Sustainable energy sources like wind and solar present a challenge: how do you store excess energy during periods of overproduction for when you really need it? Some large-scale utilities have turned to mechanical energy storage: lifting heavy weights or pumping water uphill into a reservoir. Once that energy is needed, the weight is released and its mechanical energy powers a generator that produces electricity.
These mechanical batteries have been proven to work on a large scale, but never at the scale of a single residential home. A team of Purdue University undergraduates undertook a study to investigate whether a “gravity battery” could be made small enough to fit into a single-family home.

Katherine Rumsey, a junior in mechanical engineering at Purdue, spends her time balancing an ME student workload, and running around 45 miles a week.

Neera Jain and George Chiu have each been recognized by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) at the 2024 Modeling, Estimation, and Control Conference in Chicago.

Now you can buy Purdue-approved mechanical engineering apparel and gifts at the Purdue ME Merch Store!

In athletics, Boilermakers and Hoosiers are sworn enemies. But when it comes to engineering and patent law, Purdue University and Indiana University have found a unique common ground for collaboration. Purdue Engineering students recently had the opportunity to consult with IU Maurer School of Law students on creating prototypes and pursuing patents on their new products.

As a leader in propulsion technology, Purdue University is always searching for innovative ways to make aviation more sustainable. Their latest initiative is TRANSDIFFUSE, a €10 million collaborative project which promises to revolutionize the field of turbomachinery through an innovative model based on artificial intelligence.

Table tennis has experienced a worldwide surge of popularity as a competitive sport. But finding qualified coaches to teach table tennis can be difficult, costly, and time-consuming. That’s why Purdue University researchers have developed a 3D augmented-reality table tennis instruction system, giving instant feedback to beginning players.

As climate change worsens, water scarcity becomes a more pressing issue. Desalinating seawater is a possible solution; however, because of its massive energy demands, many believe there isn’t much room for improvements in the desalination process. Purdue University researchers have proven otherwise. They have published research showing that up to 82% of excess energy can be saved by combining batch reverse osmosis and other emerging innovations.

Pavlos Vlachos, the St. Vincent Health Professor of Healthcare Engineering and director of the Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering at Purdue University, has been elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society. This honor is considered one of the most prestigious recognitions in the field of physics and is awarded to no more than one half of one percent of the Society’s membership each year.

Olan Sodunke, a mechanical engineering student from Lagos, Nigeria, was a bit unsure about coming to Purdue University. But he soon found a place where he truly belonged.