Exoskeletons that work with humans, not against them
In the Arami Research Lab, researchers are developing next-generation exoskeletons that better align with natural human movement, rather than forcing patients to adapt to the device.
In the Arami Research Lab, researchers are developing next-generation exoskeletons that better align with natural human movement, rather than forcing patients to adapt to the device.
Dr. Sushanta Mitra, a professor in the department, along with two professors in chemical engineering, have been awarded $600,000 by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) through the Call for Proposals on Plastics Science and Innovation for a Cleaner and More Sustainable Future.
University of Waterloo Alternative Fuels Team (UWAFT), a mechanical and mechatronics-focused team, has been selected from among 20 universities across North America and is one of two Canadian universities to compete in the EcoCAR Innovation Challenge on the Stellantis track.
A research team led by Dr. Amir Khajepour, professor of mechanical and mechatronics engineering, has developed a new technology that uses cloud-based autonomous robots for routine tasks, such as moving equipment and supplies in hospitals and long-term care facilities.
As research into cancer and potential treatments advances, life expectancy from past treatments continues to grow. However, this amazing progress is not without challenges; lymphedema remains a difficult-to-address complication. Lymphedema happens when lymph nodes are damaged or removed during radiation treatments, which stops lymphatic fluid from properly draining and can cause painful swelling. This is treated with compression therapy. However, the devices used are large and bulky, requiring significant power to operate. These factors make the device quite expensive, often costing up to $3,000, and require the patient to sit still while it runs.
A team led by the faculties of Engineering and Environment successfully launched a space balloon on a recent trip to Sweden as part of the REXUS/BEXUS Programme, supported by the European Space Agency (ESA). The programme that allows institutions to conduct scientific and technological research using balloons and rockets.
Jeswin Joeseph, a PhD candidate, won the Finalists’ Choice Award at the annual GRADflix competition, where students create a 60-second video to showcase their research to a general audience.
Rotostitch, founded in 2025, is striving to make a sustainable impact on the apparel industry with garment construction. The company was co-founded by Waterloo Engineering alum Leah McClure (BASc ’24, mechanical engineering) and Anson Tsang.
Vena Medical, a company born out of a fourth-year Capstone Design project and now a Velocity Health company, just became one of the first recipients of Ontario’s new Life Sciences Scale-Up Fund (LSSUF). The LSSUF is part of the Government of Ontario’s larger efforts to support medical-based companies within the province. The fund’s goal is to help advance innovation and attract more interest and investment into the field.
Dr. Yimin Wu and PhD student Wei Wei, in mechanical and mechatronics engineering, are turning plastic waste into acetic acid, a main ingredient of vinegar, using sunlight as a natural resource.