University Libraries Presents: STEM Speakers Series, Dr. Anurag Purwar

Posted on April 4, 2017 by Clara Tran

The University Libraries is proud to announce its second lecture of the spring 2017 STEM Speakers Series presented by Dr. Anurag Purwar, Department of Mechanical Engineering at Stony Brook University. His talk, “Innovating and Inventing Mechanical Motion Generating Devices” will be given on Wednesday, April 19 from 1pm-2pm in the Special Collections Seminar Room, located on the second floor of the Melville Library.

This talk will present a confluence of research in task-driven mechanical motion generation of mechanisms and robots and applied work in developing technologies in healthcare and education. The current paradigm of mechanism research is predicated on first assuming the topology (joints, links, and their pattern of interconnection) of a mechanism followed by the computation of dimensional synthesis. This talk will illustrate the deficiencies of this approach and show that it is possible to “compute” both the topology and the dimensions simultaneously. This is enabled by creating unified design equations. An application in a low-cost rehabilitation and ambulation therapy device slated to arrive in the market will be presented. In addition, Dr. Purwar will demonstrate a mobile app and present modular robotics kit for enabling students and designers to virtually and physically realize their motions.

Dr. Anurag Purwar is a Research Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering. He received his Ph.D. from State University of New York at Stony Brook and his B. Tech from Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, both in Mechanical Engineering. His research interests are in machine design area with a focus on kinematic design of robots and mechanisms, CAD/CAM, and application of Computational Geometry, Virtual Reality (VR), Computer Graphics and Visualization in Design Engineering. Dr. Purwar’s research has been funded by National Science Foundation (NSF), NY-state SPIR, NY-state Center for Biotechnology, Sensor-CAT, SUNY Research Foundation, industry, Stony Brook University, and SUNY Office of Provost. He is the recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching by Stony Brook University and his work on the interactive dimensional synthesis of planar 6R mechanisms won him a best paper award at the 2009 ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences (IDETC). He has been twice elected as a member of the ASME Mechanisms and Robotics committee and served as the Program Chair for the 2014 ASME Mechanisms and Robotics Conference, as the Conference Chair for the 2015 ASME Mechanisms and Robotics Conference and has served as symposium and session chairs for many ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences. He is the general Conference Co-Chair for the 2016 ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences (IDETC/CIE).

Dr. Purwar is also the department’s representative to the NY state-funded Strategic Partnership for Industrial Resurgence (SPIR) program. As the SPIR representative, he identifies and coordinates projects between the department and Long Island based industries. SPIR projects include joint proposals for federal funding, manufacturing and quality assurance improvements, research and development, and testing and evaluation. He won a SUNY Research Foundation Technology Accelerator Fund (TAF) award, which enabled him to develop a multifunctional Sit-to-Stand-Walker assistive device (http://www.mobilityassist.net/) for people afflicted with neuromuscular degenerative diseases or disability. The technology and the patent behind the device has been licensed to Biodex Medical Systems for bringing the device to institutional market. Dr. Purwar gave a TEDx talk on Machine Design Innovation through Technology and Education (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSW_G0nb11Q) which focused on enabling democratization of design capabilities, much needed for invention and innovation of machines by uniting the teaching of scientific and engineering principles with the new tools of technology.

The event is free and open to the public. Please register here at http://library.stonybrook.edu/library-events/university-libraries-presents-stem-speakers-series-3/ and join us for this special presentation.