Скачать или смотреть 🎧 AI Solved the Problem After 30,000 Tries | Mechanical Engineering 🔊

Can a robot crush its way to a better helmet pad? Dr. Keith Brown thinks so—and he built one to prove it.

In this episode of The Scientific Method, funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, we explore how artificial intelligence and robotics are transforming material design and impact protection. Dr. Brown’s lab created “MamaBear,” a self-driving lab that combines AI, 3D printing, and good old-fashioned destruction testing to invent stronger, smarter structures—like Willow, a record-breaking energy absorber.

What you'll learn in this episode:
🎙️ How AI is used in mechanical engineering experiments
🎙️ Why crushing plastic can lead to breakthroughs in protective gear
🎙️ What makes “Willow” the most efficient shape for absorbing impact
🎙️ How open-source data is accelerating innovation
🎙️ The role of humans in AI-driven design labs

💥 From crumple zones in cars to safer helmets, this research is reshaping how we build protection into our world.

🔎 Search terms:
AI in mechanical engineering, robot scientist, NSF Discovery Files, MamaBear robot BU, 3D printing innovation, self-driving labs, Keith Brown Boston University, smart materials, helmet pad design AI, engineering AI podcast

🎧 Listen to the full episode on The Scientific Method podcast – where real researchers explain the science that’s changing our future.

👉 Subscribe for more audio stories from the U.S. National Science Foundation!

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