Imagine you’re a farmer who has to monitor miles of corn rows. Not only is it repetitive and time-intensive, but the rows are too narrow to walk in. Perfect job for an autonomous robot! Purdue University researchers have created a small autonomous robot to help farmers monitor crops and regularly collect physical samples, saving them time and effort.

Liang Pan leads a team of Purdue University researchers whose 3D printing innovation produces a higher throughput of high-resolution 3D nanostructures faster and less expensively than traditional laser-based printing technologies.

3D printing has revolutionized manufacturing, but it still has some built-in heartache — if your print runs out of filament in the middle of the night, hours of work are ruined. Now, Purdue University alumni have created a solution: Infinity Flow, a new device that automatically loads and feeds multiple rolls of filament into any 3D printer, making the process faster, easier, and totally seamless.

Sometimes bigger is better! Purdue University has passed Georgia Tech to become the largest mechanical engineering school in the nation, demonstrating the Pinnacle of Excellence at Scale.

One of the largest, most complex microgravity test facilities on the International Space Station, designed by mechanical engineering professor Issam Mudawar, has provided vital data for long-duration space travel and habitats.

“Drivers, start your engines!” is the traditional call at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. But what if the drivers were replaced by computers? Then you’d have the Indy Autonomous Challenge, a new competition featuring the world’s fastest autonomous race cars. Purdue AI Racing recently showcased its car maneuvering autonomously around the track at speeds up to 140 miles an hour.

Four Purdue Mechanical Engineering students have been chosen as Purdue Engineering Fellows. These students, who were nominated as juniors by faculty and staff, will receive $25,000 upon graduation to be used in any desired endeavor.

Amy Marconnet uses infrared microscopes to explore new methods of managing the heat produced inside today’s high-powered electronics.

Purdue University is forever linked with the Moon, with Boilermakers as the first and last men to walk on the Moon. Now, the next lunar robot may also come from West Lafayette! Purdue Lunabotics students are building autonomous mining robots as part of the NASA Lunabotics Challenge.

Each year, the Intel Rising Star Faculty Award program selects early-career academic researchers who are leading the advancements in technology research that demonstrate the potential to disrupt the semiconductor industry. Tiwei Wei, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, has received the 2024 Intel Rising Star Faculty Award, recognizing his exceptional work in the field of advanced semiconductor packaging and chip/package level thermal management.