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Why Was 'This Old House' Filming in Washburn Shops? It鈥檚 a Long Story

koreilly — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

The story behind why producers from the home improvement show This Old House came to Washburn Shops in August to film general contractor Tom Silva and WPI student Max Sivert 鈥?6 as they created a topographical map of Massachusetts that is destined to be installed on a U.S. Navy submarine鈥攚ell, pull up a chair, because it鈥檚 a long one.

Dinis Pimentel

The tale begins with alumnus Dinis Pimentel 鈥?2, chair of the board of directors for the commissioning committee of the USS Massachusetts, a new Virginia-class attack submarine scheduled to be commissioned in Boston in March 2026. The committee is a nonprofit organization that acts as a sort of booster club for the USS Massachusetts, with volunteers working to bring symbols of the commonwealth into the submarine to capture the spirit of its namesake. In addition to planning the commissioning ceremony, the committee acts as a lifelong support system for USS Massachusetts sailors and their families.

Pimentel is a captain in the Navy Reserves who served on active duty in submarines when he entered the U.S. Navy after graduating from WPI. He reached out to producers of This Old House, a show with Massachusetts roots, to see if they wanted to participate in some kind of project related to the submarine. The producers toured a sub in Groton, Conn., and identified an elegant solution to a simple problem: creating a safe location for officers鈥?coffee mugs that would normally hang from simple pegs in the wardroom.

After a consultation with the sub鈥檚 captain, Silva, with the help of carpenter Nathan Gilbert from the spinoff show Ask This Old House, constructed a beautiful, wall-mounted, wooden board that will snuggly hold each mug, even in the worst sailing conditions. Above the mugs sits an intricately cut map of Massachusetts, with each of its 14 counties constructed from a different type of wood.

The map of Massachusetts ready for its third dimension.

The design called for adding a third dimension to the map to show the topography of the state鈥攆rom the mountains of Western Massachusetts to the flat Atlantic coastline鈥攁 task that needed specialized CNC (computer numerical control) machinery. That鈥檚 when Pimentel, remembering his time in Washburn Shops as a nuclear and mechanical engineering major at WPI, contacted Robert Daniello, associate teaching professor and manager of Washburn Shops.

鈥淚鈥檓 often talking to people around the state about the USS Massachusetts, and as we build community, we see the spirit of the state coming to get behind the boat, the crew, and their families,鈥?says Pimentel, who has volunteered on the committee since construction of the sub started in 2019.

鈥淚 thought it was an interesting project,鈥?says Daniello, who notes that although most of the CNC machines in the shop are for metal work, one of the oldest machines (circa 2001) could be adapted.

Enter Sivert, a robotics engineering major with a mechanical engineering minor, who is a lead lab assistant for the intro to manufacturing course and evening lab monitor for the shops. In addition to attending a trade high school focusing on advanced manufacturing, he completed a co-op at a machine shop working with CNC machines.

鈥淔or the past eight years or so I鈥檝e really only worked with metal,鈥?he says. 鈥淕iven the chance to not only work with a variety of woods, but for a commemorative art installation, it seemed like an incredibly interesting project.鈥?lt;/p>

Sivert worked on the project in his free time鈥攏o credit or pay involved鈥攁nd says writing the CAD (computer-aided design) program to accommodate the size of the board was the most challenging part.

鈥淔irst, I had to split the state into a few different pieces because the board was too large to machine in one go,鈥?he says. The town of Southwick, which oddly juts into the top of central Connecticut, proved to be particularly challenging. 鈥淪eeing the first pass of the endmill go over Southwick successfully was a big relief because it proved the remainder of the program would work.鈥?lt;/p>

The three-person This Old House crew, which in addition to Silva included producer Sara Ferguson and videographer Dino D鈥橭nofrio, was keen on getting multiple angles of the entire process of setting up and running the machine.

鈥淏eing filmed while working was kind of bizarre,鈥?says Sivert. 鈥淚 felt incredibly self-aware about what I was doing throughout the entire milling process. Usually, I interact with the workpiece and the machine console without much thought, but this time around I had to explain everything I was doing, and the reason for it.鈥?lt;/p>

Sivert confirms the genuineness of Silva鈥檚 down-to-earth, friendly TV persona.

鈥淛ust chatting with him throughout the day was nice, too. He鈥檚 got a lot of stories to share, and just hearing his perspective on the board and shop was really insightful,鈥?says Sivert, adding that his grandmother is a huge fan of the show.

It鈥檚 unclear when or how the final segment may air, either as part of Ask This Old House or a web feature. But Pimentel hopes it can premier sometime around the official commissioning ceremony at the end of March 2026.

鈥淲e look forward to celebrating this project with the This Old House and WPI teams at the commissioning gala to thank everyone for their help,鈥?he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 great that a little bit of WPI and This Old House will be symbolically represented in a submarine named for Massachusetts.鈥?lt;/p>

Students Explore Careers in Sustainability Through Mentorship Program

jcain — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000

A new mentorship program at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is guiding students with an interest in sustainability to cultivate careers that not only support their passion but also sustainably support their futures.

In the fall of 2024, a group of faculty and staff came together to start the Sustainable Career Mentorship Program. It connects WPI students with professionals working in green jobs and positions involving sustainability for one-on-one meetings at least twice per year. Organizers of the program say it addresses a request from students to learn more about the types of jobs that exist in these fields and how to find them, and a growing demand from employers.

According to the World Economic Forum鈥檚 Future of Jobs Report 2025, climate change adaptation is projected to be the third-largest contributor to global job growth by 2030, while climate change mitigation is expected to be the sixth largest contributor. Together, those fields are expected to generate an additional 8 million jobs during that time. A U.S. Department of Energy report finds that the number of jobs in clean energy grew by 4.2% in 2023. That rate was more than double the rate of job growth across the overall U.S. economy.

Elisabeth Stoddard, associate professor of teaching

鈥淲e鈥檙e preparing our students for a job market that鈥檚 actively looking for qualified people,鈥?says Elisabeth "Lisa" Stoddard, associate professor of teaching in environmental and sustainability studies and in The Global School, who is an organizer of the mentorship program. 鈥淚f we can take students鈥?passions and interests and we can prepare students through the mentorship program to be able to show up for these jobs qualified and excited, we鈥檙e enhancing their ability to get jobs that they鈥檙e passionate about and fill positions to address the climate crisis.鈥?lt;/span>

Any student with an interest in sustainability can join the program. They need only to provide information about their goals for having a mentor in this space to help organizers identify a professional who is a good match for their interests. Stoddard said discussions with mentors can include everything from learning about what types of jobs fit a student鈥檚 interests and helping them identify internships or research opportunities to reviewing their resume and offering advice on how to shift into a sustainability career from an existing job.

A virtual meeting allows a mentor and mentee to connect. Photographed: JoLeisa Cramer, manager, field science operations 鈥?northeast, National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON); Jacob Friend 鈥?5 Environmental & Sustainability Studies, Data Science

The wide range of students and professionals in the program represents the variety of opportunities available in green and sustainable careers. Seventeen WPI students, majoring in fields from robotics engineering and data science to civil, environmental, and architectural engineering and environmental and sustainability studies, are currently mentees. There are 25 mentors, including 14 who are WPI alumni. Mentors hold positions in areas that include corporate sustainability, energy, civil engineering, water quality and management, ecology, and climate adaptation. They hold jobs in private industry, nonprofits, and government; others own their own businesses.

Tara Checko 鈥?5, a double major in environmental and sustainability studies and mechanical engineering, meets regularly with her mentor, Erin Spadavecchia 鈥?5, who is manager of sustainable building solutions for ASSA ABLOY, a manufacturer of door opening solutions. When they meet, they catch up on life, discuss ways to advance sustainability initiatives in the workplace, and develop new connections with people who specialize in sustainability. They鈥檙e also making plans to attend the Design for Freedom Summit, a yearly gathering focused on responsible supply chain practices and the removal of forced labor in the building materials supply chain.

鈥淚鈥檝e enjoyed talking with Erin about how sustainability can manifest itself in large corporate settings,鈥?says Checko. 鈥淚 wanted to know more about how I can help to push these initiatives. Inherently, it can be harder to change minds and institute new policies in larger companies. I鈥檝e met with Erin about ways to overcome this mentality for corporations.鈥?lt;/p>

Tara Checko 鈥?5 meets with her mentor Erin Spadavecchia 鈥?5

For Spadavecchia, serving as a mentor represents an opportunity to actively give back to her alma mater and to share her experience to help others in their career journeys. 鈥淢entorship accelerates knowledge share, instills confidence, creates a sense of belonging, and fosters upward mobility,鈥?says Spadavecchia. 鈥淢y hope is that Tara and all the mentees feel that a meaningful connection has been established鈥攕omeone always in their corner, a safe place to reach out to for advice, a support system. All of these are essential for the ups and downs that eventually play out throughout a career and life.鈥?lt;/p>

While the mentorship program is a new offering, it was created as a natural offshoot of WPI鈥檚 ongoing Careers for Sustainable and Just Communities Networking and Mentoring Events. The annual events, held since 2022, typically bring together more than 100 students and dozens of employers in sustainability fields for several hours of informal discussion, questions and answers, and networking.

Stoddard has been a driving force in the development of both the mentorship program and the annual event series. She has partnered with staff and faculty across the university, including Laureen Elgert, head of the Department of Integrative and Global Studies; Mimi Sheller, dean of The Global School; Robert Krueger, head of the Department of Social Science and Policy Studies; Paul Mathisen, director of sustainability and associate professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering; Nicole Luiz, manager of energy and sustainability; Brittany Taylor, assistant director of career services in the Career Development Center; and Hannah Shick, operations coordinator in The Global School; as well as with members of the WPI Green Team, a student-led organization that promotes sustainability.

Pamela (Giasson) Lynch 鈥?5, president of the alumni association, participates with students and other professionals at a Careers for Sustainable and Just Communities Networking Event

Alumni connections, through the Office of Lifetime Engagement and the WPI Alumni Association, have also been critical to supporting the growth of the ranks of mentors and networking event participants. Pamela (Giasson) Lynch 鈥?5, president of the alumni association, participates in both programs. She says society needs to do more work around sustainable development and she believes future generations will benefit from opportunities like these provided at WPI. 鈥淭he work to establish and grow the Sustainable Career Mentorship Program and the Careers for Sustainable and Just Communities Networking and Mentoring Events is critical,鈥?she says. 鈥淪ome of this work is planting seeds for trees under which our generation may never sit, but the shade they provide will shape a better future.鈥?lt;/p>

Organizers of the mentorship program are collecting feedback from participants that can be used to improve the program moving forward. Stoddard says initial responses suggest the one-on-one meetings have expanded the mentees鈥?knowledge about available opportunities in sustainability and provided mentors with meaningful opportunities to help students make progress and connections.

Stoddard says her work to expand the program is a way she can support students and address the climate challenge. 鈥淲e have a cohort of students developing expertise and knowledge and becoming ready for the job market to tackle these global problems that are at a crisis level,鈥?she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting and inspiring to see because we need that diverse set of knowledge, majors, minds, and insight to address that kind of problem.鈥?lt;/p>

WPI Develops Innovative Robotic System to Enhance Kidney Transplant Screening

jcain — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Worcester Polytechnic Institute researchers believe a new robotic technology they鈥檙e developing can help save lives by improving the process of matching kidney donors with people awaiting a transplant. Their approach seeks to advance medical evaluations that determine whether a donated kidney is viable to be transplanted.

According to the National Kidney Foundation, 90,000 people in the United States are on a kidney waitlist; each day, 12 die before a transplant can happen.

While a shortage of donors is one reason for the long waitlist, another major factor is the number of donated kidneys that get discarded. Assessing a kidney for transplant involves examining the organ after it鈥檚 been removed from the donor to ensure the kidney is free of disease or structural anomalies.

Current methods for this assessment include either a biopsy, which involves a review of cells taken from a small sample of the kidney, or optical coherence tomography (OCT), a light-based handheld imaging technology that can provide a high-resolution snapshot of a limited section of the organ.

Xihan Ma, robotics engineering PhD student, and Haichong (Kai) Zhang, associate professor of robotics engineering and biomedical engineering

The assessment process risks wasting the organ because these exams take time and provide information about only a small portion of the kidney; both factors may hamper clinicians鈥?ability to accurately assess the organ and approve it for transplant while it is still viable.

Haichong (Kai) Zhang, associate professor of robotics engineering and biomedical engineering, and Xihan Ma, a robotics engineering PhD student, are using innovations in medical robotics to address this problem.

鈥淲ith our robotic system, we can capture a scan of the whole kidney,鈥?said Zhang. 鈥淲ith current approaches, the area of the kidney that can be assessed is inherently limited by either the size of the biopsy needle or the size of the OCT imaging probe, and thus the assessment of the organ is biased by which small part of the kidney the operator chooses to focus on.鈥?lt;/span>

Zhang and Ma have developed a robotic OCT system, which is a fully automated method of imaging an entire donated kidney to help a clinician make an assessment. The system was developed at WPI鈥檚 Medical FUSION (Frontier Ultrasound Imaging and Robotic Instrumentation) Lab.

鈥淥ur motivation is to think about how we can streamline the process used to evaluate the viability of donated kidneys to be more reliable and accurate, and to not waste kidneys that potentially can be used to save lives of patients,鈥?said Zhang. 鈥淲e are integrating the strengths of medical robots to make imaging of donor kidneys more accessible and less user-dependent and to acquire images over a wider area of the organ, which can provide more concise and direct feedback to clinicians so they can make better clinical decisions.鈥?lt;/span>

WPI Researchers to Develop Robotic Arm for Wheelchairs

leckelbecker — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gabrielle Conard, a PhD student, demonstrates soft robotics technology in Cagdas Onal's laboratory.

Inspired by origami, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) robotics engineering researchers are developing a lightweight, flexible robotic arm that will enable a wheelchair user to safely grasp, lift, and carry objects that would otherwise be out of reach.

Through the four-year project, researchers Cagdas Onal, Berk Calli, and Loris Fichera are developing a framework for the design, modeling, and control of soft continuum robotic arms, which are more flexible than traditional robot arms. The research is funded by a $1,314,792 award from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

鈥淭he basic scientific discoveries we are making in this research address real-world challenges for people who use wheelchairs and need devices that will help them grab out-of-reach objects,鈥?said Onal, who is principal investigator (PI) on the project and an associate professor in the WPI Department of Robotics Engineering. 鈥淎 new class of lightweight, safe robotic arms based on the breakthroughs we are making would give those individuals more independence in their daily activities.鈥?lt;/span>

Soft continuum robotic arms expand, shrink, and bend along their entire length, like a coiled spring, to move in different directions and travel around objects. That flexibility makes soft robotics a promising technology in complicated human environments. However, soft robotic arms also tend to be weaker, more shaky, and less precise than traditional robot arms made from rigid materials.

To address the weaknesses of soft robotic arms, the researchers are developing origami-inspired designs and novel fabrication methods for modules made of lightweight plastics, 3D printed components, and off-the-shelf items such as sensors and cables. By folding flat sheets of clear plastic into springy tube-like structures, the researchers are creating modules that are strong, stiff, and resistant to twisting, all while remaining lightweight. The researchers are also developing specialized algorithms that can run on microcontroller platforms to direct the motion and reactions of a robotic arm.

WPI Plays Prominent Role in Robotics Discussion

jcain — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Worcester Polytechnic Institute鈥檚 expertise, innovation, research, and educational opportunities in robotics were highlighted during the latest installment of The New England Council鈥檚鈥淣ew England Innovates鈥?series. The event, 鈥?lt;a>Leading the Way in Robotics,鈥?sponsored by WPI and New Balance, was held at the University of Massachusetts Club in Boston. The event featured discussion of the innovations happening in the sector in New England, the ways robots could assist in our daily lives, and the importance of further investments in the field.

Bogdan Vernescu (Photo: The New England Council)

鈥淭he potential of robotics to transform how we live and work is only beginning to unfold,鈥?said Bogdan Vernescu, Vice President and Vice Provost for Research and Innovation at WPI. 鈥淲orcester Polytechnic Institute is proud to be at the forefront of robotics education and research. We have been researching, developing, and implementing this technology and its impact on society for decades.鈥?Vernescu delivered remarks introducing the keynote speaker, U.S. Representative Jim McGovern, of Worcester.

McGovern, co-chair of the Congressional Robotics Caucus, praised WPI鈥檚 commitment to innovation. 鈥淓very time I walk onto that campus, I learn something new,鈥?he said. 鈥淭hey're on the cutting edge of everything.鈥?He told the business, academic, and government leaders in attendance that he believes there should be a national and regional strategy to further advance the responsible development of robotics.

鈥淚t is crucial to foster an environment where innovation thrives, but where safeguards for workers and communities are firmly in place,鈥?said McGovern. He said his vision of a defined strategy would allow small manufacturers to adopt new technologies without displacing workers, provide Americans with the skills they need for an increasingly automated economy, and help the country lead in the sector.

WPI Early-Career Researchers, With New Awards of $3.7 Million, Launch Projects to Advance Health and Work

leckelbecker — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Four Worcester Polytechnic Researchers (WPI) who are in the early stages of their careers have received grants totaling $3.7 million for projects that will help establish their laboratories and produce breakthroughs in biology, robotics, and women鈥檚 healthcare.

The grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will support research into the basic workings of cells in placenta, algorithms that could help robots grasp objects, the genetics behind egg cell division in tiny worms, and mechanisms that allow cells to communicate with each other and their environment. All the projects will run for several years. The studies will be conducted by faculty in WPI鈥檚 School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering.

鈥淭hese projects are supported by prestigious programs that aim to accelerate the work of the nation鈥檚 most talented young researchers,鈥?said Bogdan Vernescu, WPI vice president and vice provost for research and innovation. 鈥淭ogether, these awards and projects show that WPI is home to remarkable early-career researchers who are making important contributions in their fields.鈥?lt;/span>

WPI has long been home to distinguished junior faculty who advance science and engineering through their research into more secure computer chips, surgical robots, medical sensors, detection of lies in online news and reviews, better ways to learn mathematics, the mysterious workings of plant cells, and more. Over the past 10 years, WPI鈥檚 faculty has included 27 recipients of NSF CAREER Awards, one of the most prestigious honors for junior faculty members who have the potential to become leaders at their research institutions.

鈥淲PI is a place where rising researchers can thrive and grow as scholars, educators, mentors, and leaders,鈥?said Jean King, Peterson Family Dean of Arts and Sciences. 鈥淭hese new projects will answer specific questions about biology, but they also will enable researchers to follow new and emerging leads while training the next generation of scientists.鈥?lt;/span>

鈥淓ngineering faculty at WPI are focused on global challenges that impact the health, safety, and productivity of people,鈥?said John McNeill, the Bernard M. Gordon Dean of Engineering. 鈥淓arly-career faculty in engineering are pushing the boundaries of their fields by pursuing breakthroughs that could improve pregnancy outcomes for women and enable humans and robots to work together.鈥?lt;/span>

Two new projects are led by faculty members in the School of Arts and Sciences. Their research, funded by the NIH, will delve into tiny structures on the surface of cells and the mechanisms that enable eggs to divide.

Inna Nechipurenko

Inna Nechipurenko, assistant professor in the Department of Biology and Biotechnology, has been awarded a $1,890,960 grant through the NIH鈥檚 Maximizing Investigators Research Award for Early Stage Investigators. Her lab studies the assembly of tiny cellular antennae called primary cilia, which mediate communication between cells and their environment. Defective cilia cause a myriad of genetic disorders that have no cure. Nechipurenko鈥檚 five-year project will delve into mapping the signaling networks that regulate cilia assembly, remodeling, and function in nerve cells to better understand how cilia dysfunction contributes to human neurodevelopmental disorders. A member of the faculty since 2020, Nechipurenko previously received grants from the NIH and the Charles H. Hood Foundation for her work. She received her PhD in neuroscience from Case Western Reserve University.

Karl-Fr茅d茅ric Vieux

Karl-Fr茅d茅ric Vieux, an assistant professor in the Department of Biology and Biotechnology, has been awarded $747,000 through the NIH鈥檚 Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers program that supports diverse researchers transitioning from postdoctoral programs to careers. Vieux received his PhD from McGill University, was a postdoctoral fellow at NIH, and joined the WPI faculty in July 2024. His research focuses on transcribed copies of genes, known as RNA, and the molecular modifications that regulate their expression and stability in the context of reproduction. His project, which began during his postdoctoral fellowship at NIH and will continue for up to three more years, focuses on understanding the role of these genes during the process in which an egg transitions into an embryo.

2024 Annual Awards Honor Faculty and Teaching Assistants

jcain — Mon, 06 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The 2024 Faculty Honors Convocation, held April 26 in the Rubin Campus Center Odeum, celebrated outstanding WPI faculty members and teaching assistants. Awards were presented during the ceremony to recognize excellence in areas including innovation, teaching, service to community, research, and academic advising. Here are the winners:

Karen Troy, professor and associate department head in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, received the Board of Trustees Chair鈥檚 Exemplary Faculty Prize. The award honors excellence across areas of faculty performance, including teaching, research, and scholarship. Troy was recognized for inspiring and mentoring students, exposing them to the excitement of lab experimentation, and researching biomechanics, bone strength, and risk factors for bone stress injury. Read the award citation here.

Greg Lewin, assistant teaching professor and associate head in the Department of Robotics Engineering, received the Trustees鈥?Award for Outstanding Teaching. The award recognizes faculty who display excellence in teaching and outstanding professional contributions. Lewin was recognized for his engaging approach to presenting introductory robotics, for helping students in the lab, and for being invested in the success and well-being of students. Read the award citation here.

Jamal Yagoobi, the George F. Fuller Professor in the Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, received the Trustees鈥?Award for Outstanding Research & Creative Scholarship. The award recognizes outstanding teaching, research, and creative scholarship, academic advising, and service to the community. Yagoobi was recognized for his significant contributions to the understanding of drying and thermal processes and connecting industry and academic research. Read the award citation here.

Leonard Albano, associate professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, & Architectural Engineering, received the Trustees鈥?Award for Outstanding Academic Advising. The award recognizes the guidance and mentorship offered by academic advisors through stages of professional and personal development. Albano was recognized for always leaving his door open for students, going out of his way to make students feel seen, and helping them grow as people and professionals. Read the award citation here.

Mark Richman, associate professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and WPI鈥檚 Secretary of the Faculty, received the Denise Nicoletti Trustees鈥?Award for Service to Community. The award honors the memory and spirit of service of the first tenure-track female faculty member in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the co-founder of Camp Reach, a summer program which introduces girls to engineering and science. Richman was recognized for supporting and elevating people in the WPI community. Read the award citation here.

Joseph Aguilar, assistant professor of teaching in the Department of Humanities & Arts, Kate McIntyre, assistant professor in the Department of Humanities & Arts, and Rose Bohrer, assistant professor in the Computer Science Department, received the Romeo L. Moruzzi Young Faculty Award for Innovation in Undergraduate Education. The award honors the memory of a longtime faculty member who was a key player in bringing tenure to WPI and creating the WPI Plan, which revolutionized undergraduate education on campus. Aguilar and McIntyre were recognized for their work to make creative writing thrive at WPI. Read the award citation here. Bohrer was recognized for advancing computer science education at WPI through a redesign of a programming language course and integration of theory with social and ethical considerations. Read the award citation here.

Rebecca Gilchrist, a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, received the Teaching Assistant of the Year Award. The award honors the contributions graduate students make to the quality and success of WPI鈥檚 curriculum. Gilchrist was recognized for teaching with humor and skill and allowing students to leave the fear of failure behind. Read the award citation here. Alexandra Harrison, a graduate student in the Department of Chemical Engineering, received honorable mention for her excellent support of students and faculty.

Student Work on Robotic Surgical Instrument Honored at International Conference

jcain — Thu, 02 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Amazing things can happen when you answer a phone call and say 鈥測es鈥?to joining a team. Just ask four seniors who developed a prototype of a robotic surgical instrument for their Major Qualifying Project (MQP) and won a Best Paper Award in January at the International Symposium on Artificial Life and Robotics (AROB) in Beppu, Japan.

Their journey began last year when Joshua Kleiman 鈥?4, a mechanical engineering and industrial engineering double major, called to ask three students to join him and do their MQP together in Japan. 鈥淚鈥檇 worked with them on projects before, so I knew they were good teammates. And our double majors fit well together,鈥?says Kleiman. Nicholas Johannessen 鈥?4 (robotics engineering and mechanical engineering), Cameron Crane 鈥?4 (robotics engineering and biomedical engineering), and Calvin Page 鈥?4 (robotics engineering and mechanical engineering) accepted the invitation.

Kleiman was inspired to do the work in Japan by his friend Charles Manger 鈥?3, who started the project in 2022 by doing an initial design and analysis of the instrument at Kyoto University of Advanced Science (KUAS) with Professor Sajid Nisar in the university鈥檚 Novel Intelligent Systems & Advanced Robotics (NISAR) Laboratory. Kleiman says Manger was amazed by the experience working on the project in the lab in Japan.

Charles Manger

In the fall of 2023, Kleiman, Johannessen, Crane, and Page continued Manger鈥檚 work with Nisar. The team also began working with three WPI project advisors: Adam Powell, associate professor of mechanical & materials engineering and director of WPI鈥檚 Kyoto, KUAS MQP Project Center; Sharon Johnson, industrial engineering program director and professor of operations and industrial engineering; and Yihao Zheng, assistant professor of mechanical & materials engineering. The four students updated the design to address functional challenges and sourced or created individual parts and joints. They then modeled, tested, and ultimately built a prototype of the cable-driven robotic surgical instrument.

The novel design is comparable to a human arm, which allows a surgeon to operate the robotic system remotely and move it in five independent ways. A baseplate houses motors, gears, and cables that drive joints in the instrument. These parts allow the shoulder to roll, the elbow to pivot, and the wrist to roll. Axles and gears in the wrist joint allow two forceps to be manipulated to open, close, and grip. The high degree of independent movement allows for precision, dexterity, and versatility, all of which are critical components of minimally invasive surgery.

A grape is gripped by the forceps of the surgical instrument.

The team鈥檚 goal for the project is to improve minimally invasive surgery, which features smaller incisions, faster recovery times, and reduced costs. Page says the design allows the tool to reach around obstructions 鈥渨hich can really open the window to new opportunities. This tool could create an avenue for minimally invasive robotic surgery in parts of the body where maybe before a procedure would鈥檝e had to be done by a traditional surgery method.鈥?The team says other design benefits include the separate baseplate and arm, which allows for a smaller incision and easier sterilization.

The team created prototypes of multiple tools and parts for the surgical instrument.

Given the seven-week time frame for the project, the students relied heavily on rapid prototyping to construct models and identify areas where changes needed to be made. To source parts, they used 3D printed objects, visited local hardware stores, tapped into the NISAR lab鈥檚 inventory of screws and bolts, and collaborated with others in the lab who were there doing different research. 鈥淲e worked in a foreign environment, in a lab full of international students from Asia, Europe, and the Americas,鈥?says Johannessen. 鈥淚 was proud of how our team adapted to the environment of being in a completely different culture on the other side of the world without any connection or having been there before.鈥?KUAS has more than 300 students from over 40 countries, with half from outside of Japan.

It was KUAS Professor Nisar who encouraged the team to submit a research paper for AROB 2024. Crane presented the research paper, 鈥?lt;/span>Design and Kinematic Evaluation of a 5-DoF Robotic Surgical Instrument,鈥?on behalf of the group. That meant joining the conference virtually from Worcester at 3 a.m. A few weeks later, an email informed the team they鈥檇 been chosen by conference organizers for a Best Paper award. 鈥淚t was really nice to get this award,鈥?says Crane, who feels the recognition validated the team鈥檚 creativity. 鈥淚t shows you can think outside the box and do things in a way that鈥檚 a little unconventional, including how we bought fishing lines to serve as test cables and found unique parts and tools, and still be remarkably successful. We鈥檙e trying to, even if not directly, start a butterfly effect that one day could help save somebody鈥檚 life.鈥?lt;/span>

WPI Establishes Master鈥檚 Degree in Artificial Intelligence to Prepare Students for Growing Field

cbwamback — Wed, 13 Dec 2023 12:00:00 +0000

To help meet the demand for professionals with expertise in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence (AI), Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has launched a new degree program in AI that will offer students the opportunity to earn a master鈥檚 degree, a combined bachelor鈥檚/master鈥檚 degree, or a graduate certificate through courses, projects, and thesis work. The program will leverage the university鈥檚 extensive experience in research and project-based education in AI to provide students with the technical skills and ethical understanding needed for careers in industry, government, and academia.

WPI will offer students flexible, yet highly rigorous, areas of specialization with courses on subjects ranging from deep learning to generative AI. The program will combine theory and practice to train students in the understanding, development, deployment, and innovation of AI techniques and systems. Students also will study AI in an interdisciplinary way, with options to take courses offered by the School of Arts & Sciences, the School of Engineering, and the Business School. An important distinction of WPI鈥檚 program is a strong emphasis on the societal and ethical implications of AI.

鈥淲PI has long led higher education as a place where students and faculty have used AI and project-based learning to tackle big challenges in healthcare, justice, manufacturing, the environment, and other fields,鈥?said Jean King, Peterson Family Dean of WPI鈥檚 School of Arts & Sciences. 鈥淲e are excited to focus our AI strengths into this new program, which will prepare students for leadership roles in a transformational field that faces a critical shortage of qualified professionals.鈥?lt;/span>

Robotics Engineers Work to 'Bee' Part of the Climate Change Solution

mlumsden — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000

This summer鈥檚 weather extremes were stark reminders that climate change is not only real, it鈥檚 here. Less visible to most of us than smoke-filled skies, water-logged roads, and life-threatening heat鈥攂ut just as important鈥攊s the dramatic and ongoing decline of global bee populations.

Many crops rely on commercially managed honeybees, wild native bees, and other pollinators to reproduce. In fact, one-third of every bite of food we eat comes from plants that need to be pollinated, so pollinator health affects all of us. But almost 35 percent of insect pollinator populations worldwide are at risk of extinction and more than half of North American native bee species are declining due to pesticide use, habitat loss, climate change, and intensive farming practices.

These concerning trends are at the root of the increasingly mainstream global campaigns to save the bees. But Nitin Sanket, an assistant professor in the Department of Robotics Engineering, is approaching this issue from an entirely different angle.

鈥淎 lot of conservationists are working to preserve bees, and that鈥檚 a good thing,鈥?says Sanket, who joined WPI鈥檚 faculty in 2022. 鈥淏ut the climate is changing pretty drastically, so we need alternatives as well, including looking at other ways to pollinate things.鈥?lt;/p>

Behold, the robo bee.

The current working model of the robo bee

It鈥檚 an autonomous flying robot that Sanket and his graduate students in the Perception and Autonomous Robotics Group are developing with potential funding coming from a variety of sources, including military and environmental organizations. The current prototype is a small, 3D-printed black plastic cube that鈥檚 outfitted with four 2.5-inch propellors, a powerful camera, and a rechargeable lithium battery. (See video below.)

The existing model is 4.7 inches across鈥攁bout the size of a hummingbird鈥攂ut at 200 grams weighs about 100 times more than those feathered pollinators. It can quietly whir through the air while darting to avoid obstacles and turning to navigate narrow spaces, flying for a total of 5 to 7 minutes, depending on the type of battery it has and the type of movements it makes.

Sanket鈥檚 long-term goal is to create a device that鈥檚 small enough and contains enough power to fly independently in a swarm for many hours. The programming will be sufficiently sophisticated and nuanced so that the bot can successfully collect and transfer pollen from a variety of plants. Bonus points for the planet if the robotic bee could also run completely on solar power and fully biodegrade into the soil when its parts wear out.

Small Bug, Big Effort

Sanket cautions that he鈥檚 still many years away from a fully functional and green robotic bee, but he鈥檚 optimistic鈥攊n large part because engineers and researchers at other institutions are working on details that will no doubt help advance his project. Researchers at MIT, Harvard, and the University of Washington are tackling the mechanical challenges necessary to build a robotic body no larger than a bee. Meanwhile, in partnership with Yiannis Aloimonos and Cornelia Ferm眉ller at the University of Maryland, Sanket鈥檚 team is perfecting the robot鈥檚 ability to smoothly and autonomously navigate around objects. In other words, they are building the robo bee鈥檚 brain.

Nitin Sanket

But, notes Sanket, 鈥淵ou cannot use the same logic as you would for a human brain. And, obviously, we cannot probe into what bees are thinking. So we鈥檙e speculating.鈥?amp;nbsp;

That speculation builds on existing entomological research into insect movement and behavior. Understanding how bees usually respond in specific situations helps Sanket and his team identify the many individual functions they need to program into the device鈥檚 cognition and autonomy.

Each of the two doctoral students and eight master鈥檚 students working with Sanket is tackling a different detail of the device. Specifically, they are trying to improve the robotic bee鈥檚 agility, speed, flight longevity, awareness of objects, and ability to avoid crashing into objects.

Robotics engineering master鈥檚 student Rishabh Singh is focusing on making the device fly faster while maintaining all of its current computing power and autonomy. He started working on the robo bee project a few years ago during an internship at the University of Maryland, where Sanket was an assistant clinical professor and postdoctoral researcher in computer science. Singh was the one who actually built the physical drones that Sanket flew during his postdoctoral research, and he came to WPI so he could continue studying with Sanket.

鈥淭his project is building on what we did at Maryland by adding speed, which adds a layer of complexity,鈥?says Singh. 鈥淗ow can we get drones the size of a bee to fly autonomously through a forest at 30 meters per second? That鈥檚 three times as fast as the fastest autonomous drone right now.鈥?lt;/p>

To fly that fast in that environment, the device has to be both lightweight and sturdy enough to carry the sensors needed for autonomous flight. In addition, 鈥渋t has to be strong because it鈥檚 going to take a beating,鈥?Singh says.