Jennifer Chu

Method developed for improving autonomous robotic systems

MIT researchers have developed a general-purpose optimizer that can speed up the design of walking robots, self-driving vehicles, and other autonomous systems.

Heat engine with no moving parts designed

MIT researchers have design a heat engine with no moving parts, which could help enable a fully decarbonized power grid in the future.

System trains drones to fly around obstacles at high speeds

Aerospace engineers at MIT have devised an algorithm that helps drones fly around obstacles without crashing, which could help in search-and-rescue missions and other applications that use drones in time-sensitive situations. See video.

Velcro-like food sensor detects spoilage, contamination

A Velcro-like food sensor made from an array of silk microneedles has been developed that is designed to pierce through plastic packaging to sample food for signs of spoilage and bacterial contamination.

How a COVID-19 testing trailer was built for a university

MIT engineers and medical staff built a 60-foot trailer for COVID-19 testing that can test up to 1,500 people a day and is now operating as the main test site for asymptomatic members of the MIT community.

Researchers giving robots human-like perception of their physical environments

3D Dynamic Scene Graphs gives robots spatial abilities that could enable them to work with people on the plant floor or in other dangerous environments.

Graphene twists could help engineer quantum computing devices

Results from MIT research could help designers engineer high-temperature superconductors and quantum computing devices.

Technique helps robots find the front door

MIT engineers, along with the Ford Motor Company, have developed a navigation method for robots that enables a robot to use clues in its environment to plan out a route to its destination, which can be described in general semantic terms rather than coordinates on a map.

Mesh-like structures morph into predetermined shapes

MIT mechanical engineers have designed 3-D-printed mesh-like structures that morph from flat layers into predetermined shapes, which could lead to developments such as adaptive robotic fins.