects.mit.edu MechE Connects Spring 2010 21

Talking shop Professor Franz Hover

Jordan Lewis asks MechE Professor 100%. And if there’s a power outage Franz Hover about ocean-going or electrical failure, it must be electrical systems and turning a resolved immediately. Obviously, collection of odds and ends into an if the power is interrupted to the intelligent machine. ship’s steering, communications, or navigation, it could be very Tell us about your work with large-scale problematic. The design components electrical systems. First, what we are introducing in these constitutes “large?” algorithms work to reestablish power to every compromised node very An oilfield, a naval ship, the power quickly—perhaps less than a second. grid of the . All these large systems are growing in You teach Design of Electromechanical complexity. Our goal is to incorporate Robotic Systems – 2.017. Is that as fun Professor Franz Hover joined the more components—or nodes— as it sounds? Mechanical Engineering faculty in without reducing the reliability of 2007. He received his ScD from the the system. If the initial design Yes! For this class, we get the coolest MIT/WHOI Joint Program in 1993 is not optimized, it will mean sensors, gadgets, and tools we can and worked at MIT as a research challenges in construction, repair, find, then set a high bar for each engineer after graduation. Hover and functionality. To strengthen team to solve a complex problem has a broad research focus that the design, we use algorithms that found in real working environments. includes autonomous underwa- select the best configuration for the We’re asking them to design and ter vehicles (AUVs), the all-electric nodes within a given system. The build large, integrated projects. ship, and large systems engineer- programming for these algorithms Last semester, one team built an ing. He recently developed an can be refined and calibrated to autonomous boat that was steered underwater robot capable of moni- achieve a balance between efficiency by GPS, then switched over to a toring large ship hulls while they wait at anchor. Guided by and robust characteristics. sonar guidance system. The other and imaging sensors, the robot project was a quad-rotor helicopter Explain the kind of impact this would can map the ship’s hull and relay that incorporated an on-board have on board a ship. images of foreign objects to the camera, compass, and GPS, giving crew for further investigation. Think about electricity on a ship it the ability to land in a precise for a moment. The vessel might be location. Each team combined the MechE Connects editor Jordan Lewis cruising in very remote stretches instrumentation and customized is a communications specialist of ocean far from shore. As it is control algorithms to complete its in the Department of Mechanical cruising, it is generating and serving mission. It was great fun to watch the Engineering. power to all the onboard electric students test the projects and prove components. Reliability is important how the designs managed the wind on land, but out here, it must be and waves.

MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering 22

MechE research news

New DOE Research Centers talents and skills of our nation’s and Professor Kamal Youcef-Toumi, scientific workforce in pursuit of the center is expected to conduct The White House has announced the breakthroughs that are essential 16 joint research projects and eight that MIT will be home to two to make alternative and renewable joint educational projects over new multimillion-dollar Energy energy truly viable as large-scale seven years. Approximately 20 Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs) replacements for fossil fuels.” MIT faculty members will team up being established by the U.S. with a corresponding number from Department of Energy Office of EFRC researchers will take KFUPM during the center’s first year Science. The Solid State Solar advantage of new capabilities in to research topics of mutual interest. Thermal Energy Conversion Center nanotechnology, high-intensity light 3 The joint projects will be funded (S TEC) will be directed by Gang sources, neutron scattering sources, by KFUPM. Chen, the Carl Richard Soderberg supercomputing, and other advanced Professor of Power Engineering instrumentation to lay the scientific Faculty and graduate students from in the Department of Mechanical groundwork for fundamental KFUPM will have the opportunity Engineering. A second center will advances. to spend one or two semesters at be headed by electrical engineering MIT, and faculty from MIT will MechE Hosts Clean Water & Associate Professor Marc A. Baldo. visit KFUPM for one to two weeks Energy Center A total of forty-six EFRCs are being each year. The center will include a set up at universities, national The MIT Department of Mechanical groundbreaking outreach program laboratories, nonprofit organizations, Engineering (MechE) and King Fahd that will bring Saudi women and private firms across the nation. University of Petroleum and Minerals engineers and scientists to MIT for (KFUPM) in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia research and educational projects. S3TEC will receive initial five- have launched a seven-year research year funding of $17.5 million to SMART Opens BioSystem and education program focused pursue advanced energy research. Group in Singapore on solar energy, the desalination of The center’s objective is to create seawater, and other technologies The Singapore-MIT Alliance for novel solid-state materials for the related to the production of fresh Research and Technology (SMART) conversion of sunlight and heat water and low-carbon energy. The has established the BioSystem and into electricity. “As global energy joint effort will lay the groundwork Micromechanics Interdisciplinary demand grows over this century, for the creation of the Center for Research Group (BioSyM IRG) there is an urgent need to reduce Clean Water and Clean Energy at with the support of the Singapore our dependence on fossil fuels and MIT and KFUPM. The center will be National Research Foundation (NRF). imported oil and curtail greenhouse housed within the MIT Department The BioSyM IRG brings together gas emissions,” says U.S. Secretary of Mechanical Engineering. a diverse team of faculty members of Energy Steven Chu. “Meeting this and researchers from MIT and challenge will require significant Under the direction of John H. Singapore’s universities and research scientific advances. These centers Lienhard, Samuel C. Collins institutes to develop biotechnologies will mobilize the enormous Professor of Mechanical Engineering, that will produce the next generation > http://mecheconnects.mit.edu MechE Connects Spring 2010 23

of discoveries in biology. Roger D. focus is on remote development and production of superhydrophobic Kamm, Germeshausen Professor production of oil and gas in ultra- surfaces, scalable separation methods of Mechanical and Biological deep waters. for single-wall carbon nanotubes, Engineering, is the lead principal and production of patterns with The Chevron program offers two investigator for the group. sub-250 nanometer features over levels of support for sponsored large curved surfaces. The primary focus of BioSyM is to research. The first is for seed- develop technologies that will help level projects designed to develop New NSF Center for Integrated answer critical biological and medical promising research ideas and Cellular Systems questions associated with a variety establish collaborative links between The Emergent Behaviors of of diseases. The group also seeks to MIT and Chevron researchers. Seed Integrated Cellular Systems Center provide new technological solutions projects are awarded $40,000 to (EBICS) has been founded at MIT to the healthcare industry and to $80,000 and are expected to span with a $25 million grant from the the broader Singapore research approximately one year. The second National Science Foundation (NSF). infrastructure. Established in 2007, level of support enables successful Roger Kamm, MIT’s Germeshausen SMART is MIT’s first research center seed projects to evolve into full Professor of Mechanical and outside Cambridge and its largest research projects. Such projects are Biological Engineering, will be the international research endeavor. funded at $100,000 to $150,000 per center’s founding director. Professor Rohan Abeyaratne, year for a period of two to three years. Part of the NSF’s Science and former head of the Department of Battelle Grants for National Technology Centers Integrative Mechanical Engineering, serves as Security Research Partnerships program, EBICS is the director of SMART. SMART a partnership among MIT, the is also the initial center at the The Department of Mechanical University of Illinois at Urbana- Campus for Research Excellence and Engineering and Battelle have Champaign, and the Georgia Technological Enterprise (CREATE) teamed up to award as many as Institute of Technology. The center’s being developed by the NRF. five one-year seedling challenge objectives are to dramatically advance grants of approximately $50,000 to Chevron-sponsored OE research in complex biological $80,000 for one year. The grants, Partnerships systems, to create new educational which have the potential for renewal, programs based on this research, The Center for Ocean Engineering’s will support innovative research and to demonstrate leadership productive, long-term sponsored related to national security and involving groups traditionally research program with Chevron is associated commercial applications. underrepresented in science and helping to establish close educational, Areas of interest include nanoscale engineering. training, and research links between heat transfer, advanced cooling, academia and industry in areas of supramolecular chemistry, mutual interest related to oil and gas advanced multifunctional materials, production. The program’s research comfortable/stretchable electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Mechanical Engineering 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Room 3-173 Cambridge, MA 02139

Coming in the > The Pappalardo II laboratories > The KFUPM Center for Clean > Course 2.674 introduces under- next issue: complete their renovations Water and Energy at MIT graduates to micro/nanotechnologies

Alex Slocum, the Neil and Jane Pappalardo Professor of Mechanical Engineering, demonstrates his plan for offshore wind turbines to President Obama, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, MIT President Susan Hockfield, and Senator John Kerry during a visit to campus on Friday, Oct. 23, 2009. “It’s clear that he really listens,” Slocum says. “He asked some really good questions. He wanted to know what can be done,

and what is being done. psb: 09-08-0426 It was really refreshing.”

Image: AP Photo by Gerald Herbert