Mechanical THE MAGAZINE OF ASME ENGINEERING No. 07 139 Technology that moves the world SMALL BUT MIGHTY Robots are boosting warehouse productivity. FASTEST WOMAN ON TWO WHEELS PAGE 18 FLEXIBLE POWER SUIT PAGE 38 BRAIN-CONTROLLED PROSTHETICS PAGE 44 ASME.ORG JULY 2017 GREAT NEWS! Thanks to our partnership with one of the leading engineering professional liability insurance carriers, Beazley Insurance &RPSDQ\ΖQF\RXKDYHDFFHVVWRDQH[SHUWUHVRXUFHIRU\RXUȴUPȇV professional liability needs. And because of this partnership, if you are an ASME member you are eligible for a 10% premium discount* exclusively through our program. ASME PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY PROGRAM DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR ASME 7KH3URIHVVLRQDO/LDELOLW\3URJUDPLVR΍HUHGWKURXJKDSURYHQ industry leader in the engineering professional liability marketplace: ASME MEMBER EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE BENEFITS: Beazley is one of the top engineering insurance carriers that understands the unique risks engineers face. 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Hybrid Cars Compete for Speed The Formula Hybrid competition is entering its second decade, giving developers and students an opportunity to race hybrid and electric vehicles for speed and endurance. The Smallest 3-D Print Job Yet 3-D printing just got a whole lot smaller. THE HUMAN-LIKE Researchers at Oak Ridge National Labo- ratories have managed to print a handful of objects at the nanoscale using focused iPAL ROBOT electron beam induced deposition. T’S TRUE THAT LONELINESS is not something that can always be avoided. But Bioengineering and a new branch of robotics is seeking to make it a rarer condition than ever Generative Design with human-like robot companions. The new “iPal” is one such robot, An interview with Francis designed to help with the gloom. However, that name doesn’t nearly Bitanti, Studio Bitanti, who describes how encompass all of the functions of this robot friend, which is also a teacher, he applies design knowledge and experi- Ian entertainer, and even a health assistant. ence from numerous fields to the field of bioengineering. Kites May Be Windpower Solution NEXT MONTH ON ASME.ORG A Scottish wind energy developer is using kites and bicycles to gen- GPS TELLS ROBOTS WHERE TO GO erate small amounts of power. He You’ve heard a lot about self-driving cars. is keeping his plans open source Using GPS in robotics takes that idea to a new level, impacting industries from mining to with the idea that individual units manufacturing. could provide cheap power to those in need. TEMPORARY TATTOOS PROVIDE PERMANENT BIODATA Researchers at Tokyo’s Waseda University are producing temporary electronic tattoos, nanometers thin, with the potential to act as a medical sensor and monitor, a data gatherer and even an alert system for the elderly. TABLE OF CONTENTS 07 power 139 38 suit Harvard engineers are designing soft robotic exosuits to reduce the physical toll on soldiers. BY TOM GIBSON FEATURES Mechanical THE MAGAZINE OF ASME ENGINEERINGENGINEERING No. 07 139 Technology that moves the world SMALL BUT MIGHTY Robots are boosting warehouse productivity. FASTEST WOMAN ON TWO WHEELS PAGE 18 FLEXIBLE POWER SUIT PAGE 38 BRAIN-CONTROLLED PROSTHETICS PAGE 44 ASME.ORG JULY 2017 ON THE COVER 32 AUTOMATION TEST BED How warehouses have become a proving ground for autonomous robots. BY ALAN S. BROWN 10 metamaterials 18 transformed ONE-On-ONE Legos and origami inspire Eva Håkansson on her passion next-generation materials. for speed and engineering. BY MEREDITH STETTNER BY CHITRA SETHI MECHANICAL ENGINEERING | JULY 2017 | P.03 untying the knoT The mechanics of shoe laces. BY MEREDITH STETTNER 44 64 mind control Can brain-controlled assistive devices help DEpartments paralyzed people navigate the real world? BY KAYT SUKEL 6 Editorial 8 Letters 10 Tech Buzz 16 Energy 42 28 Vault robotic zoo 50 Bookshelf 52 Software Building robots 54 Hardware that mimic the movement of 60 Standards & Certification different animals. 61 Positions Open BY KAYT SUKEL 61 Ad Index 62 ASME News Practical robots A future where robots become part of our lives isn't far off. 30 BY MOLLIE BLOUDOFF-INDELICATO by the numbers: FACTORING capacity Renewables and baseload 22 are starting to converge. BY JEFFREY WINTERS MECHANICAL ENGINEERING | JULY 2017 | P. 04 Editor-in-Chief and Publisher Central John G. Falcioni Thomas McNulty [email protected] Managing Editor p. 847.842.9429 f. 847.842.9583 President: Charla K. Wise Chitra Sethi P.O. 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