CENTERS
Automotive Research Center
Director: Anna Stefanopoulou
Deputy Director: Dawn Tilbury
Telephone: 734-936-0427
center website
At the Automotive Research Center (ARC) we develop simulation and modeling environments for discovering and assessing critical ground vehicle technologies. We focus on problems associated with management of power and energy within vehicles, mobility and survivability of the complete vehicle system, including the human operator. The Center employs extensive experimental facilities for the validation and verification of models in the area of energy conversion and management of power within vehicles. Our models and simulations are all accompanied by analytical tools to assess optimality, reliability, survivability, and mobility in harsh environments with constrained fuel supplies and over a variety of terrains.
The Center relies on the collaboration of researchers from multiple universities and disciplines in order to bridge fundamental technology gaps. Alongside basic scientific goals, we focus on army-relevant topics and partner with industry to leverage and transfer our efforts and results.
U.S. China Clean Energy Research Center – Clean Vehicles Consortium
Director: Huei Peng
Deputy Director: Jun Ni
Telephone: 734-763-8683
center website
As the world’s largest automobile markets, the United States and China lead the world in oil consumption, importing more than half the petroleum they consume. The CERC-Clean Vehicles Consortium seeks to reduce this oil consumption by supporting the joint research of the nations’ leading experts in clean vehicle technologies. The University of Michigan’s Prof. Huei Peng and Tsinghua University’s Prof. Minggao Ouyang lead this effort.
The $50 million CERC Clean Vehicles Consortium, sponsored in part by the U.S Department of Energy and the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, leverages the expertise of engineering, natural science, and the social science thought leaders. With partners from academia, national laboratories and industry, this coalition is uniquely positioned to develop global solutions to the challenges of creating next generation clean vehicles and the policies that support them.
Center for Advanced Computing
Faculty Director: Ken Powell
Director of High Performance Computing: Andy Carid
Telephone: 734-647-5273
center website
The Center for Advanced Computing provides high-end computing resources, and expertise in purchasing, maintaining and using high-end parallel computers, for faculty, students and staff at the University of Michigan. CAC also administers the Doctoral Program in Scientific Computing, a degree option that is allowed for any Rackham -approved doctoral program at the University of Michigan. CAC has expert staff who maintain the computing resources and provide user consultation and support.
Center for Predictive Control of Plasma Kinetics
Director: Mark Kushner
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Office: 2236 EECS
Telephone: 734-647-8148
Email: mjkush@umich.edu
Plasma science and engineering plays a critical role in our national economy, energy supply, international intellectual competitiveness and national security while harboring a broad array of science challenges. The University of Michigan has an exceptional and broad capability in plasma science and engineering, making advances in better utilizing plasmas for technology and investigating the fundamental science of the 4th state of matter.
The Michigan Institute for Plasma Science and Engineering (MIPSE) is building upon this interdisciplinary strength to help our faculty, students and staff to continue to make internationally leading contributions to plasma science and engineering.
Center for Solar and Thermal Energy Conversion in Complex Materials
Director: Peter Green
Telephone: 734-763-2445
The goal of CSTEC is to investigate the science necessary to mitigate and to tailor energy loss processes in nanostructured, and low dimensional, materials for high efficiency photovoltaic (PV) and thermoelectric (TE) energy conversion.
Center for Sustainable Systems
Director: Gregory Keoleian
Telephone: 734-764-1412
center website
The Center for Sustainable Systems (CSS) is an interdisciplinary research and education center in the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and Environment. CSS advances concepts of sustainability through interdisciplinary research and education. The Center collaborates with diverse stakeholders to develop and apply life cycle based models and sustainability metrics for systems that meet societal needs. CSS promotes tools and knowledge that support the design, evaluation, and improvement of complex systems.
Engineering Research Center for Wireless Integrated Microsystems
Director: Yogesh B. Gianchandani
Administrative Director: Karen Richardson
Telephone: 734-647-1779
center website
Since 1974, the University of Michigan has been a world leader in the development of integrated sensors, microelectromechanical devices (MEMS) and microsystems. The Engineering Research Center for Wireless Integrated MicroSystems (WIMS) was established in 2000, with support from the National Science Foundation expanded this world-class research on MEMS and microsystems. The goal of the WIMS ERC remains to develop platforms for microsystems capable of sensing non-electronic variables with high accuracy, interpreting the signals, and then communicating the results over distances from a few centimeters to a few kilometers. The research encompasses various applications including weather forecasting and environmental monitoring, biomedical systems, homeland security and defense, consumer products, transportation and infrastructure, space probes, automated manufacturing tools and any place where microelectronics needs to be coupled to the non-electronic world. An important part of the WIMS ERC is its work to develop interdisciplinary programs in microsystems.
Engineering Research Center in Reconfigurable Machining Systems
Director: Yoram Koren
Center Administrator: Julie DeFilippo
Telephone: 734-936-3596
center website
The Engineering Research Center in Reconfigurable Machining Systems (ERC/RMS) was established in 1996 to develop the science base for reconfigurable manufacturing, specifically in machining. Three research areas are: (1) system-level design, (2) machine-level design, and (3) ramp-up and calibration. A test bed is available for proof-of-concept demonstrations and research integration.
FXB Center for Rotary and Fixed Wing Air Vehicle Design
Director: Peretz Friedmann
Telephone: 734-763-2354
center website
The FXB Center for Rotary and Fixed Wing Air Vehicle Design (FXB-CRFWAD) focuses on multidisciplinary analysis that plays a key role in the design of manned and unmanned air vehicles. The areas emphasized are interactions between computational aero-elasticity and aerodynamics, controls, flight mechanics, active materials and composite structures. The goal is the development of vehicles with low vibrations and noise levels, good damage tolerance characteristics and low cost.
S.M. Wu Manufacturing Research Center
Director: Jun Ni
Telephone: 734-936-2918
lab website
S.M. Wu Manufacturing Research Center (WuMRC) has been an internationally recognized center of excellence in all aspects of manufacturing education and research. The center’s main research thrusts are in dimensional measurement and control; machine tools and machining; drilling; assembly and joining; material forming; in-process quality control; variation modeling and reduction in manufacturing systems; and micro-manufacturing.
Center for Ultrafast Optical Science
Director: Theodore Norris
Telephone: 734-763-4875
center website
The Center for Ultrafast Optical Science (CUOS) exists to perform multidisciplinary laser research and spur the development of new technologies. CUOS researchers develop optical equipment and techniques to generate, manipulate, and detect ultrashort and ultra-high-peek-power light pulses. They use these ultrashort pulses to study ultrafast physical phenomena in atomic, nuclear, plasma, and materials physics, in solid state electronics in high-energy-density physics.
Center for Intelligent Maintenance Systems
CoPI: Dr. Jay Lee
Telephone: 513-556-2493
center website
Center for Intelligent Maintenance Systems (CIMS) is an NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (I/UCRC) that focuses on developing i) intelligent prognostics algorithms such as “Watchdog Agent” (prognostics on a chip) for in-situ machine/device/system degradation assessment and prediction, and ii) web-enabled device-to-business platforms for distributed, rapid and cost-effective e-maintenance and e-service business decision making systems. IMS integrates innovations in wireless technologies, signal processing and decision making systems into predictive maintenance technologies to enable manufacturers, service centers and OEMs to have products and machines with near-zero breakdown conditions.
Center for Space Environment Modeling
Principal Investigator: Tamas Gombosi
Telephone: 734-764-7222
center website
During the last decade, a tightly integrated interdisciplinary group of faculty and students from the Departments of Aerospace Engineering (AERO); Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences (AOSS); and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) developed the first high-performance computational models of the space environment using modern numerical algorithms and adaptive mesh refinement. The group has been consistently successful in winning high-profile major awards from the National Science Foundation, NASA, and the Department of Defense to develop new computational technologies for space environment modeling. In order to provide an intellectual identity and increase the visibility of this successful grassroots initiative, this faculty has formed the Center for Space Environment Modeling (CSEM).
Transportation Energy Center
Principal Investigator: Johannes Schwank
Telephone: 734-764-3374
The Transportation Energy Center (TEC) is a university-based collaborative research center that provides basic and applied research expertise for the National Automotive Center at the Research, Development, and Engineering Command (RDECOM) in Warren, Michigan. Additional funding for TEC research programs is provided by the U.S. Department of Energy, and selected industrial partners, such as Dow Chemical.
Although TEC is housed in the Chemical Engineering department at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, it provides a collaborative environment for faculty from other units, such as:
- Mechanical Engineering
- Nuclear Engineering
- Materials Science and Engineering
- School of Natural Resources and Environment
- University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI)
- University of Michigan Dearborn
INSTITUTES
ERB INSTITUTE FOR GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE ENTERPRISE
The Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise at the University of Michigan fosters global sustainable enterprise through interdisciplinary research and education initiatives, including our acclaimed MBA/MS Program. Utilizing a collaborative approach, we help business, government and civil society organizations to achieve meaningful progress toward sustainability.
GRAHAM ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY INSTITUTE
The Graham Environmental Sustainability Institute is a jointly funded effort by the University of Michigan and the Graham Foundation for encouraging multidisciplinary research and education in environmental sustainability. The Graham Institute seeks out new opportunities in sustainability research and education, and plays an important role in awarding incentive research funding and encouraging graduate students to continue their studies in the environmental sustainability field. The Institute also works with companies, NGOs, and communities to leverage U-M assets in a strong outreach program dedicated to extending the knowledge of and solving problems related to sustainability. An important feature of the Graham Institute is to serve as an information focal point and ambassador for sustainability within the University using this web portal, and its relationships with schools, colleges, and various institutes and centers dealing with sustainability.
INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL RESEARCH
Established in 1948, the Institute for Social Research (ISR) is among the world’s oldest survey research organizations, and a world leader in the development and application of social science methodology. ISR conducts some of the most widely-cited studies in the nation, including the Survey of Consumer Attitudes, the National Election Studies, the Monitoring the Future Study, the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, the Health and Retirement Study, and the National Survey of Black Americans. ISR researchers also collaborate with social scientists in more than 60 nations on the World Values Surveys and other projects, and the Institute has established formal ties with universities in Poland, China, and South Africa. ISR is also home to the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR), the world’s largest computerized social science data archive.
MICHIGAN INSTITUTE FOR PLASMA SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
The University of Michigan has an exceptional and broad capability in plasma science and engineering from microelectronics fabrication, laser-plasma interactions and plasma thrusters; to microwave generation, high energy density plasmas, shock-physics and space plasma physics.
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE
The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute is committed to interdisciplinary research that will ultimately increase driving safety and further transportation systems knowledge. UMTRI is currently operating a $14.5 million per year research program, with funds received from federal and state government agencies, motor vehicle manufacturers and suppliers, and other organizations.
LABORATORIES
ADVANCED COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE LABORATORY
Director: Marios Papaefthymiou
Telephone: 734-763-1557
lab website
The Advanced Computer Architecture Laboratory (ACAL) serves as the focal point for an interdisciplinary program of research that includes the theory, design, programming and applications of advanced computer systems. The Laboratory has an extensive network of advanced workstations and advanced test and design equipment to support its activities in experimental research. In addition, it has access to a number of state-of-the-art experimental parallel computers.
ADVANCED MATERIALS SYSTEMS LABORATORY
Director: Anne Marie Sastry
Telephone: 734- 647-3061
lab website
The foci in energy storage have been in developing numerical tools and experiments to design durable, high-performance energetic materials, and also in developing tools for design of power supplies with multiple, complementary elements. The laboratory also works on a number of problems related to biological materials, which provide inspiration and insight in creation of engineered constructs. The interests in biology range from understanding the nature and effects of intracellular signaling, to understanding the function of biological structures.
ALGORITHMIC SYNTHESIS LABORATORY
Director: Kazuhiro Siatou
Telephone: 734-763-0036
Dr. Siatou’s website
Algorithmic Synthesis Laboratory (ASL) investigates theories and methods for modeling, abstraction, and algorithmic synthesis of mechanical, industrial, and biomedical systems, with the emphasis on the mathematical abstraction rooted on the fundamental understanding the target systems and the algorithmic generalization utilizing the tools in mechanical, industrial, computer science and engineering.
COMBUSTION AND SYNTHESIS KINETICS AND DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY
Director: Margaret Wooldridge
Telephone: 734-936-0349
lab website
The Combustion and Synthesis Kinetics and Diagnostic Laboratory is a facility where experimental and computational methods are used to improve our understanding of the fundamental chemical and physical mechanisms important in high temperature, chemical reacting systems. Research topics include advanced power and propulsion; internal combustion and gas turbine engines; renewable, synthetic and fossil fuel chemistry; exhaust gas cleanup and gas sensors.
COMPLIANT SYSTEMS DESIGN LABORATORY
Director: Shridar Kota
Telephone: 734-647-7325
lab website
The Compliant Systems Design Laboratory (CSDL) develops novel engineering solutions by utilizing mechanical compliance in design. The lab also develops analytical and computational tools for synthesis and analysis of compliant mechanisms integrated with actuators for form compliant systems. Applications include microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), adaptive structures, and product design for no-assembly.
COMPUTATIONAL REACTING FLOWS LABORATORY
Director: Hong G. Im
Telephone: 734-615-5152
Dr. Im’s website
The Computational Reacting Flows Laboratory explores diverse high-fidelity numerical modeling approaches to fundamental and practical combustion and reacting flow systems that are applicable to internal combustion engines, gas turbines, micro-combustors, and fuel reformers for fuel cells. The Laboratory is equipped with a 24-CPU Linux cluster based on Intel Pentium 4 processors, and a number of serial workstations for large-scale simulations.
CONTROL SYSTEMS LABORATORY
Director: James Freudenberg
Telephone: 734-763-0586
lab website
Faculty study fundamental properties of dynamical systems and develop algorithms to modify their behavior through control in order to satisfy performance objectives. Numerous system models are employed, including linear, nonlinear, stochastic, discrete event and queuing models. The faculty works on a wide variety of application projects, including automotive powertrain control, manufacturing systems, communication networks, robotics and aerospace systems.
DTE POWER ELECTRONICS AND ELECTRIC DRIVE LABORATORY
Director: Chris MI
Telephone: 313-583-6434
lab website
The newly established DTE Power Electronics Laboratory was developed through a grant of $190,000 from DTE Energy, a matching grant from NSF, and an internal matching grant. It is equipped with the-state-of-the-art power electronics facilities. The lab allows the faculty and students to pursue power electronics for alternate sources of energy, including fuel cells and hybrid vehicles.
Student enrollment in power electronics courses has grown significantly over the past five years, reflecting the increasing public interest in energy conservation and environment protection. The lab allows the electrical and computer engineering department to deepen its curriculum and strengthen it through additional educational and research projects. The faculty team has developed research projects addressing electric motor control with industrial and automotive applications, power factor correction strategies for industrial and utility systems, regenerative braking, wind power generation systems, hybrid vehicle powertrain, DC-DC converter and inverter systems, and HEV prognostics.
DYNAMIC SYSTEMS OPTIMIZATION LABORATORY
Director: Bob Smith
Telephone: 734-763-2060
lab website
The Dynamic Systems Optimization Laboratory (DSOL) is a multi-disciplinary research laboratory involving faculty members from the College of Engineering. It conducts research on dynamic systems, optimization theory and other applications involving sequential decision making over time. Examples of current research topics include: intelligent Transportation Systems, asset acquisition and replacement,, optimal mechanical design and planning horizons. DSOL currently has National Science Foundation as well as industry support.
ELECTRON MICROBEAM ANALYSIS LABORATORY
Director: John Mansfield
Telephone: 734-936-3352
lab website
The Electron Microbeam Analysis Laboratory is a comprehensive user facility with state-of-the-art instruments for analytical electron microscopy, high resolution electron microscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, focused ion beam nanoscale mating and sample manipulation, scanning force microscopy, atom probe tomography and electron microprobe analysis.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY
Director: Steve Skerlos
Telephone: 734-615-5253
lab website
The Environmental and Sustainable Technology Laboratory (EAST) is dedicated to technology, knowledge, and policy innovations that reduce the impact of engineering design and manufacturing decisions on the environment. Research covers the design and life cycle evaluation of more sustainable technology systems.
LABORATORY FOR ATOMIC-SCALE DESIGN OF ELECTRONIC MATERIALS
Director: Rachel Goldman
Telephone: 734-647-6821
Dr. Goldman’s website
The Laboratory for Atomic-Scale Design of Electronic Materials is developing strategies for manipulating and identifying atoms in order to tailor new nano structured materials and devices, as well as to examine the mechanisms of several fundamental processes at the nanoscale, including strain relaxation, alloy formation, diffusion, and segregation; and correlations between microstructures and electronic, magnetic, and optical properties. We synthesize semiconductor films and nano structures using plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy and ion implantation in combination with focused-ion-beam implantation and patterning. We characterize the atomic to nanometer-scale structure in-situ using a variety of tools including reflection high-energy electron diffraction, multi-beam optical stress sensor measurements, reflection mass spectroscopy, and scanning tunneling microscopy.
FUEL CELL CONTROL SYSTEMS LABORATORY
Director: Anna Stefanopoulou
Telephone: 734-615-8461
lab website
The experimental set-up in the Fuel Cell Control Systems Laboratory allows the implementation of multivariable controllers, fault detection, and diagnostic algorithms for the regulation of reactant flow pressure, stack temperature, and membrane humidity. It is anticipated that the development and testing of real-time control and diagnostic systems will accelerate the use of fuel cells by enhancing their safety, increasing their efficiency, and ensuring their robustness in real world applications. The lab coordinates with the Schatz Energy Research Center, Ford Motor Company, United Technologies, National Science Foundation and the Automotive Research Center.
GAS DYNAMICS LABORATORY
Director: Jim Driscoll
Telephone: 734-764-3310
lab website
The Gas Dynamics Laboratories undertake research on fluid mechanics, gas dynamics, combustion, explosions, detonations, space propulsion, and non-intrusive optical diagnosis. The laboratories were established by the Department of Aerospace Engineering in 1966. Six faculty and one staff member participate in the activities of the laboratory, which include 20–25 graduate and post doctoral students as well as applied research carried out in response to requests from industry. The facilities include a large, 5×7 foot test section subsonic wind tunnel; two 2×2 foot test section subsonic wind tunnels; a 100×100 mm test section supersonic wind tunnel; 50x50mm test section supersonic wind tunnel; and several water channels, shock tubes, detonation tubes, and pressure vessels. Optical diagnostics are used extensively to study fluid dynamics and combustion phenomena and include particle-image velocimetry, laser-induced fluorescence, Rayleigh scattering, pulse holography, laser velocimetry, phase-discriminating volocimetry, and visible and infrared spectroscopy.
GENERAL MOTORS/UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN ENGINE SYSTEMS RESEARCH
Director: Volker Sick
Telephone: 734- 647-6907
lab website
The Haptics and Mechantronics in Mechanical Engineering Research Laboratory (HAMMER) conduct research in the areas of haptics, mechantronics and robotics.
HIGH TEMPERATURE CORROSION LABORATORY
Director: Gary Was
Telephone: 734-763-4675
lab website
Equipped with two Ti autoclaves, four Hastelloy autoclaves, two stainless steel autoclaves and two Inconel 625 autoclaves and accompanying high-temperature, high-pressure water loops, the High Temperature Corrosion Laboratory conducts research in corrosion science and stress corrosion cracking in high temperature water. The laboratory also houses two complete corrosion measurement systems.
HYDROGEN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY
Director: Levi Thompson
Telephone: 734-936-2015
Thompson Research Group website
The Hydrogen Energy Technology Laboratory (HETL) supports efforts to the discover and develop materials, processes and systems that have the potential to significantly:
- increase the efficiency and reduce the cost of producing hydrogen from domestic natural resources including research on photoelectrochemical, thermochemical and fuel processing systems,
- enhance our ability to conveniently and inexpensively store large amounts of hydrogen including research on advanced chemical storage systems, and
- improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of devices used to convert hydrogen into electrical and/or thermal energy including research on fuel cells and biomimetic systems.
IRRADIATED MATERIALS TESTING COMPLEX
Director: Gary S. Was
Telephone: 734-763-4675
lab website
The Irradiated Materials Testing Laboratory provides the capability to conduct high temperature corrosion and stress corrosion cracking of neutron irradiated materials in aqueous environment, including supercritical water, and to characterize the fracture surfaces after failure. The Irradiated Materials Testing Laboratory (IMTL) and hot cell #1 comprise the Irradiated Materials Testing Complex (IMTC) in the Phoenix Memorial Laboratory. IMTL houses five high temperature autoclave systems including circulating water loops and load frames for testing neutron irradiated materials. The lab also houses a scanning electron microscope for the analysis of fracture surfaces. Both the autoclave systems and the SEM are mobile and may be used in either the hot cell or the accompanying laboratory. This facility is the only one in the world that has the capability to conduct SCC tests on neutron-irradiated samples in supercritical water.
LABORATORY FOR INTELLIGENT STRUCTURAL TECHNOLOGY
Director: Jerome Lynch
Telephone: 734- 615-5290
lab website
Smart structure technologies promise to revolutionize the field of structural engineering by providing empirical evidence of structural performance and opportunities to control structural behavior during seismic disturbances. The laboratory is currently producing low-cost wireless sensors designed to monitor the behavior of structures during ambient or forced vibrations. Embedded in sensors are analysis methods for rapid evaluation of structural performance and health. In addition to these efforts, laboratory researchers are designing micro/electro/mechanical system (MEMS) sensors for structural monitoring. All MEMS sensors are fabricated within the University of Michigan Solid State Electronics Laboratory (SSEL) housed on the College of Engineering campus.
LASER MATERIALS PROCESSING LABORATORY
Director: Elijah Kannatey-Asibu
Telephone: 734-936-0408
lab website
The Laser Materials Processing Laboratory conducts research in many facets of laser manufacturing including weld pool fluid flow, heat affected zone microstructure, thermal analysis of dual beam laser welding, on-line monitoring of laser weld quality, two-photon polymerization using femtosecond lasers, and process monitoring.
MARINE RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY (MRELab)
Director: Michael M. Bernitsas, Ph.D.
Telephone: 734-764-9317
Bernitas:
http://www.engin.umich.edu/dept/name/faculty_staff/bernitsas
MRELab: http://www.engin.umich.edu/dept/name/facilities/mhl/facilities/renewable_energy.html
VIVACE:
http://www.vortexhydroenergy.com
The MRELab is dedicated to developing technology to harness the abundant, clean, and renewable marine energy in an environmentally sustainable way and at a competitive cost. The current focus of the MRELab is to study the underlying science of the VIVACE (Vortex Induced Vibration for Aquatic Clean Energy) Converter, which was invented in the MRELab (one patent granted, two patents pending). VIVACE harnesses the hydrokinetic energy of ocean/river currents/tides by utilizing the naturally destructive instability phenomena of vortex-induced vibration and galloping and enhancing them through fish-biomimetics. VICACE targets a virtually untapped energy source – hydrokinetic energy of currents with speeds even less than 2knots – and is equally effective at high speeds. In 2005, the concept was model-tested in the Low Turbulence Free Surface Water Channel (Video at www. vortexhydroenergy.com). A prototype was deployed and tested in the St. Clair River in August 2010.
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS LABORATORY
Director: Michael Thouless
Telephone: 734- 763-5289
Dr. Thouless’ website
The Mechanical Properties of Materials Laboratory does numerical and experimental research in the fracture and deformation of engineering materials.
MICHIGAN ION BEAM LABORATORY
Director: Gary Was
Telephone: 734-936-0166
lab website
The Michigan Ion Beam Laboratory for Surface Modification and Analysis was established in 1986 for the purpose of advancing our understanding of ion-solid interactions by providing unique and extensive facilities to support both research and development in the field. Researchers have available to them several instruments for conducting ion beam surface modification and ion beam surface analysis under a wide range of conditions. Students and faculty can use the lab, as well as researchers from other universities, industry and government laboratories.
MOBILE ROBOTICS LABORATORY
Director: Johann Borenstein
Telephone: 734- 763-1560
lab website
The Mobile Robotics Laboratory develops and prototypes experimental mobile robot systems including innovative mobile robots, obstacle avoidance systems, positioning systems, and locator systems for firefighters and first responders.
OCEAN ENGINEERING LABORATORY
Director: Guy Meadows
Telephone: 734-764-9432
The Ocean Engineering Laboratory (OEL) studies, through full scale experimentation, how the marine environment affects our world. The OEL possesses extensive field research capabilities in the following areas:
- underwater exploration
- nearshore and offshore hydrodynamic investigations and monitoring
- sediment and pollution transport measurement and prediction
- in-situ sensor technology
- renewable energy systems
- water quality assessment
- coastal monitoring systems
- and more…
The OEL also operates the automated coastal environmental buoy network of the Upper Great Lakes Observing System, a component of the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS). The Ocean Engineering Laboratory also operates a state-of-the-art, coastal survey vessel, underwater remote-operated vehicles (ROV’s) for precision underwater surveying and three fully autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV’s).
OPTICAL AND PHOTONICS LAB
Director: Theodore Norris
Telephone: 734- 647-3875
lab website
Optics research at Michigan focuses on a range of subjects including fundamental physics and materials science to fiber optical communications systems, integrated optics, and ultrafast optical science. Research in the Optical Sciences Laboratory includes spectroscopy of quantum dots, quantum computing, spectroscopy of solids, cavity quantum electrodynamics, and holography including imaging through tissue such as for optical mammography, biophysical studies of biomolecular structure, 100 terahertz optical communications networks, and production of high power femtosecond laser systems for applications in coherent x-ray generation, particle acceleration, and laser surgery. Many faculty in the Optical Sciences Laboratory are also affiliated with the Center for Ultrafast Optical Science.
OPTIMAL DESIGN LABORATORY
Director: Panos Papalambros
Telephone: 734-647-8401
lab website
The Optimal Design (ODE) Laboratory is dedicated to research in design methods and tools that improve the design process and the quality of designed artifacts. The analytical decision-making paradigm is used to study product development methods from an interdisciplinary perspective that includes engineering, business, psychology, art and architecture. Studies in automotive systems, such as hybrid propulsion technologies, are specifically emphasized.
PLASMADYNAMICS AND ELECTRIC PROPULSION LABORATORY
Director: Alec Gallimore
Telephone: 734-764-8224
lab website
The Plasmadynamics and Electric Propulsion Laboratory (PEPL) performs research on spacecraft plasma propulsion and space plasma physics. PEPL operates several vacuum facilities for plasma physics research. PEPL’s Large Vacuum Test Facility (LVTF), at 6 m by 9 m, is the largest vacuum facility of its kind at any university in the nation. This facility is used to test ion thrusters, Hall thrusters, microwave thrusters, helicon plasma sources, and for space plasma simulation. PEPL has an impressive array of laser, optical, probe, microwave, and mass spectrometry plasma diagnostics tools at its disposal.
POWERTRAIN CONTROL LABORATORY
Director: Anna Stefanopoulou
Telephone: 734-764-4272
lab website
The Powertrain Control Laboratory’s research addresses the theory and design of control systems for internal combustion engines and advanced powertrains. The lab focuses on transient system behavior for engines equipped with innovative mechanisms: electronic primary throttle, intake runner valves, air by-pass valve, variable camshaft timing actuators, variable valve timing actuators, exhaust gas recirculation valves, variable nozzles turbine and hybrid turbochargers.
QUANTITATIVE LASER DIAGNOSTICS LABORATORY
Director: Volker Sick
Telephone: 734- 647-9607
Dr. Sick’s website
The Quantitative Laser Diagnostics Laboratory is involved in the development and application of quantitative laser diagnostic tools for reactive and non-reactive flows with a particular emphasis on internal combustion engines.
SMART MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES LABORATORY
Director: Dianna Brei
Telephone: 734-763-6617
lab website
The Smart Materials and Structures Laboratory designs smart structures, with particular concentration on the development of innovative actuators incorporating smart materials such as piezoelectrics, electrostrictives, and shape memory alloys. Lab researchers are interested in continuing research in actuators as well as branching out into other smart structure applications such as vibration control, shape control and health monitoring.
SOFTWARE SYSTEMS AND REAL-TIME COMPUTING LABORATORY
Director: H.V. Jagadish
Telephone: 734-763-4079
lab website
The major focus of the Software Systems and Real-Time Computing Laboratories is on experimental design, implementation, and evaluation of systems software and real-time technologies that enable development of a wide range of emerging applications. Areas of research include biological databases, cluster computing, collaborative computing, compiler design, information retrieval and database systems, wired and wireless network protocols and architectures, network security and smartcards, mobile computing, operating system and architecture interactions, real-time and embedded systems, QoS-sensitive and power-aware computing and communications, and fault-tolerant computing.
SOLID STATE ELECTRONICS LABORATORY
Manager: Kensall D. Wise
Telephone: 734- 764-3349
lab website
The Solid State Electronics Laboratory (SSEL) conducts research in microelectronics, micromechanics, optoelectronics, and micro and nano technologies based on silicon, compound semiconductors, and organic materials. Research areas include: advanced semiconductor process development, integrated systems and micro/electro/mechanical systems (MEMS), metrology and optical measurement systems; growth and characterization of wide- and narrow-band-gap semiconductors, high-speed and microwave device structures, optoelectric devices, and millimeter-wave heterostructure devices; thin-film transistors, integrated circuits and light-emitting devices on glass and plastic substrates; very large scale integrated (VLSI) circuits including sensor interface circuits, telecommunication and RF circuits, wireless telemetry, low-power microprocessor and mixed signal circuits, process modeling, testing and design for testability, and system integration.
SOLID STATE THERMAL PHYSICS LABORATORY
Director: Kevin Pipe
Telephone: 734- 763-6624
lab website
The Solid State Thermal Physics Laboratory conducts research in heat transfer at micro and nano size scales, especially examining electronic/optoelectronic devices and thermoelectric/thermionic effects.
SPACE PHYSICS RESEARCH LABORATORY
Director: Christopher Ruf
Telephone: 734- 936-7775
lab website
The Space Physics Research Laboratory (SPRL) was founded in 1947 and has built and flown over 35 scientific instruments on various spacecrafts. Research is conducted related to unmanned NASA and international Space missions. The 35 SPRL faculty are engaged in research on a wide variety of scientific topics in the Earth and Space Sciences. Among those topics are: spacecraft instrumentation, including particle detectors, EUV imagers, interferometers, probes and tethers; student programs for space exploration; space physics, including solar and heliospheric physics, MHD simulation, and magnetospheric physics; planetary science, including aeronomy (chemistry, physics, and dynamics) of planets, satellites, and comets; laboratory simulation of space and astrophysical phenomena; and radio and microwave remote sensing of the Earth.
TECHNICAL FLUID DYNAMICS LABORATORY
Director: David Dowling
Telephone: 734-936-0423
lab website
The Technical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory is used to conduct research in a wide range of fluid mechanical and acoustic topics. It currently houses research efforts involving multi-dimensional measurements of liquid polymer flow, detection and localization of hydro-acoustic sound sources in reverberant environments, and instrumentation development work for high Reynolds number wall-bounded turbulent flows.
RESEARCH IN HEAT TRANSFER LABORATORY
Director: Massoud Kaviany
Telephone: 734- 936-0402
lab website
Efficient and innovative energy transport and conversion (transformation) require progressively more atomic tailoring of principal energy carriers (phonon, electron, fluid particle, and photon). This involves atomic-level material synthesis for the desired atomic-level energy transport and conversion kinetics. Thermal energy (kinetic energy of atomic-level motions in solid and fluid phases) is central to energy conversion, since when improperly designed the inefficiencies lead to undesirable heat generation. Atomic-level examinations show that the thermal energy has quantum or resonance features which can be used in the energy conversion before it is thermalized by scattering (i.e., becomes equilibrium carrier energy distribution which is less useful).
In our Heat Transfer Physics research, we do this by the atomic-structure design (including nanostructures and quantum confinements) and optimization of the carrier energy kinetics (transition rates). Our current research projects are in:
- direct conversion of molecular vibration to electrical energy,
- graphene in electronic, photonic and thermal device,
- laser cooling,
- nuclear fuel materials,
- solar photovoltaic, and
- thermoelectric materials,
Our approach is theoretical with combination of quantum mechanics, molecular dynamics, Boltzmann transport (mesoscale), and macrosccale treatments. We also do collaborative experimental work (X-ray, optical, Raman, neutron and electron scattering, and thin-film fabrication and characterization).
W.M. KECK FOUNDATION COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS LABORATORY
Director: Bram Van Leer
Telephone: 734-764-4305
lab website
The W. M. Keck Laboratory for Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is located in the François Xavier Bagnoud Building, home of the Department of Aerospace Engineering. The group is comprised of faculty, post-doctoral researchers, and graduate students. The emphasis of research done by the group is on algorithm development and numerical simulations for a variety of physical problems, including aerodynamics, space plasma physics, hydraulics, aeroacoustics, combustion, structural dynamics, space propulsion, hypersonics, and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) flows.
WALTER E. LAY AUTOMOTIVE LABORATORY
Director: Volker Sick
Research Professor: Zoran Filipi
Telephone: 734- 936-0427
True to its namesake, former Mechanical Engineering professor Walter E. Lay (BSE ME ’15), the Lay Automotive Lab has supported education and research since the early 1900s. Today, the Lab’s research interests are wide-ranging but generally associated with: engine friction, combustion, emissions control, fuel efficiency, vehicular electronics design, and vehicle aerodynamics. It encompasses 20 engine test cells, a five-bay vehicle laboratory, machine shops, and instructional and computer laboratories, including Fluid Mechanics. Michigan Engineering’s proximity to Detroit—the heart of the nation’s auto industry—has made the Lay Automotive Lab a vital contributor to industry.
