#udel research

[udelaware]

Wind turbine know-how

According to a recent Department of Energy report, wind power is expected to contribute 35 percent of the nation’s energy by 2050, up from 5 percent today.

Since 2010, the University of Delaware has been a leader in generating carbon-free energy. Last year, UD marked the fifth anniversary of the installation of its wind turbine (a Gamesa G90-2.0 MW model) located on the Hugh R. Sharp Campus in Lewes, a joint collaboration between UD and Gamesa.

In addition to its energy generation abilities, the turbine serves as a great source of training and research opportunities. And in its first five years, the turbine displaced approximately 17,500 metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Find out more.

[udelaware]

Solar Strong

The vast majority of the sun’s extraordinary power remains out of reach—absorbed, deflected or otherwise inaccessible to today’s power-hungry masses—but University of Delaware researchers continue their quest to capture more, store more and deploy it more efficiently.

The University has been a center of pioneering solar research since before it was fashionable—before the oil embargo of 1973, before long lines formed to get rations of gasoline, before the nation had a Department of Energy or the word “green” became a badge of good stewardship. Read more in UD Research Magazine

[udelaware]

‘Shear’ genius provides super-hero protectionThe 'Liquid Armor’ developed by University of Delaware Professor Norman J. Wagner III uses shear-thickening fluid to defend against many perils. See it in action in this quick clip that marks his induction as a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. Find out more

[udelaware]

FUNCTION AND FEEDBACK

Three more sets, 12 reps each? Didn't this just happen? It's been four weeks since the surgery and this shoulder still aches. More sets, more reps. No idea what's happening with this rehab and it's boring!

Wait! Don't throw in that physical therapy towel! This could be a case for mTrigger, the University of Delaware student-built biofeedback device that puts some fun into regaining function. The game-style device plugs into an iPhone by way of Bluetooth and designers say it may help people stick with their rehab exercises and see some progress while they're doing it. Unlike apps that stimulate muscles in passive ways, mTrigger uses electromyography to measure muscle action - and that action helps to restore neural pathways that may have been damaged or slowed.

The device is one of several projects senior electrical engineering major Adam Engelson of Denville, New Jersey, has been working on with the support of UD's Office of Economic Innovation and Partnerships and advice from Brian Pryor, CEO of Litecure. He and a friend at Johns Hopkins University, Niko Kotoulas, also have been developing an autonomous silverware wrapping machine (patent pending) to improve operations and sanitation in the restaurant industry and were finalists in JHU's Business Plan Competition last year. Their new company, Agoge Automation, has drawn support from UD's Horn Program in Entrepreneurship and the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps and the interest of other business leaders, including Anthony Wedo, CEO of Ovation Brands and a guest on NBC-TV's  "Undercover Boss." Agoge already is providing support to other endeavors as the sponsor of a project in UD's Interdisciplinary Senior Design Program.

[udelaware]

CLEAN WATER FOR ALL

Engineers are all about solving problems and changing the world. The University of Delaware's chapter of Engineers Without Borders, founded by the late Professor Steve Dentel in 2006, puts students in the middle of that quest in areas that have great need and few resources.

Take the community of Ubujan, which is on the island of Bohol in the Philippines. Clean drinking water is a critical need there and UD's EWB chapter has sent representatives to evaluate the situation and work with community leaders to develop a solution. In visits in August 2015 and again last month, the team found that the community's only sources of drinking water all had fecal coliform bacteria, which can indicate contamination with human or animal waste. Those with the financial means to purchase bottled water or water from private wells can avoid that risk, but the average monthly income at Ubujan is about $116, putting such options out of reach for most.

Following the regulations of EWB-USA and in partnership with the local community, the EWB-UD team will evaluate the need, analyze several options, produce a design, build a solution, and monitor the results. The projects last for a minimum of five years.

UD's EWB chapter has another water project underway in Malawi. Two other projects - in Cameroon and Guatemala - are complete.

The chapter's advisers are Kim Bothi of UD's Institute for Global Studies and Abbie Clarke-Sather of civil and environmental engineering.