Symposium 1 Invited Speaker
Lihua Lou
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Clemson University
Presentation Title: Mechanistic Understanding and Functional Integration in Electrospun Nanofiber Platforms
Abstract: Electrospinning has emerged as a versatile platform for fabricating continuous nano- and microfibers, enabling modulation of fiber diameter, surface morphology, porosity, and interfacial chemistry by adjusting solution rheology, electric field strength, and ambient conditions. Importantly, the large specific surface area and tunable surface functionalization of electrospun fibers allow efficient incorporation of organic and inorganic nanofillers, including quantum dots (QDs), metallic nanoparticles, and carbon nanostructures. Such structural adaptability positions electrospun nanofibers as multifunctional matrices for applications in electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, flexible electronics, drug delivery, and wearable therapeutics. Nevertheless, despite more than two decades of development since the 2000s, the fundamental physics governing jet initiation, Taylor cone evolution, nanoscale branching, and nanoparticle-jet interactions remain incompletely understood. A major knowledge gap concerns the dynamic coupling between embedded nanomaterials and the electrically driven jet during electrospinning. To address this limitation, we utilized a high-speed imaging framework capable of resolving the evolution of jets and nanoparticle immobilization within the fiber matrix. This approach allowed direct observation of transient microstructural transformations occurring on sub-millisecond timescales. Within QD-containing fibers, we identified irregular triangular branch motifs forming during jet stretching. These structures exhibited rotational motion with characteristic times of 0.00667 ms, revealing previously unreported rapid morphological rearrangements during solidification. The presence of iron oxide QDs (FeQDs) was found to modulate Taylor cone stability and alter downstream jet velocities, thereby influencing branching frequency and reinforcement mechanisms. These findings provide mechanistic insight into nanoparticle-mediated jet dynamics and offer a foundation for rational control of fiber architecture at multiple length scales. Building upon this mechanistic understanding, we engineered multifunctional thin films by incorporating 1 wt% FeQDs and 10 wt% graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) into a dual-polymer conductive/insulating matrix. The bifurcated architecture enables synergistic percolation networks in which FeQDs contribute magnetic-loss mechanisms, while GNPs establish high-conductivity pathways. The resulting composite films exhibit a nominal thickness of ~50 μm and densities ranging from 1.0 to 1.2 g/cm³. Notably, electrical conductivity reaches ~3.5 × 105 S/m, approaching values characteristic of bulk metallic conductors while retaining the lightweight, flexible attributes of polymeric systems. Electromagnetic characterization demonstrates exceptional shielding performance across broad frequency regimes. Within the low-frequency magnetic range of 0–1 MHz, the films achieve shielding effectiveness of ~54 dB, exceeding that of aluminum and copper of equivalent thickness by roughly 2.5-fold. This enhanced performance arises from the combined contributions of magnetic loss (via FeQDs), conductive reflection (via GNP networks), and multiple internal reflections within the fibrous architecture. In the high-frequency X-band region (8–12 GHz), shielding effectiveness reaches up to 170 dB, substantially surpassing the ~140–150 dB range typically observed for aluminum or copper foils of comparable thickness. Beyond structural and electromagnetic applications, we extended electrospinning toward portable, point-of-use biomedical fabrication. Conventional electrospinning systems rely on large benchtop power supplies delivering tens of kilovolts, limiting portability and in situ application. To overcome this constraint, we developed a wearable, ultralow-power electrospinning glove capable of generating drug-loaded microfibers in real time. The device operates from a 1 V direct-current battery input and delivers a high-voltage output (up to 50 kV) via a compact high-voltage amplification circuit based on a diode–capacitor ladder network. This architecture enables efficient voltage multiplication while maintaining low energy consumption. Central to the system is a needleless, ring-shaped spinneret incorporating convergent–divergent geometries across distributed liquid outlets. This design facilitates smooth polymer flow transitions, minimizes clogging, and promotes uniform jet acceleration under an applied electric field. An air-driven precision pump controls solution delivery, ensuring stable, continuous fiber formation. Integration of the spinneret and power system within an insulating glove provides both user safety and ergonomic operation.
Biography: Dr. Lihua Lou serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Clemson University. She received her PhD in Environmental Toxicology from Texas Tech University in 2019 and was a Postdoctoral Researcher at Virginia Commonwealth University and Florida International University from 2020 to 2024. Her interdisciplinary research portfolio includes textile engineering, mechanical and materials engineering, pharmaceutics, biomedical engineering, and environmental toxicology. This integrative approach enables her to address engineering challenges by synthesizing theoretical insights with practical applications across multiple scales and material types. Through her work, Dr. Lou seeks to elucidate the fundamental principles that govern novel soft materials' behavior and leverage these insights to drive innovation. Currently, at the NanoBio Mechanics & Manufacturing Laboratory, she leads a dynamic team dedicated to advancing the frontiers of nano and bio-manufacturing soft matters and investigating their multiscale mechanics. Dr. Lou is the recipient of the Florida Heart Research Foundation Stop Heart Disease Early Career Research of the Year Award (2023).
Symposium 2 Invited Speaker
Dr. Jacob Mingear
R&D Engineer
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Presentation Title: An Early History of Shape Memory Alloys - a Literature Perspective With a Los Alamos Twist
Abstract: Shape Memory Alloy's unique behaviors have led to significant advancements in biomedical, aerospace, and other engineering industries. Intentionally harnessing the shape memory effect began at the United States Naval Ordinance Lab (NOL) in the early 1960s and was focused on the intermetallic NiTi. The alloy NiTi and the location lead to the portmanteau creation of the word NiTiNOL. However, other aspect of shape memory alloys were first noticed by a curious chemist in gold-cadmium in 1932 in Sweden. Arne Olander produced gold-cadmium alloys for electrochemical purposes but noticed a strange behavior in one of the alloys, "this alloy was so elastic that it almost reminded of rubber". For a few decades this rubber-like phenomena was studied and perplexed by metallurgists around the world. Meanwhile in 1938, temperature dependent twin band growths were found in brass. The author, Greninger, suggested that this may be beyond a simple twin deformation. He postulated that the term martensite, only regarded in ferrous metallurgy at the time, "will eventually transcend its original meaning" to properly constrain this phenomenon. It was not until 1949 where the Ukrainian physicist Kurdjumov properly cemented the concept of thermoelastic martensites in an aluminum brass, showing clear optical microscopy images of a martensite wedge waxing and waning with temperature. Returning back to gold-cadmium in 1951, Read was investigating the peculiar rubbery qualities when spontaneous shape change of the alloy was documented for the first time. Read’s student Lieberman detailed the phenomenon in more detail, "subsequent heating under various loads, the original cubic structure is recovered, as is likewise the original shape of the specimen". Read was invited to exhibit the gold-cadmium memory behavior from this work at the 1958 World's Fair in Brussels. Lieberman produced the device demonstrating "useful work operating repeatably", a multi-cycle actuator. The apparatus consisted of a AuCd cantilever beam with a weight on the tip, the beam would deform during cooling and then lift the weight during heating. Despite the global exposure, there seemed to not be an immediate fanfare of this groundbreaking phenomenon nor was it named. In fact, it is believed that the Shape Memory Alloy term was not coined until 1967 from the first meeting held on NiTiNOL. Meanwhile, uranium alloys were explored in-depth for the first time during the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos, which lead to the discovery of uranium - 6wt.% niobium. Later, this alloy was known to exhibit strange length changes and shrinkage, leading to the discovery that it is also a shape memory alloy at Rocky Flats. So why were multiple manifestations of shape memory alloys observed around the world? Why gold-cadmium? How did such a phenomena integrate with the contemporary understanding? What were the implications of the new findings? Such perspectives can help current scientists and engineers better understand and target new developments for these versatile materials. Herein, a historical perspective of the early shape memory alloys will be detailed and discussed based on available historic literature.
Biography: Dr. Jacob Mingear is an R&D Engineer at Los Alamos National Laboratory with over four years of experience developing advanced materials solutions. He specializes in shape memory alloys, 3D printing, and radiation transport. He has sparked laboratory interest in shape memory alloys as an engineering solution, driven by their versatile and unique properties. This effort gained early traction with a competitive LDRD funding award in 2024. He obtained his Ph.D. at Texas A&M University in Materials Science and Engineering, as well as an Aerospace Engineering M.S. at Texas A&M University, while a B.S. at the University of Florida in Materials Science and Engineering. Jacob was drawn to the field of shape memory alloys because they enable new paradigms of thinking, and he is also fascinated by the history of the curious scientists who first sought to understand this phenomenon. His wedding ring is proudly made from leftover Ph.D. shape memory alloy NiTiNOL. Please do not tell his graduate advisor!
Symposium 4 Invited Speaker
Philip Buskohl
Senior Research Engineer, Materials & Manufacturing Directorate
U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory
Presentation Title: Accelerated Design: Morphing Structures and Topology Optimization Surrogates
Abstract: Computational design optimization is a key driver for the discovery of innovative solutions, improved efficiencies and mechanistic understanding for many of today's engineering and fundamental research challenges.& In this presentation, we will discuss two approaches to accelerate design, motivated from applications in morphing structures and topology optimization. First, we will investigate the discovery of low energy folding paths of morphing origami structures. The interplay between stretching, folding, and facet bending modes in origami structures generates a complex energy landscape of multistable states. However, identifying rigid and deformable folding paths in this high-dimensional and non-convex energy landscape is challenging. To help address this, we leverage the nudged elastic band algorithm to identify low energy folding paths between stable configurations in this landscape. The nudge elastic band technique is a global method that optimizes each point along the path to follow the gradient of the energy function, while also maintaining separation between the points to provide adequate resolution along the path. We demonstrate the utility of this approach for discovering sequenced folding motions, distinguishing between rigid and deformable folding paths, and finding low energy folding paths between stable states in multistabilty origami structures. In the second half of the talk, we will discuss another strategy to accelerate design optimization using neural operators as a surrogate model of topology optimization. Neural operators are a promising surrogate modeling approach toward more efficient design discovery, as they identify and train on a lower dimensional manifold than the original, often sparse, spatial representation of the design problem. Constructing efficient surrogate models for topology optimization is particularly helpful in early stage design, where many optimization runs are performed in order to build intuition of the design space, or because the design requirements and problem setup conditions evolve, results in many near-redundant optimization runs. In this work, a neural operator based on principal component analysis, PCA-Net, is investigated in two alternate configurations within the TO loop—direct prediction of the optimal design, and prediction of design sensitivities within a gradient-descent loop. The direct design approach shows excellent accuracy with respect to traditional TO results. However, the PCA-Net neural operator is less effective in predicting the compliance sensitivities, due to the singularity of the point load boundary condition. Two methods for overcoming this are investigated—namely, softening the singularity by replacing the point load with a distributed load, and removing the singularly from the PCA training set through a Green's function analytical representation of the point load. Both methods improve accuracy without appreciable computational cost increases. Analysis of the principal components suggests this could be due to increased capacity of the linear reduction method to capture variance in the sensitivity data after these methods are applied. Collectively, these tools highlight two potential strategies to accelerate design optimization and point to opportunities to generalize these concepts to other problems.
Biography: Philip R. Buskohl is a Senior Research Engineer in the Materials & Manufacturing Directorate at the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory. Dr. Buskohl has co-authored over 60 peer-reviewed papers ranging from the chemical-mechanical feedback of self-oscillating gels, design of reconfigurable origami structures and mechanical computing concepts. He is an AFRL Early Career Award winner and a recipient of the OSD Laboratory University Collaboration Initiative fellowship. He received his Ph.D. in Theoretical & Applied Mechanics from Cornell University in 2012.
Symposium 5 Invited Speaker
Donghyeon Ryu
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
New Mexico Tech
Presentation Title: Multifunctional Mechano-Luminescence-Optoelectronic Composites for Self-Powered Strain Sensing and Mechanical-Radiant-Electrical Energy Harvesting
Abstract: In this invited talk, a novel design of multifunctional composites is presented with mainly two engineering applications as a self-powered strain sensor and a mechanical-radiant-electrical energy harvester. The multifunctional mechano-luminescence-optoelectronic (MLO) composites are composed of two functional constituents: 1) mechano-luminescent (ML) elastomeric micro-composites and 2) mechano-optoelectronic (MO) thin film. The ML constituent emits light when subjected to external dynamic mechanical stimuli to play as a role of mechanical-radiant energy converter in the MLO. The MO thin film generates direct current (DC) using the ML light in the MLO composites, and the DC varies with the applied tensile strain. The multiphysics ML and MO characteristics are coupled in the MLO design to output strain-varying DC with mechanical input via the unique mechanical-radiant-electrical (MRE) energy conversion mechanism. The DC generated from the MLO can be used for sensing tensile strain without any external electrical input based on the DC magnitude varying with tensile strain and strain rate. Also, the DC output can be used as an energy source where mechanical energy can be harvested by the MLO composites as an MRE energy harvester.
In the Lab for Smart Materials and Structures (LaSMaS) that Dr. Ryu established in 2014 at New Mexico Tech, research projects sponsored by NASA and NSF are currently being conducted for advancing knowledge in process-structure-property (PSP) relationship of the ML and MO functional building blocks and neuromuscular system of human body through physical health digital twin using the MLO-based highly stretchable and self-powered strain sensor. In addition, Dr. Ryu has conducted R&D for RD Health Sensing Inc., which he co-founded in 2020 and currently serves as a Chief Scientific Officer, for commercialization of the multifunctional MLO for non-invasive and self-evolving health monitoring solutions.
First, the MO thin film is fabricated using a scalable air-brushing process to broaden the MO thin film’s applications in the MLO fibrous composites for clothes-type health monitoring wearables. The air-brushing process enables deposition of the MO thin film in a continuous manner as a part of quasi-1D fibrous MLO composites on a non-flat and narrow surface while a spin-coating process as a traditional thin film deposition approach is limited to wide and flat substrate. Due to the unique thin film deposition mechanism by the air-brushing process, the nano-structure of conjugated poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) polymer in the MO thin film forms differently from conventional spin-coating process to exhibit unique MO characteristics and micro-mechanical properties. Second, the Super Inkjet (SIJ) printing process is employed to fabricate patterned conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) thin film as a bottom electrode of MO-based epidermal strain sensing patch for spatial strain mapping on a human skin. The SIJ printing is advantageous compared to conventional piezoelectrically-actuated jetting mechanism due to its unique electrostatically actuated jetting mechanism through a glass nozzle to result in less clogging issues and wide acceptance of ink viscosity. The SIJ printing process is optimized for fully SIJ-printing the MO-based epidermal sensor for self-powered and spatial strain sensing applications. Third, a physical health digital twin (PHDT) is proposed for early diagnosis and prognosis of neuromuscular health disorders. The PHDT is built with in-plane strains sensed by the MLO-based non-invasive health monitoring wearables and evolves with continuous inflow of sensor data to cope with the end user’s ever changing biometrics. Data anomalies in the PHDT are deemed as an early signal to indicate disorders in the human’s neuromuscular system for proactive intervention of neuromuscular health disorders. Last, the ML micro-composites' multiphysics constitutive relationships are empirically derived by training a machine learning algorithm with a data set of ML light intensity and color along with strain and strain rate. The ML constitutive knowledge is envisioned to help perform informed design of the multifunctional MLO composites.
Biography: Dr. Donghyeon Ryu is an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at New Mexico Tech (August 2014 – present), a co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of RD Health Sensing (November 2020 – present), and an NSF RII Track-4@NASA Research Fellow (Jan 2024 – Dec 2026). He obtained a Ph.D. in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in September 2014 and M.S. in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in March 2014 from the University of California, Davis. Before then, he obtained M.S. (2008) and B.S. (2004) in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea.
Dr. Ryu is active in research on design of multifunctional materials and nanocomposites metamaterials for wearable sensing technologies and self-sustainable infrastructures; structural health monitoring; advanced sensor technologies; and energy harvesting. His research has been sponsored by NASA, NSF, Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies at Los Alamos National Lab, Sandia National Labs, Office of Naval Research, and others. He received New Mexico Space Grant Consortium Faculty Research Award and three best paper awards from ASME, 9th International Workshop on Structural Health Monitoring, and 10th International Conference on Damage Assessment of Structures. Also, he is a NASA Research Fellow of NSF RII Track-4@NASA Ames Research Center and an ASCE ExCEEdTeaching Workshop Fellow.
Symposium 5 Invited Speaker
Fernando Moreu, Ph.D., P.E., F. ASCE
Robert J. Stamm Professor of Advanced Design and Construction Practices
Dean's Excellence Lecturer
University of New Mexico
Presentation Title: Recent Human-centered, Computer Vision Advances in Structural Health Monitoring
Abstract: This presentation summarizes advances in monitoring of engineering experimental vibrations, proposing new human-computer interfaces and human-in-the-loop dynamic paradigms. Applications include using Augmented Reality (AR) systems enabling a standalone human interface for automatic defect detection. Field implementations include industrial human-centered machine-enabled inspection. The new machine-aided inspection employs a nonstationary pixel unit conversion with an automated image conversion translating anomalies to engineering units in the eyes of the inspector. Ongoing practical applications include the use of neuromorphic, low-latency system identification for non-linear systems ID, and human-robot construction teaming with the help of AR. This seminar also describes intuitive robot programming adjusting the kinematic controller’s parameters and a different outer-loop controller as an alternative to the time-consuming adjustments of holograms with application for construction, manufacturing, and field inspections. This automated control enabled by an immersive AR interface opens a bi-lateral communication line between humans and robots for collaboration and bi-directional teaming.
Symposium 6 Invited Speaker
Dr. Mostafa Hassanalian
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
New Mexico Tech
Presentation Title: Unlocking Nature's Secrets: Bioinspired Aerodynamics and Autonomous Drone Systems
Abstract: Over millions of years, nature has evolved highly efficient structures, materials, and mechanisms that enable remarkable capabilities in flight, sensing, navigation, and energy management. Engineers increasingly draw inspiration from these biological systems to develop innovative solutions for modern aerospace challenges. The field of bioinspired engineering and biomimicry seeks to translate nature's optimized designs into advanced technologies that enhance aerodynamic efficiency, autonomy, and adaptability in aerial systems. This talk presents Dr. Hassanalian’s research on bioinspired aerodynamics and autonomous drone systems, highlighting how natural flight mechanisms observed in birds, insects, and seeds can inform the design of next-generation aerial platforms. His work integrates aerodynamic modeling, experimental validation, and system-level design to improve the performance and efficiency of drones operating in complex environments. Applications of this research include environmental monitoring, infrastructure inspection, underground exploration, wildlife observation, and planetary exploration. By combining principles from biology, aerospace engineering, and robotics, this work aims to advance the development of intelligent aerial systems capable of operating autonomously and efficiently in diverse real-world missions.
Biography: Dr. Mostafa Hassanalian is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at New Mexico Tech and a former Dean's Research Scholar. He earned his Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from New Mexico State University in 2018 and 2016, respectively. His research focuses on experimental aerodynamics, bioinspired engineering, autonomous aerial systems, and drone technology, integrating physics-based modeling, dynamics and control, and experimental testing to develop next-generation aerospace systems. Over the past seven years, Dr. Hassanalian has led an externally funded research program with more than $8 million in support from agencies and organizations including the National Science Foundation (NSF), NASA, NIOSH-CDC, the Alpha Foundation, and industry partners. His scholarly work includes more than 65 peer-reviewed journal articles and over 190 refereed conference papers, many presented at AIAA conferences, contributing significantly to research in drones, bioinspired aerodynamics, and autonomous exploration systems. Dr. Hassanalian has been continuously recognized since 2021 among the world's Top 2% most-cited scientists for both annual and career-long citation impact according to the Stanford University–Elsevier ranking. His contributions to research and academic service have been recognized with several honors, including the New Mexico Tech Faculty Distinguished Service Award (2024), Faculty Distinguished Research Award (2025), and the AIAA Faculty Advisor Award (2026). His research group develops bioinspired drones and autonomous aerial systems for applications such as environmental monitoring, underground exploration, wildlife observation, and planetary exploration. Several of his projects—particularly the taxidermy bird drone—have received international media attention through outlets including The New York Times, National Geographic, Reuters, and EuroNews. Dr. Hassanalian currently advises 22 graduate students (8 Ph.D. and 14 M.S.) and has graduated 4 Ph.D. and 20 M.S. students to date, in addition to mentoring over 100 undergraduate researchers. He is also actively involved in STEM outreach, leading K–12 drone programs and serving on the board of the Friends of Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.
Symposium 6 Invited Speaker
Vickie Webster-Wood
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Carnegie Mellon University
Presentation Title: Biology as Smart Materials for Biohybrid and Biodegradable Robots
Abstract: In the last century, it was common to envision robots of the future as shining metal structures with rigid and halting motion. This imagery is in sharp contrast to the fluid and organic motion of living organisms that inhabit our natural world. As robotics has advanced, animals are often turned to for inspiration. However, the adaptability, complex control, and advanced learning capabilities observed in animals are not yet fully understood and, therefore, have not been fully captured by current robotic systems. Furthermore, many of the mechanical properties and physical capabilities seen in animals have yet to be achieved in robotic platforms. In this talk, I will share my group's efforts to use biologically derived materials in robotic subsystems to make robots more adaptable and sustainable. Our research in biohybrid robotics is enabling new approaches toward the creation of autonomous biodegradable living robots. In parallel, by using farmable plant-based materials, we can now create robotic components that are fully degradable in natural environments. As we look to the future, we are bringing these capabilities together toward the creation of autonomous, adaptable robots built using sustainable biological materials. These robotic systems have future applications as sustainable platforms for medicine, search and rescue, and environmental monitoring of sensitive environments (e.g., coral reefs).
Biography: Vickie Webster-Wood is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University with courtesy appointments in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, the McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine, and the Robotics Institute. She is the director of the C.M.U. Biohybrid and Organic Robotics Group and has a long-term research goal to develop completely organic, biodegradable, autonomous robots. Research in the C.M.U. B.O.R.G. brings together bio-inspired robotics, tissue engineering, and computational neuroscience to study and model neuromuscular control and translate findings to the creation of renewable robotic devices. Dr. Webster-Wood completed her postdoc at Case Western Reserve University in the Tissue Fabrication and Mechanobiology Lab. She received her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the same institution as an N.S.F. Graduate Research Fellow in the Biologically Inspired Robotics Lab. She received the NSF CAREER Award in 2021 and leads the SSymBioTIC MURI. She is also a co-PI of the N.S.F. NeuroNex Network on Communication, Coordination, and Control in Neuromechanical Systems (C3NS) and has received numerous additional awards and grants, including recognition as one of MIT Technology Reviews 35 Innovators under 35 in 2023.
Vickie Webster-Wood is also the Symposium 8 Invited Speaker
Presentation Title: in roboto: Using Robotic Models to Understand Embodied Intelligence in Biological Systems
Abstract: Biological systems provide fascinating existence proofs of the ability to perform complex computation, creative decision making, adaptable robust locomotion, and multifunctional behavior in single energy efficient platforms. And yet, modern robots still commonly struggle in the complex dynamic real world environments in which animals thrive. Animal capabilities stem from the co-evolution and co-development of the brain and the body. That is to say they have co-developed truly integrated computational and mechanical intelligence. The body constrains and simplifies control, and the controller shapes the adaptation of the body through behavior. Understanding the fundamental principles of embodied intelligence in animals will help uncover new mechanisms for use in robotics and intelligent engineered systems. In this talk, I will share our work on using computational and robotic models to help uncover general principles of embodied intelligence in a complex soft bodied organism, Aplysia californica, and provide perspectives on translating findings from biology to translatable robotic systems.
Symposium 7 Invited Speaker
Wei-Hsin Liao
Choh-Ming Li Professor of Mechanical and Automation Engineering
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Presentation Title: Energy Harvesting from Human Motion and Vibration
Abstract: As a pivotal tool for human-computer interaction, the keyboard bridges the physical and virtual worlds. While wireless setups eliminate cable clutter, they remain constrained by battery life. To address this limitation, we present a battery-free wireless keyboard entirely powered by kinetic energy harnessed from fingertip keystrokes. This scalable, manufacturable platform represents a breakthrough in self-sustained interaction technologies. We then extend human-motion energy harvesting to a battery-free interactive gaming system powered by transient fingertip motion. To ensure high reactivity and stability, the fingertip motion harvester employs a multistable structure that utilizes precharged potential energy within dynamically varying potential wells. Additionally, a bistable screen design decouples game logic from user interface mechanics to ensure rapid system recovery after power interruptions, pioneering a practical, low-power interaction paradigm. Finally, to address the inherent instability, limited energy capture, and intermittent power supply typical of ambient vibration energy harvesting in IoT systems, we developed a modular, reconfigurable IoT platform. By supporting multiple transduction mechanisms—including piezoelectric and electromagnetic—this highly adaptable platform easily accommodates diverse sensing tasks and varying application requirements through standardized, swappable interfaces.
Biography: Wei-Hsin Liao received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, USA. Since August 1997, Dr. Liao has been with The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), where he is Choh-Ming Li Professor of Mechanical and Automation Engineering. His research has resulted in the publication of over 500 technical papers and 30 patents. He served as the Conference Chair for the 20th International Conference on Adaptive Structures and Technologies (2009), as well as the Active and Passive Smart Structures and Integrated Systems conference at SPIE Smart Structures/NDE (2014 and 2015). Prof. Liao is the recipient of the 2020 ASME Adaptive Structures and Material Systems Award and the 2018 SPIE SSM Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his outstanding contributions to the advancement of smart structures and materials. He currently serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures and is on the Executive Editorial Board of Smart Materials and Structures. Dr. Liao is a Fellow of ASME, HKIE, and IOP.
Symposium 7 Invited Speaker
Dr. Abdessattar Abdelkefi
Professor
New Mexico State University
Presentation Title: Dynamic Effectiveness of Energy Harvesters Under Flow Induced Vibrations
Abstract: Flow-induced vibration-based energy harvesters have emerged as promising sustainable power sources, attracting significant attention for their ability to replace conventional small batteries that demand costly and time-consuming maintenance. By harnessing vibratory motion induced by fluid-structure interactions, these systems provide a renewable and maintenance-free alternative particularly suited for powering low-consumption electronic devices including health monitoring sensors, medical implants, data transmitters, wireless sensors, and cameras. Their adaptability allows deployment across diverse environments, ranging from urban infrastructures and high-wind regions to ventilation outlets, rivers, and ducts of buildings.
This presentation introduces the fundamental concept of harvesting energy from vibratory motion in air or water, highlighting key flow-induced phenomena, such as flutter, vortex-induced vibrations, galloping, and wake interactions associated with bluff bodies and tandem harvester designs. The fluid-structure interactions between bluff body geometries and energy harvesting systems will be examined through both experimental investigations and computational modeling. Finally, the study explores the effectiveness of flag-based harvesters in confined spaces, where geometric constraints and flow channeling can significantly alter vibratory behavior. Insights will be provided into how confinement effects, wake interactions, and flapping dynamics can be leveraged to improve energy output in practical applications. By integrating theoretical analysis, laboratory experiments, and computational simulations, this presentation aims to establish a comprehensive understanding of flow-induced vibration energy harvesters and highlight their potential as reliable, self-sustaining power solutions for next generation smart and autonomous devices.
Biography: Dr. Abdu Abdelkefi is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at New Mexico State University (NMSU). He currently serves as the Faculty Fellow for the NMSU Postdoctoral Association and previously held a Joint Faculty Appointment at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) from March 2019 to February 2024. He is recognized as a Fellow of ASME and an Associate Fellow of AIAA.
Dr. Abdelkefi's research has been supported by multiple funding agencies, totaling approximately $8.5 million, and has led to the graduation of 20 Ph.D. and 24 M.S. students. In collaboration with his students and colleagues, he has authored three books, secured one patent, published more than 270 journal articles in leading international journals, and delivered over 290 conference papers and presentations, including more than 10 invited talks. His work has been cited over 16,000 times, reflecting its broad impact across disciplines.
Symposium 8 Invited Speaker
Philip Noell
Materials Scientist, Materials, Physical, and Chemical Sciences Center
Sandia National Laboratories
Presentation Title: Interlocking Metasurfaces: Mechanics of Architected Joining Interfaces
Abstract: Interlocking metasurfaces (ILMs) are a joining technology in which the joint itself plays a key role in component performance. ILMs are arrays of surface features that transmit force and constrain motion between adjoining bodies in one or more directions. The talk examines how local contact interactions within these architected interfaces govern force transfer and alter component behavior in load-bearing assemblies, while outlining the mechanics-based design framework that controls joint response. A secondary aim is to show how this interfacial viewpoint creates a physically grounded route to adaptive and mechano-intelligent behavior without departing from conventional structural mechanics. The focus is on geometry-controlled load transfer across quasi-continuous interfaces formed by tessellated mating features. In ILMs, joint behavior emerges from distributed contact rather than from a monolithic bond line, discrete fasteners, or metallurgical joining. Feature geometry prescribes engagement trajectories, admissible relative motion, and the directions in which force can be transmitted. Friction, fit, and geometric confinement then determine whether local contacts remain tightly coupled, slip, or disengage. Because neighboring features interact, the mechanics of the array are not reducible to isolated latching elements: confinement and cross-cell interaction redistribute deformation, elevate effective stiffness and strength, and alter failure progression. Small changes in topology, tessellation, or contact condition can therefore shift the interface from solid-like load transfer to strongly dissipative response, including tailored vibration attenuation. Recent results also show that ILM performance depends on both unit-cell design and array architecture, reinforcing the need to treat the interface as a coupled mechanical system rather than as a collection of independent local contact features. The talk addresses the ILM design framework through the coupled roles of feature geometry, tessellation, contact conditions, friction, confinement, and material selection. These parameters control how the interface carries load, how it dissipates energy, and how it modifies assembly-level behavior through reversible engagement and reconfiguration. In that sense, the interface stores and processes mechanical state through evolving contact conditions and load paths. This offers a restrained but useful connection to embodied physical computing and mechano-intelligent systems: behavior is programmed through interfacial architecture and realized through contact mechanics. Brief discussion will be given to future directions suggested by this mechanics basis, including improved treatment of contact and friction in modeling, broader dynamic and cyclic loading conditions, and deliberate co-design of joining and dissipation functions. The broader significance is that ILMs provide a mechanics-centered way to alter structural behavior through the architecture of the interface itself. This work was performed, in part, at the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, an Office of Science User Facility operated for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science. Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International, Inc., for the U.S. DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-NA-0003525. The views expressed in the article do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. DOE or the United States Government.
Biography: Philip J. Noell is a materials scientist in the Materials, Physical, and Chemical Sciences Center at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Texas. His research focuses on the mechanics of structural materials, 3D materials science, ductile fracture, and new joining technologies, with an emphasis on relating micro- and nanoscale material behavior to macroscale mechanical performance. His work includes studies of void nucleation and ductile rupture in metals using advanced characterization methods, fracture behavior of structural alloys, and the development of interlocking metasurfaces, a Sandia-invented joining technology for structural assembly and dissimilar-material joining.