Explore UAB

Colleges & Schools

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering School of Engineering

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering

Mechanical and materials engineering are two separate but related disciplines that explore many of the fundamental principles of modern design and manufacturing. Mechanical engineering at UAB embraces two major topic areas – mechanical systems and thermal systems. Materials engineering involves the study of engineering properties of metals, ceramics, polymers and composites.
About Mechanical EngineeringAbout Materials EngineeringWhy UAB?Apply Now

System Integration

Research activities: Doug Ross

General topics: system integration, robotics, image processing, machine design, actuators

Dr. Ross' area of expertise is in automated systems integration at both the low level of sensors, actuators and controllers and at the high level of robots and CNC machines. Graduate students projects involve creating sub-systems related to automation including mechanical, electrical, and software design.

A joule-heated binary-partitioned nitrol actuator.An example of specific research activities currently in progress:

DIGINOL: A JOULE-HEATED BINARY-PARTITIONED NITINOL ACTUATOR

Control of Nitinol as an actuator is difficult due to the hysteresis in the displacement when heating and cooling. By activating partitions of the Nitinol wire fully as when transistors are used as switches a more robust control can be accomplished.

The electrical connections for the partitions require an optimization of thermal and mechanical properties to best perform its function.

Preliminary project definitions:

  • Robotic sorting of plastic containers from other recyclable materials
  • Robotic sorting of plastic containers by type

Contact

For more information, please reach out to Doug Ross at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..