ECE News

Every time you buckle up, there’s a good chance Michigan State University research is helping keep you safe. With more than 50 faculty across MSU Mobility and the College of Engineering, Spartan researchers are tackling transportation challenges from every angle, including safer roads, stronger vehicles, smarter infrastructure and secure autonomous systems.

University Distinguished Professor Leo Kempel knows the ins and outs of getting a college education, whether it is from the viewpoint of a student, faculty member, or administrator.

Natalie Crawford, whose contribution to analysis and modernization of the U.S. Air Force is legendary and who received an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering degree from Michigan State University in 2016, has died at 86.

What if a soft robot like Baymax in the Disney animated film Big Hero 6 were real? Xiaobo Tan, MSU Foundation Professor and Richard M. Hong Endowed Chair in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering and the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and his team are working to bring that science fiction to life by designing robots made of soft materials that are safer for both human interaction and delicate objects.

A wide range of disciplines are adopting artificial intelligence, or AI, at a rapid pace. From science and medicine to the humanities and education, AI is influencing the landscape of how information is accessed and processed. At Michigan State University, the College of Engineering is exploring new ways for AI to improve lives through railway safety, AI security, learning and health outcomes.

MSU Mobility celebrates Mobility Week, a global initiative focused on innovation at the intersection of transportation and technology, taking place Sept. 20-27, 2025. This initiative brings together mobility and transportation technology experts from around the globe to build partnerships and identify opportunities to accelerate innovation.

For a second time, students passionate about the evolving space market had an unparalleled opportunity to learn from experts working on electronics designed to survive the harsh realities of space. And Michigan State University’s Green and White Council stopped in to see the results firsthand.

Michigan State University’s College of Engineering welcomed 14 faculty members to its world-class academic team in Fall 2025. Interim Dean of Engineering John Papapolymerou said these additions will help the college successfully support a growing student body and expand research and innovation that matters to Michigan communities and beyond.

As rail infrastructure across the United States ages under increasing freight demands and higher-speed passenger traffic, the need for smarter, faster, and more reliable inspection methods has never been more urgent. A cross-disciplinary team of Michigan State University (MSU) faculty, postdocs, graduate, and undergraduate students are answering that call with a breakthrough hybrid sensing system that could redefine how railroads detect and prevent failures.