Department of Mechanical Engineering

Dennis Hong


Nakhiah Goulbourne


Assistant Professsor

Mechanical Engineering
105 Randolph Hall
(540) 231-7195
(540) 231-9100 FAX

dhong@vt.edu



Education Research
Teaching
Experience
Honors
Publications


Education

Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 2002
M.S. Mechanical Engineering Purdue University West Lafayette, IN 1999
B.S. Mechanical Engineering University of Wisconsin-Madison 1994

 

Research

For more information, go to RoMeLa: Robotics & Mechanisms Laboratory

 RoMeLa Logo

Novel Locomotion Strategies for Mobile Robots

  • [IMPASS]: Intelligent Mobility Platform with Active Spoke System (NSF)

  • [STriDER]: Self-excited Tripedal Dynamic Experimental Robot (ONR)

  • [DARwIn]: Dynamic Anthropomorphic Robot with Intelligence (Robotis)

  • [HyDRAS]: Hyper-redundant Discrete Robotic Articulated Serpentine (OpenTech)

  • [MARS]: Multi Appendage Robotic System (JOUSTER)

  • [CLIMBeR]: Cable-suspended Limbed Intelligent Matching Behavior Robot

  • [CHARLI]: Cognitive Humanoid Autonomous Robot with Learning Intelligence

  • Whole-Skin Locomotion Inspired by Amoeboid Motility Mechanisms (NSF)

  • Adaptive Gait Planner for the LEMUR Hexapod Robot with Dry Adhesive Feet (JPL)

Mechanisms

  • Compliant Optical Torque Sensor for the MX electronic valve (Flowserve)

  • Novel Compliant Revolute Joint with High Radial Stiffness and Planar Topology (CAER)

  • Cam-Based Infinitely Variable Transmission

  • Synthesis Method for Complex Pulley-cable System

  • Novel Cable-Suspended Haptic Interfaces with Complex Pulley-cable Systems

Other Robotics Research

    • Autonomous systems: 2007 DARPA Urban Challenge (DARPA)

  • Mobility Analysis for Autonomous Land Vehicles and Robots on Coastal Terrain (ONR)

  • Analysis of the End-effector Wrench Space for Multi-limbed Robots with Dry Adhesive Feet (JPL)
  • Haptic Display with Simulated Physics
  • Design and Analysis of a Compliant Robotic Gripper
  • Contact Force Distribution for Multi-limbed Robots and Robotic Hand Grasping


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Teaching Activities

Courses

ME 3604 Kinematics and Dynamics of Machinery
Kinematic analysis and design of cams, gears, and linkages, velocity, acceleration and force analysis, kinematic synthesis, balancing, kinematic and force analysis by complex numbers, computer-aided analysis, and synthesis of linkages. Pre: ESM-2304; (3H,3C). I,II.

ME 3614 Mechanical Design I
Design of mechanical components subject to static and fatigue loads. Design using screws, fasteners, springs and bearings. Computer-aided design using transfer matrix and finite element methods. Pre: ESM 2204, MATH 2214. (3H,3C). II,III.

ME 4015-4016 Engineering Design and Project
Techniques for defining and solving open ended problems in mechanical engineering including problem definition, ideation, optimization, decision making, and oral and written communication of solutions. Engineering case studies includes technical ethical decisions. Design projects involve computer aided engineering. One semester design project with students working in teams. All required courses through junior year. 4015: (2H,3L,3C); 4016: (2H,2C). 4015: I; 4016: II.

ME 4614 Mechanical Design II
Design of mechanical elements such as welded joints hydrodynamic bearings, spur gears, shafts, brakes. Alternative fatigue design methods, cumulative fatigue, mechanical design computer software.
Pre: 3614. (3H,3C) I.

ME 5614 Advanced Kinematics
Advanced kinematic and dynamic analysis of planar and spatial linkages and robotic manipulators. Advanced methods for the design and analysis of cam mechanisms. Advanced gear design. Analysis of elastic mechanisms. Computer-aided analysis of planar and spatial mechanisms. Pre: 3604; (3H,3C). I.

ME 5984 Robot Locomotion
A survey of biologically inspired robot locomotion strategies with emphasis on the mechanics and modeling of legged locomotion, and selected problems in wheeled, bipedal, cable suspended, and serpentine robots.


Student Competition Team Advising

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Experience

Assistant Professor
Director of Robotics & Mechanisms Laboratory (RoMeLa)

 Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA		 Fall 2003 - Present
Visiting Assistant Professor School. of Mechanical Engineering
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN 		Fall 2002 -
Spring 2003
Instructor School. of Mechanical Engineering
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN 		Spring 2003
Research Assistant Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN		 1999 - 2001
Design Consultant TruFlex
West Lebanon, IN 		May 1998 -
Jul. 2000

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Honors

  • NSF CAREER award, 2007

  • ASME Freudenstein / GM Young Investigator Award, ASME Mechanisms Committee, 2005

  • NASA Summer Faculty Research Fellow, NASA JPL, 2005

  • 2nd Annual Biomimicry Award, ASME IDETC, 2005

  • ASPIRES Award, Virginia Tech, 2004

  • NASA Class 1 New Technology Award NPO-21137, NASA JPL, 2001

  • Magoon Awards for Excellence in Teaching, Purdue University, 1998 and 1999

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Publications

For more information, go to RoMeLa: Robotics & Mechanisms Laboratory

 RoMeLa Logo

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