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Shelf-stacking robot working independently

Read more Shelf-stacking robot working independently

Understanding human-robot interaction critical in design of rehabilitation systems

Read more Understanding human-robot interaction critical in design of rehabilitation systems

TU Delft, NFI and police develop smart technique for forensic photography

Read more TU Delft, NFI and police develop smart technique for forensic photography

Angelo Accardo has been awarded two NWO Open Competition Grants

Read more Angelo Accardo has been awarded two NWO Open Competition Grants

Laura Marchal Crespo receives Vidi

Read more Laura Marchal Crespo receives Vidi

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Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering (3mE)

Information coronavirus

For information concerning the measures taken by the University and Faculty against the spreading of the coronavirus Covid-19, please consult the following pages:

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Understanding human-robot interaction critical in design of rehabilitation systems

Robotic body-weight support (BWS) devices can play a key role in helping people with neurological disorders to improve their walking. The team that developed the advanced body-weight support device RYSEN in 2018 has since gained more fundamental insight in BWS but also concludes that improvement in this field is necessary.

Delft researchers unmask millions of unsafe face masks

Since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, large numbers of medical face masks for healthcare workers have been imported. As there have been many different suppliers, the quality of these face masks has varied greatly. At the request of medical professionals, researchers at TU Delft developed a test method to check whether imported face masks met the safety requirements. And that was necessary, as it turns out, because in total only one-third of the 140 million face masks tested in 19 hospitals passed the safety test. The study and the results were published this week in the scientific journal PLOS One. Left Tim Horeman and right Bart van Straten Test method In March 2020, Delft researchers Tim Horeman, John van den Dobbelsteen and Bart van Straten, in collaboration with Greencycl, developed a method to sterilise face masks for reuse. Their method also proved to be a good way to check imported masks. It wasn’t long before the PFE test became the unintended standard for Dutch hospitals, which required providers to have this test performed. As a result of our research results, fears of false safety grew among medical professionals. Because the certification did not match the quality, doctors said they would rather reuse used face masks than the new batch of imported masks. Tim Horeman, assistant professor at the Department of BioMechanical Engineering TU Delft Unreliable certification In Horeman and Van Straten’s study, they randomly tested 140 million face masks at 19 hospitals. This revealed that, despite being new, a very high percentage of imported face masks from 471 different suppliers fell far short of the PFE standard. In some batches, the quality of the filters in a portion of the face masks was sufficient, whereas in another portion the quality was far below the legal guideline. This means that some new masks offer little or no protection against virus particles and the certification often does not match the real quality. Repackaging face masks after being sterilised. Copyright: TU Delft The fear among healthcare workers increased rapidly because this is precisely the group that came into contact with COVID-19 patients. Soon, there were face masks with initials of doctors, with the request to return the same mask after sterilisation because they no longer trusted new masks. Bart van Straten, PhD student in the Department of BioMechanical Engineering Global Impact The scope of this study and the startling results have led to rectifications, policy changes and new standards regarding the purchase of face masks. Based on this data, a new NEN standard is in the making for the safe reuse of disposable devices in times of crisis, and the test method has been adopted by healthcare institutions worldwide. In addition to the many hospitals in the Netherlands, healthcare institutions in South Africa were warned not to purchase half a million bogus face masks. More information Article in PLOS One: Can sterilization of disposable face masks be an alternative for imported face masks? A nationwide field study including 19 sterilization departments and 471 imported brand types during COVID-19 shortages Previous publications: Sterilization of disposable face masks by means of standardized dry and steam sterilization processes A life cycle assessment of reprocessing face masks during the Covid-19 pandemic TU Delft werkt samen met Reinier de Graaf en VSM aan herbruikbare mondmaskers For questions & information Tim Horeman: +31 15 27 85097, t.horeman@tudelft.nl Bart van Straten: B.J.vanStraten@tudelft.nl Dimmy van Ruiten, press officer TU Delft: +31 15 27 81588, d.m.vanruiten@tudelft.nl

TU Delft, NFI and police develop smart technique for forensic photography

Every trace or other piece of evidence at a crime scene has to be thoroughly examined. Traces that cannot be taken away or stored, such as blood spatters, is visualised with a ruler to indicate its size. TU Delft and the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI) have developed a new method for the police that will soon make the ruler obsolete and make it easier to measure all kinds of forensic evidence.

Angelo Accardo has been awarded two NWO Open Competition Grants

Angelo Accardo, assistant professor at the Department of Precision and Microsystems Engineering (PME), has been awarded two NWO Open Competition Grants to address this need by developing 3D engineered cell micro-environments using light-assisted fabrication techniques.

Peter Wellens best lecturer of the year 2020-2021

‘I don’t give instruction, I give feedback,’ says Peter Wellens. He has been elected best lecturer for the academic year 2020-2021 at the 3mE Faculty.

Results election of the best lecturer 2020-2021

All students from the 3mE Faculty had the opportunity to vote for the best lecturer of the academic year 2020-2021. This award allows them show their appreciation for these lecturers’ unique and creative teaching styles.

Laura Marchal Crespo receives Vidi

The Dutch Research Council (NWO) has awarded two TU Delft researchers a Vidi grant worth 800,000 euros. From the 3mE faculty Laura Marchal Crespo, researcher at the department of Cognitive Robotics (CoR), was honoured with an award. Marchal Crespo’s research focuses on robotic systems to maximize post-stroke recovery.

Clinical Technology students showcase care innovations and complete bachelor’s degree

During the KTO closing symposium, 109 bachelor students presented impressive examples of technological innovations for healthcare that they developed with medical centres. It was a win-win situation: the students completed their bachelor’s degree and the healthcare institutions can further develop and apply these exciting ideas.

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September

Thesis defence R.J.F. Bijster

October

PhD defence Maolong Lyu

Thesis defence M. Lyu

Thesis defence V.D.W.M. Oldenbroek

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Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering

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