RBE in the WPI Magazine
The Pollinators of the Future: Robotic Bees
With native bee populations in decline, robotics professor Nitin Sanket is developing eco-friendly, autonomous robotic bees to serve as an innovative alternative for pollination.
The Humanity of Robots in the Workplace
The NSF-funded FORW-RD program trains graduate students on human-robot workplace interactions, fostering a research community with mentoring and industry support.
Wearable Robot Offers Hope
Robotics PhD student Tess Meier’s work on the HOPE hand exoskeleton, inspired by her friend's hand impairment, is leading her to improve the device to aid physical therapy and explore its impact on brain activity.
Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
Berk Calli and James Akl are developing the first robotic shipbreaking system to improve efficiency in hazardous environments. Funded by European Metal Recycling, their work combines human-robot collaboration and advanced algorithms to automate metal cutting, aiming for commercial deployment to boost productivity.
A Welcome Invasion of City Walls
Researchers developed a lizard-like soft robot for inspecting tight spaces and 3-D mapping, funded by a $50,000 NSF grant. Its flexible design allows it to navigate walls and ductwork, improving safety and efficiency in building retrofitting and climate adaptation.
A Robotics Resource for Solving Problems
ROSE-HUB, WPI's NSF-supported research center, bridges the gap between academic research and commercial robotics technologies. Since 2020, it has collaborated with six companies, secured over $700,000 in funding, and provided real-world experience for students.
Lobster Traps protect
‘Ropeless’ Lobster Traps Protect Right Whales
Lobster fishing is critical to New England, but the ropes that connect traps to buoys pose a threat to the endangered North Atlantic Right Whale. With less than 350 of these whales left, conservationists are calling upon solutions to keep the species from going extinct. Lobstermen using traditional traps have been limited to where or when they can fish, but current ropeless traps can cost thousands of dollars.
Blaise Schroeder Understands Everyone Has a Story
Blaise Schroeder ’23, a robotics engineering major, finds the concept of "sonder"—the realization that everyone has a complex life—deeply inspiring, influencing both their personal and professional life at WPI. Through their leadership in mental health initiatives and work with WPI’s Career Development Center, Schroeder hopes to leave a lasting impact on campus, focusing on inclusivity and meaningful change rather than personal recognition.
