Local news outlet Fox 13 featured a story on mechanical engineering professor Jake Abbott's work on building robots to clean up space junk. Abbott has been working on this problem for several years and has developed a technology dubbed "Omnimagnet" for interacting with metallic, non-magnetized objects in space without touching them. In addition to the video below, you can view the Tossed in Space article highlighting this project....
Read MoreGrand Opening of the Assistive Rehabilitation Technology Studio
The brand-new Assistive Rehabilitation Technology (ART) Studio in the Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital opened its doors at the beginning of this month. Lab directors Ashley Dalrymple, Jacob George, Russell Butterfield, and Kota Takahashi are excited to share this innovative and revolutionary space with the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department. View more images at the Neurorobotics Lab...
Read MoreDr. George Presents at Covergence Conference
The lack of true early-stage capital and innovation developmental support is a major challenge in advancing promising university technology from the lab to commercial and investment partners. Research institutions are leading through the implementation of university gap funding (proof of concept, startup, venture) and accelerator programs to bridge this “valley of death”. Over the past 15 years, these programs have evolved into sophisticated investment, evaluation, development, and commercialization support mechanisms to nurture the most promising opportunities in emerging, high-growth technology areas. Smart companies and investors are taking notice and making it a strategic, external innovation and investment priority to...
Read MoreRevolutionizing Science Education
In a lab in the U’s Craig H. Nielsen Rehabilitation Hospital, so new that plastic wrap and tape still enclose monitors and equipment cabinets, three or four middle school science teachers group around research assistant and recent MS graduate Bret Mecham, who is wearing a bionic exoskeleton on his arm. The bionic arm moves up and down. “I’m not controlling this,” Mecham tells the audience, “He is—” indicating a teacher who is holding an electrode on his forearm. As the teacher flexes and relaxes, the electrode picks up electrical signals in his muscle. Those signals translate into mechanical motion...
Read MoreDr. George Gives Expert Testimonial on Latest Research
When someone loses a hand or leg, they don’t just lose the ability to grab objects or walk—they lose the ability to touch and sense their surroundings. Prosthetics can restore some motor control, but they typically can’t restore sensation. Now, a preliminary study posted to the preprint server bioRxiv this month—shows that by mimicking the activity of nerves, a device implanted in the remaining part of the leg helps amputees “feel” as they walk, allowing them to move faster and with greater confidence. continue reading on Science...
Read MoreKuntz Lab paper Accept to the International Symposium on Medical Robotics
Kuntz Lab paper, “A Radial Folding Mechanism to Enable Surgical Continuum Manipulators to Fit Through Smaller Ports” has been accepted to the International Symposium on Medical Robotics (ISMR) 2023!...
Read MoreKuntz Lab IEEE Access Paper Awarded 2022 Best Video Award
Kuntz Lab IEEE Access paper has been awarded the 2022 IEEE Access Best Video Award Part 1! This award is given to the best video of papers submitted in a 6-month period to the multidisciplinary open access journal....
Read MoreUtah Bionic Leg in Science Robotics
The Utah Bionic Leg, a motorized prosthetic for lower-limb amputees developed by University of Utah mechanical engineering associate professor Tommaso Lenzi and his students in the HGN Lab, is on the cover of the newest issue of Science Robotics. Science Robotics is part of the Science family of journals and covers the “latest technological advances and for the critical social, ethical and policy issues surrounding robotics.” Read more…....
Read MoreDr. George Presents at BioHive Summit
Dr. George recently presented at the Biohive summit. This was a full-day, in-person event that featured a line-up of incredible speakers. BioHive records more of our popular “BioHive Talks” which highlights thought-provoking and inspiring conversations for our community. Biohive amplifies voices for stakeholders around the state including industry and those outside life sciences. Biohive seeks to share the Utah story and highlight issues that need to be addressed....
Read MoreDr. George Featured on Brown Journal of World Affairs Podcast
The Brown Journal of World Affairs is a semiannual international relations publication produced at Brown University’s Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs. Founded in 1993, the Journal provides a forum for world leaders, policymakers, and prominent academics to engage in a vigorous debate of intellectual breadth and vibrancy. Each issue examines salient and emerging international topics and is circulated widely in the United States and abroad. In recent years, contributors have included Jimmy Carter, Noam Chomsky, Dilma Rousseff, Joseph Nye, and many others. Dr. George’s podcast interview highlights his work on bionic prostheses, commercialization of new technology, and...
Read More