One Step Closer to Lifelike Robots A self-contained soft actuator three times stronger than natural muscle, without the need of externals, signals a breakthrough in soft robotics. The artificial muscle in use as a bicep lifts a skeleton’s arm to a 90 degree position. Researchers at Columbia Engineering have solved a long-standing issue in the creation of untethered soft robots whose actions and movements can help mimic natural biological systems. Aslan Miriyev and Kenneth Stack, in the Creative Machines lab led by Hod Lipson, professor of mechanical engineering, have developed a 3D-printable synthetic soft muscle, a one-of-a-kind artificial active tissue with intrinsic expansion ability that does not require an external compressor or high voltage equipment as previous muscles required.

Karen Kasza, Clare Boothe Luce Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, won the prestigeous NSF Early Career award for her proposal on “Biophysical Mechanisms Underlying the Generation of Tissue Structure and Mechanics during Drosophila Development.” Kasza, who joined the School in 2016, uses approaches from engineering, biology, and physics to understand and control how cells self-organize into functional tissues with precise mechanical and structural properties. She is particularly focused on discovering fundamental physical and biological mechanisms that underlie tissue morphogenesis—how shape and form are generated in biological materials. Because many genes and cell behaviors are shared by fruit flies and humans, she is using Drosophila (the fruit fly) as the model organism in these studies.

The department is home to such diverse research activities as biomechanics, mechanics of materials, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, control and robotics, manufacturing, energy systems, MEMS, and nanotechnology. Our faculty members have distinguished themselves internationally through a wide-ranging array of groundbreaking research areas and activities, including: robotics, smart machines, nanomaterials, morphogenesis and tissue development, and sustainable systems.

As part of Columbia University’s three-day, “She Opened the Door” women’s conference in February, Columbia Engineering Dean Mary C. Boyce moderated a panel on entrepreneurship that brought together three accomplished alumna, representing Columbia Business School, Columbia College, and Columbia Engineering.