The Michigan Engineer News Center

What the first fatal collision between an autonomous car and a pedestrian reveals about how software reads the road

April 3, 2018
The tragedy of the first person killed by an autonomous vehicle points to a potential vulnerability with the nascent technology now being tested on the open roads: While robo-cars, powered by sophisticated sensors and cameras, can reliably see their surroundings, the software doesn't always understand what it detects.
person holding up sensors

Sensor technology aims to help US cities extend the life of aging pipelines

Transformative pilot project in Detroit could help cities across U.S. deal with overdue pipeline upgrades. | Medium Read
Roya Ensafi, CSE Research Assistant Professor, uses her computing system, Censored Planet

‘Extremely aggressive’ internet censorship spreads in the world’s democracies

Censored Planet is releasing technical details for other researchers and for activists. | Medium Read
the battery in a hand

Range-doubling lithium metal batteries ‘build themselves’ in lithium ion manufacturing machinery

Lithium metal solid-state batteries can provide a safer, more powerful alternative to the current standard. | Medium Read

Removing and reusing phosphorus from agricultural runoff

Sensors for monitoring condition of 100-year-old Detroit water pipe

Simulating aerosolized particles to improve bus safety during COVID-19

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Research News
Detroit city skyline

U-M, community partners tackle energy insecurity in three Detroit neighborhoods

Johanna Mathieu is one of four principal investigators on a project to improve home energy efficiency and to lower monthly utility bills. | Medium Read

Touchless respiratory and heart rate measurement for COVID-19 health screening | Medium Read

Chemistry and energy: Machine learning to understand catalyst interactions | Medium Read

Coordination and collaboration are critical to U.S. leadership in plasma science: a Q&A with the Plasma 2020 Decadal Study co-chair | Medium Read
Campus & Community
Portrait of Alec Gallimore

Steady leadership

With the announcement of Alec Gallimore’s second term as dean, we look back at the results from his first term’s strategic vision. | Medium Read

Engineering seeks to educate on societal racism, bias through new proposals | Medium Read

A DEI culture shift | Medium Read

How a COVID-19 app built at U-Michigan is helping businesses stay open | Medium Read
Faculty Perspectives
Joi Mondisa

Strategies to help support students during a pandemic

Mentoring in the time of COVID-19. | Medium Read

The pandemic has revealed the cracks in US manufacturing: Here’s how to fix them | Short Read

Advanced mobility is about more than technology. Our workforce should reflect that. | Short Read

Before we put $100 billion in AI | Short Read
In the News
The New York Times November 23, 2020
Can we make our robots less biased than we are?
Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Chad Jenkins is quoted in the New York Times discussing the importance of representation when designing A.I. systems.
Scientific American October 7, 2020
‘Supernova slice’ simulates blasts of dying stars
Associate Professor of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences Carolyn Kuranz explains how a "supernova pizza" model can help us get a better understanding of how dying stars explode.
National Public Radio September 23, 2020
Politics and climate change science clash as west coast wildfires rage
Professor of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering Ricky Rood is interviewed WEMU.
The New York Times August 31, 2020
Looking to reopen, colleges become labs for coronavirus tests and tracking apps
Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Krista Wigginton tells New York Times that universities are working to find new tools to help them track and curb the spread of COVID-19 on campuses.
history

Five year plan: The North Campus story

Ed Lesher: Aircraft Hall of Famer

LASIK: The Bladeless Scalpel

Q&A with Samuel Ting