Archive

The bachelor’s degree programme Clinical Technology has been named a Top Programme for the third time by the 2025 Keuzegids Universities. This programme is jointly organised by TU Delft, LUMC, and Erasmus MC.

Capturing CO₂ from flue gases is essential for a CO₂ neutral future. However, current installations are often almost as large as the factories themselves, which hinders widespread implementation. In a new project, TU Delft researchers are exploring innovative concepts to make these installations smaller. To achieve this, they are collaborating with SDS Separation.

For the first time, scientists at TU Delft have uncovered how the human grip adapts to sudden changes in friction and load, using a novel device that alters friction on demand with ultrasonic vibrations. This deeper understanding of the neurological processes behind grip control could pave the way for innovative rehabilitation tools for stroke survivors and enhance the development of tactile robotics.

Researchers at TU Delft have discovered that E. coli bacteria can synchronise their movements, creating order in seemingly random biological systems. By trapping individual bacteria in micro-engineered circular cavities and coupling these cavities through narrow channels, the team observed coordinated bacterial motion.

More efficient port calls can make maritime transport faster and greener. To achieve this ambition, the PortCall.Zero project has been awarded 4 million euros through the NWO Perspectief programme. Led by TU Delft, and with contributions from 16 partners, the project aims to significantly reduce the CO2 emissions of port activities by making use of AI and electric shore power.

Op maandag 25 november bracht de Tweede Kamercommissie VWS een bezoek aan de TU Delft om te spreken over de uitdagingen en kansen binnen de zorg. De kernboodschap: de zorg staat onder grote druk en vraagt om actie, maar het succes van innovaties ligt niet in snelle technologische oplossingen. Een systemische aanpak is essentieel.

The production of ammonia, essential for fertiliser production, is responsible for almost 1.5% of global carbon emissions. This needs to be greener, which is why researchers have been looking for sustainable alternatives for years.

Master students Amos Yusuf, from the ME faculty, Mick Dam, from the EEMCS faculty, and graduate Bas Brouwer have won the Mekel Prize 2024 for the best extra scientific activity at TU Delft: the development of an initiative that brings master students into the classroom teaching sciences to the younger generations. The prize was ceremonially awarded by prof Tim van den Hagen on 13 November after the Van Hasselt Lecture at the Prinsenhof, Delft. They received a statue of Professor Jan Mekel and 1.500,- to spend on their project.

'Medtech must learn to bridge its valley of death’

It’s impossible to imagine the Dutch street scene without the cargo bike. It’s ideal for transporting goods and especially popular for shuttling children from A to B. Surprisingly, however, no real research has been done on the comfort of children during cargo bike rides. Mechanical engineering students Jelmer, Renate, Dirk-Jan, Santo and Alexander set out to change this. The final project for their bachelor’s degree is the first step in this unexplored area of research.

The processing and transport of materials can be made much more efficient, says TU Delft professor Dingena Schott in her inaugural address, ‘Advancing Transport and Processing: from Model to Impact’. She will deliver her address on 15 November. Her research focuses on the interaction between machines and materials, with a special emphasis on granular materials.

Scientists at TU Delft have developed a new model that better describes human behaviour when merging into motorway traffic. Current models often assume that drivers are constantly trying to optimise their behaviour to reach their destination as quickly and safely as possible, but this is not always the case, says postdoctoral researcher Olger Siebinga.

A group of TU Delft bachelor students has developed, as part of the students’ minor in Computational Science and Engineering, a new model that accurately predicts the molecular properties of alkanes. This knowledge is crucial for the development of renewable fuels.

NWO has awarded 102 researchers a Vidi grant in total 86,7 million euros. Eight promising TU Delft researchers from the domains Exact and Natural Sciences (ENS), Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) and Applied and Technical Sciences (ATS) have been awarded. This Vidi grant up to 850,000 euros will enables the laureates to develop an innovative line of research over the next five years and further expand their own research group.

Shipping without a skipper will be allowed

PostNL has released a stamp sheet on the occasion of international Stamp Day featuring two innovative and sustainable means of transport developed at TU Delft. The stamps feature alongside King Willem-Alexander, the WASP, a wind-assisted cargo ship and the Flying-V, an energy-efficient aircraft design for long distances.

Artrose raakt momenteel 1,5 miljoen Nederlanders en dit aantal kan in 2040 oplopen tot 2,5 miljoen. Een van de grootste uitdagingen bij deze gewrichtsaandoening is de late diagnose, wat leidt tot onjuiste of uitgestelde behandelingen en uiteindelijk zelfs tot de noodzaak van protheses. Ingenieurs van de TU Delft en artsen van het Erasmus MC werken samen aan een oplossing: een technologie die biomechanische analyses combineert met dynamische röntgenopnames.

Can osteoarthritis be detected earlier in the future?

What does a work of art signify when it is no longer in its original form, but instead exists as a perfect 3D replica? Liselore Tissen, a PhD student at TU Delft and Leiden University, investigated how 3D replicas change the way we experience art. On 9 October, she will defend her thesis, which examines the relationship between the original artwork, its reproduction and the viewer.

Girl with a Pearl Earring visually captivates the viewer

Scientists at TU Delft and the Max Planck Institute have made a new class of structurally adaptable ‘mechanical’ pores made from DNA that can transport molecules through cell membranes. These innovative nanopores can open and close on demand and, for the first time, adjust their diameter.

It’s surprising, but in the Netherlands – a nation of cyclists – there’s very little data on how cyclists respond to each other in traffic. Yet this data is essential for creating more realistic traffic models, which in turn are key to designing better cycling infrastructure across the Netherlands. Anna Marbus, a master’s student in robotics, wants to change that by causing near collisions with cyclists.

How do you create the most spectacular splash for a roller coaster?

On Friday, 13 September, Professor Matthijs Langelaar will deliver his inaugural speech, Computational Design: Shaping the Future. In his address, Langelaar, who researches algorithms for solving mechanical design problems, emphasizes how advanced design capabilities can significantly contribute to addressing societal challenges.

Cornel Thill from the Department of Marine and Transport Technology (MTT) is this year's best lecturer in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Thill is part of the Ship Design, Production & Operations section and teaches courses such as “Hydrostatics,” “Future Marine Propulsion Systems” and “Advanced Course in Resistance and Propulsion.”

Cosimo Della Santina has received an ERC Starting Grant to advance the intelligence of soft robots. His research will focus on having robots interacting with their environment via multiple complex large-area contacts, similar to how an elephant wraps its trunk around a branch.

TU Delft, University of Amsterdam, TNO and the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee are joining forces to develop artificial intelligence (AI) for surveillance robots. The OpenBots consortium, officially launched on 4 September, focuses on creating intelligent systems that can support security staff in their daily tasks.

How do we make shipping greener?

Can technology reduce stress in the OR?

A race in a canoe made from concrete?! The idea floated Civil Engineering master student Jasmijn van Riggelen’s to the annual Concrete Canoe Race. She saw an opportunity to put her knowledge into practice and decided to take on the challenge with a group of fellow students!

About Olympic sailing: 'much improvement still possible'

Rise of assistance robots at KLM and in healthcare: 'In five years, this will be very normal'

The Dutch Research Council (NWO) has awarded thirteen young TU Delft researchers from the Science (ENW) and Applied and Engineering Sciences (TTW) domains, a Veni grant of up to 320,000 euro.

'Scientifically there is still much to be researched around rowing'

A robot that cleans cowsheds. 95 Master Robotics students have been working on this project for the past few weeks. On 13 June, they presented their robots to lecturers and client Lely, manufacturer of automated systems for dairy farmers. The students developed the control software for the robot. It had to avoid cows and other obstacles and navigate itself to places where there is manure.

Some 570 first-year mechanical engineering students used their crate stacker to stack almost 2,000 crates during the design competition on 12 June. The eight best stackers went through to the final, where they had to stack up to 25 crates. The competition is the culmination of the third design course of the programme and challenges students to apply all the knowledge they have gained over the past year.

Innovations from TU Delft help the Netherlands win gold medals at Olympics

For his research with high societal impact, David Abbink receives the most prestigious Dutch prizes in science.

David Abbink ontvangt dit jaar de NWO Stevinpremie. De Stevinpremie en de Spinozapremie zijn de hoogste Nederlandse onderscheidingen in de wetenschap. Ze worden jaarlijks uitgereikt aan vier mensen in totaal ‘voor hun uitmuntende, baanbrekende en inspirerende werk’, aldus NWO, die dit nieuws vandaag bekend maakt. Abbink ontvangt 1,5 miljoen euro te besteden aan wetenschappelijk onderzoek en kennisbenutting. Hij ontvangt de Stevinpremie met name voor de maatschappelijke impact van zijn onderzoek.