Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Ringbot towing a payload across a flat surface.

Nov 16, 2022

Autonomous crawling soft ‘Ringbots’ can navigate narrow gaps

The ring-shaped soft robot crawls across surfaces when exposed to elevated temperatures or infrared light.

Photo of 3D printer bioprinting plant cells.

Oct 17, 2022

3D printing plant cells shows promise for studying cell function

Researchers take a big step in showing efficacy of bioprinting plant cells to study cellular communication and viability in a controlled environment.

Grey surface with an array of water beads on top.

Oct 11, 2022

Study opens door to new class of slippery, water-loving surfaces

The work runs counter to conventional wisdom regarding slippery materials, and suggests a new area of research for the field.

From left to right: John O., Mary E., John F., and Penny Higdon.

Oct 5, 2022

Aerospace engineering alumnus gives in honor of family

The Caldwell Fellows program is pleased to celebrate the recent gift from John F. and Penny Higdon, of Matthews, North Carolina. John is an ‘86 Aerospace Engineering alumnus and Caldwell Fellow. He currently serves as the Director of Product Engineering at the Merit Bass Company and serves as the Mayor of Matthews, North Carolina.

Bronze wolf statue in silhouette against trees and sky.

Sep 29, 2022

Engineering faculty among Fall 2022 DELTA Express Grant recipients

DELTA has awarded a total of eight Express Grants stretching across five colleges. Grant types include six Instructional Tools Grants and two 3D Object Scan grants.

Hannah Fletcher flashes the Wolfpack sign just before skydiving from a plane.

Sep 20, 2022

NC State engineering alumna named U.S. Air Force Cadet of the Year

Hannah Fletcher (Mechanical Engineering and International Studies ’21) is the first NC State student to receive the national honor.

Graphic respresentation of a latticed nanostructure with measurements overlaid onto the image.

Sep 13, 2022

Unique material property discovered in complex nanostructures

Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin and North Carolina State University, including Andrew A. Adams Distinguished Professor Yong Zhu from the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, have discovered a unique property in complex nanostructures that has only ever been found in simple nanostructures.

Sep 6, 2022

Prosthetic robotics proposal awarded $1.2 million in NSF funding

The award, titled “Collaborative Research: NRI: Smart Skins for Robotic Prosthetic hand,” seeks to further develop smart skin technology within robotic prosthetic hands for more effective and efficient prosthetics.

Aerial view of the NC State Belltower on main campus. The downtown Raleigh skyline is in the background.

Sep 2, 2022

Chancellor’s Innovation Fund awards support to five promising engineering projects

This year’s awardees are researching a better way to make EKGs wireless, a novel coating to simultaneously prevent and remove ice, faster COVID-19 antibody tests, and a number of other discoveries with the potential to revolutionize human healthcare.