School Notes: School of Engineering & Applied Science
November/December 2010

Transforming technology—leader in design

Designing a robotic hand that can both pick up and manipulate small objects, like pens or coins, and powerfully grasp larger objects, such as hammers and cups, is no easy task. But the creative approach taken by Aaron Dollar, assistant professor of mechanical engineering and materials science, has earned him a place on the list of the 2010 Young Innovators Under 35 by Technology Review. Each year, the magazine selects 35 young leaders whose work is “transforming technology” and shaping the future. Dollar joins the ranks of Google cofounders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Facebook cofounder Mark Zuckerberg, PayPal cofounder Max Levchin, and Linux developer Linus Torvalds. Dollar’s goal is to make simple, easy-to-use devices that mimic the human hand, with potential applications in domestic robotic assistance as well as prosthetics.

Haptic car seat alerts drivers

The Morrell Lab, led by assistant professor of mechanical engineering John Morrell ’86, was recently in the news for its design of a haptic car seat that transmits vibrations to the driver’s back, alerting them to cars approaching from behind and signaling when someone is in their blind spot. According to Morrell, a driver’s visual sense is already saturated, so a tactile interface with the environment may be a driver’s best defense. Vibrations on the left, right, or middle alert the driver to approaching cars while also providing a directional cue. Morrell says that the ultimate goal of the design is a “renaissance user interface” that uses the mind and body to the fullest.

Professor brings biomechanics focus to BME

Jay Humphrey, professor of biomedical engineering (BME), joined Yale in July, marking the first senior faculty hire in engineering since 2002 and the fourth new hire in BME in the past year. Humphrey comes to Yale from Texas A&M with primary research and teaching interests in vascular mechanics and mechanobiology, particularly related to vascular disease progression and treatment. Under his leadership, BME will expand into the area of biomechanics, complementing its core areas of bioimaging and biomolecular engineering (e.g., drug delivery and tissue engineering).