2025
June
Zhao quoted on machine learning
Medium
MechE’s Ding Zhao was quoted in Medium about using machine learning to sort data for autonomous vehicle research. “My team is developing methods to efficiently deploy autonomous vehicles by synthesizing tests from public road usage that can be applied to proving grounds using machine learning,” said Zhao.
May
LegoGPT, funded by MFI, covered in multiple outlets
Multiple outlets
The Manufacturing Futures Institute is proud to have initially funded LegoGPT, a robotic testbed project that developed AI that generates stable Lego designs from text prompts and supports our efforts to advance the digital transformation of manufacturing. LegoGPT was covered in multiple media outlets including PC Mag, MSN, Tech Time, and Ars Technica.
April
Digital transformation in advanced manufacturing: Insights from Prof. Gary Fedder
Siemens
Siemens calls MFI's Gary Fedder a reliable partner, practical innovator, and a visionary who inspires and guides the development of cutting-edge products and processes that will help to fully digitize and automate manufacturing in the future.
March
Kainerstorfer and Krause featured in profile about women in STEM
BME’s Jana Kainerstorfer and MSE’s Amanda Krause were featured in a CMU profile that highlights accomplished women in STEM fields. “Engineering is a way for me to leverage my strength in math to make meaningful contributions. It’s a way to solve puzzles, and I enjoy that,” said Krause.
CMU’s Manufacturing Futures Institute to participate in local workforce development
Next Pittsburgh
Carnegie Mellon University’s Manufacturing Futures Institute has joined forceswith local nonprofit Prototype PGH and New Century Careers to launch Step On Up: Maker to Manufacturer, a six-month workforce development program that will provide training in 3D modeling, computer-aided design and manufacturing, screen printing, lathe and mill operation, and more.
February
Zhao demonstrates autonomous vehicle research
CMU
MechE’s Ding Zhao demonstrated a new project used to evaluate the safety of autonomous vehicles for vulnerable road users when U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg visited Mill 19. In 2021, a self-driving car failed to recognize a visually impaired athlete at the Paralympic Games. “Now we are working with University of Southern California, Stanford and University of California San Diego to try to prepare for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics,” explained Zhao. “So this will be used to assess all self-driving cars used in the Olympics in the U.S.”
Fedder explains that automation must deliver a return on investment for manufacturers
SME Media: Advanced Manufacturing
Manufacturing Futures Institute director Gary Fedder says companies know their pain points, “But they need to have some de-risking, some assurance of, ‘Okay, if I’m going to invest in this vendor to do this, I have some assurance I’m going to get what I want out of it.’”
CMU faculty to present at SXSW
MechE’s Jon Cagan and Chris McComb, BME’s Keith Cook and Rosalyn Abbott, and BME/MSE’s Adam Feinberg are leading sessions at SXSW 2025. Cagan and McComb’s sessopm, called “Empowering learners to collaborate with AI,” will prepare students to use forthcoming AI technology in the classroom. Cook, Abbott, and Feinberg’s session, called “Bioengineering Approaches to Solve the US Organ Shortage,” will highlight an ongoing partnership between CMU and Mayo Clinic that researches ways to repair dysfunctional organs or create new ones from scratch. The offerings are on March 6th and 7th.
January
Rollett quoted on 3D printing for heat exchangers
Additive Manufacturing Media
MSE’s Tony Rollett was featured on Additive Manufacturing Media, where he explained how 3D printing is being used to produce heat exchangers for solar energy. “The lifetimes expected of these kinds of units is at least 10,000 hours, preferably even longer than that if you can do it,” said Rollet. “For these conditions of service, there’s no other way to do it. As far as I know, 3D printing is the only way to make these kinds of heat exchangers that will function for long times.”
Whitefoot quoted on electric vehicle adoption in the U.S.
Electric Apparatus
EPP/MechE’s Kate Whitefoot was quoted in Electrical Apparatus about the increased use of electric vehicles in the U.S. by 2030. “We conducted a study that showed that about 50% of new car and SUV buyers in the U.S. would purchase a fully electric vehicle by 2030 if they had a 300-mile range, were as widely available as conventional gasoline vehicles, and prices fall as expected by 2030,” said Whitefoot.
Beuth 3D prints critical component of nuclear power plant for Westinghouse
AM Media
MechE’s Jack Beuth was featured on AM Media’s Cool Parts Show demonstrating how spacer grids comprising 38 separate pieces that are stamped, joined, and welded can now be additively manufactured using the laser powder bed fusion process.
Whitefoot discusses digital twin technology
IBM
EPP/MechE’s Kate Whitefoot was featured in IBM’s Think newsletter, where she discussed how digital twin technology can help reduce climate change. “I am watching developments in digital twins to support sustainable and resilient manufacturing, materials innovations for electric vehicle batteries that improve range and battery life, electrified automated vehicles and an expanding EV charging infrastructure,” said Whitefoot. “There have been large investments in these areas, and we are likely to see exciting new roll-outs of these innovations.”
2024
December
Zhao quoted on robot dogs
bullitin
MechE’s Ding Zhao was quoted in bullitin about how robot dogs are more likely to be used than humanoid robots because of their versatility and affordability. “For many applications, they represent the most practical and scalable robotic form,” said Zhao.
November
Whitefoot quoted on EV metrics
Fast Company
EPP/MechE’s Kate Whitefoot was quoted in Fast Company about why EV manufacturers emphasize certain metrics like range in their advertising. “If you can advertise that EVs do have longer range, like up to 300 miles, then consumers are much more willing to purchase EVs and value them equally to gasoline vehicles,” said Whitefoot.
Tang quoted on how AI can improve flight schedules
Fast Company
CEE’s Pingbo Tang was quoted in Fast Company about Odysee, a new AI tool used to optimize efficiency and revenue when creating flight schedules. “This is a very reasonable solution for Alaska Airlines,” said Tang.
Data fuels robotics research
Modern Machine Shop
Carnegie Mellon is collaborating with their Mill 19 partner, the ARM (Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing) Institute on an AI Data Foundry that will serve as a national center that collects and aggregates data for robots working in manufacturing settings.
Test bed builds up robotics research at Carnegie Mellon
Modern Machine Shop
Manufacturing Futures Institute researchers use a robotic test bed where AMRs deliver Lego bricks to robot arms for assembly to study AI, multirobot collaboration, assembly, safety, and more.
October
CMU hosts high schoolers for National Manufacturing Day
Several Outlets
The Manufacturing Futures Institute hosted more than 100 high school students in honor of National Manufacturing Day, as reported by CBS News, PittsburghInno, and WESA. Throughout the day, students participated in a number of hands-on robotic activities.
August
CMU preparing industry and students for future of AM with AI
Additive Manufacturing Media
Work underway at Carnegie Mellon is helping industrial additive manufacturers achieve success today, while applying artificial intelligence to designing AM alloys, optimizing AM parameters, lowering AM’s skills barrier and addressing a fundamental AM problem—spatter.