#columbia engineering

A robot shows "empathy" toward another robot in a new study 

A Columbia Engineering robot has learned to predict its partner robot's future actions, demonstrating what researchers see as a glimmer of primitive empathy. 

Credit: Jack Davis/Columbia Engineering. Side view of bubbles evolved from two symmetric electrodes with a catalyst coated on both sides. A large mixed-composition (H2 + O2) bubble is seen to bridge the two electrodes.

1. Solar-powered water electrolysis could produce hydrogen for use as a fuel.

2. Researchers at Columbia Engineering, USA, have taken advantage of this technique, developing a stand-alone photovoltaic-powered electrolysis device that floats on water – known as a solar fuels rig.

3. Using solar power and water, the rig could produce clean fuel, without requiring fresh water or land.

4. Key to the development of this device is the absence of conventionally used expensive membranes in the electrolyser. In this device, they are separated and collected using electrode configuration and the buoyancy of the bubbles.

5. The device comprises porous mesh electrodes coated, on one side only, with a platinum electrocatalyst.

To find out more visit see our upcoming February issue.

Week in Brief (24–28 April)

Credit: Yuan Yang/Columbia Engineering.

Schematic of vertically aligned and connected ceramic channels for enhancing ionic conduction 

A new method, which controls the structure of the solid electrolyte in lithium batteries using ice-templating, could afford lithium batteries a longer life, higher safety and even make them bendable.

Yuan Yang, assistant professor of materials science and engineering at Columbia Engineering, USA, developed the method. Haowei Zhai, lead author of the paper, published in Nano Letters, commented ‘We thought that if we combined the vertically aligned structure of the ceramic electrolyte with [a] polymer electrolyte, we would be able to provide a fast highway for lithium ions and thus enhance the conductivity [...] We believe this is the first time anyone has used the ice-templating method to make flexible solid electrolyte, which is nonflammable and nontoxic, in lithium batteries.’

Yang believes that all solid-state lithium batteries could solve the safety issues surrounding lithium batteries in electronic devices, as well as increasing the battery’s energy density for storage and transporting.

To find out more visit, bit.ly/2ovllXr

In other news:

- London’s is to be prepared for new electric black cabs in £18m TFL scheme. 

- Graphene could aid in desalination

- Apple wants to start making everything from recycles materials. 

Breaking (and Restoring) Graphene’s Symmetry in a Twistable Electronics Device

Columbia researchers invent a new way to tune the properties of 2D materials by adjusting the twist angle between them; technology enables the development of nanoelectromechanical sensors with applications in astronomy, medicine, search and rescue, and more.

A recent study from the labs of James Hone (mechanical engineering) and Cory Dean (physics) demonstrates a new way to tune the properties…

New Clues as to Why Mutations in the MYH9 Gene Cause Broad Spectrum of Disorders in Humans

Myosins are motor proteins that convert chemical energy into mechanical work, generating force and movement. Myosin II generates forces that are essential to drive cell movements and cell shape changes that generate tissue structure. While researchers know that mutations in the genes that encode nonmuscle myosin II lead to diseases, including severe congenital defects as well as blood platelet…

Porous Polymer Coatings Dynamically Control Light and Heat

Buildings devote more than 30% of their energy use to heating, cooling, and lighting systems. Passive designs such as cool roof paints have gone a long way toward reducing this usage, and its impact on the environment and climate, but they have one key limitation—they are usually static, and thus not responsive to daily or seasonal changes.

Columbia Engineering researchers have developed…

New Test Diagnoses Lyme Disease Within 15 Minutes

Some 300,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with Lyme disease every year. Caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and transmitted by the bite of infected Ixodes ticks, the disease if left untreated can cause serious neurologic, cardiac, and/or rheumatologic complications.

Current testing for Lyme disease, called the standard 2-tiered approach or the STT, involves running two complex assays (ELISA and…

I attended Design, Engineering and Maker Cultures this week which was hosted at Columbia University’s School of Engineering, organized by STEMteachersNYC, and led by Michael Katz and Frances Hidalgo (two volunteer teachers from the STEMteachersNYC community).

Here is the workshop’s description as per their registration page:

Interested in learning more about the engineering and design process, and how to incorporate it into your classroom? This workshop is designed to show how you can infuse engineering and design thinking into your curriculum. Drawing from the NGSS Engineering Design standards we’ll explore how students can use design and affordable makerspace technologies to ask questions and define problems; to formulate, refine, and evaluate testable questions; and design problems using models and simulations.

Throughout the workshop, participants will explore easy-to-deploy design experiences for a range of grade levels. Participants will have the chance to experience several hands-on projects like making paper circuits, while also troubleshooting strategies for setting up a Makerspace in your school and using this as a platform for curricular integration and development. Attendees will also spend time identifying areas within their curriculum that naturally lead to incorporating more creativity, innovation and collaboration. So whether you teach elementary or high school students, come learn and experience how fun and easy it can be to incorporate engineering and design in your classroom.

This was the first time this workshop has ever been offered, and I imagine the next manifestation might have less pre-activity lead-up discussions and more time for hands-on learning, group activities, and collaborative lesson brainstorming.  Here are some of my highlights from the three days:

I loved meeting awesome educators from public and private schools who all have a shared interest in expanding their skillset, innovating, and sharing ideas.

I worked with a group to build a prototype of a machine inspired by nature. Biomimicry is defined by the Biomimicry Institute as “an approach to innovation that seeks sustainable solutions to human challenges by emulating nature’s time-tested patterns and strategies.” My team considered how the blue whale’s baleen might inspire an amphibious coastal Roomba-like cleaning mechanism. Our design, Blue Whale Blue Crab (or Beach Clean Baleen) also included crab-influenced claws. Ideally, this amphibious machine will travel on land and sea, filtering inorganic material and sorting it into onboard containers. Metal could be further sorted by using a magnet on the claw and a more powerful magnet onboard near the sorting bins. I was really happy with our teamwork and proud of our protoype!

For our biomimicry challenge, my group created a “Beach Clean Baleen” prototype inspired by blue whales. It navigates sand and sea to filter inorganic material. It also has magnetic crab-like claws to additionally sort metal objects. #MakerEd #STEAM @STEMteachersNYC pic.twitter.com/vOU4QxLnVs

— Karen Blumberg (@KarenBlumberg) July 23, 2019

Gail Sestito (aka @TheRobotFairy) totally blew my mind when she shared how a student of hers demonstrated how to merge two words into a fascinating mathematical parametric 3D shape using Onshape. She then took this idea and collaborated with an English teacher for a project that physically illustrates the concept of Doublespeak from George Orwell’s 1984. For example, they made word sculptures where one view of the piece reads Truth and one view reads Lies. Or War/Peace. Or Love/Turture. Such a great project!

Behold @TheRobotFairy’s use of @Onshape to intersect two words together into a parametric word collage! She collaborates with an English teacher at @ryecountryday to represent Double-Speak in *1984* — such an awesome idea! @STEMteachersNYC #engchat #MakerEd #STEAM #edtech pic.twitter.com/SPDCEroIYL

— Karen Blumberg (@KarenBlumberg) July 24, 2019

Here is Gail’s awesome merging of her name and my name!

Bill Miller is the Makerspace manager, and he showed us two fascinating innovation centers. First we went on a tour of the Department of Mechanical Engineering’s extensive fabrication spaces. After, Bill showed us where the new community Makerspace will be — it is transitioning from a decent sized room on the 12th floor (which I visited many moons ago) to a huge facility on the 2nd floor. The budget to revamp and outfit this newer facility was $400,000!. 💰😳 Here are some photos:

After seeing their bank of Ultimaker 3D printers, I offered to connect Bill to @LizArum, Ultimaker’s Community Manager and an incredibly knowledgeable, generous, and brilliant friend. Yay for connecting people who may end up further collaborating in some capacity! Here are two upcoming and worthwhile events Liz is organizing:

Inside/Outside Aug 8-9 in NYC

Construct3D Feb 13-16 in Texas.