Research news

Learn more about the latest discoveries and innovations from the U of T Engineering community. Our researchers are developing new ways of capturing and storing clean energy, medical devices that can save and extend lives, smarter ways to design and build cities and much more.

Professor Alberto Leon-Garcia (ECE) and his partners aim to use data to improve the efficiency and livability of cities such as Toronto. (Photo: City of Toronto, via Flickr)

Smarter cities: Strategic partnership leverages technology and big data to improve urban environments

December 15, 2017

Collaboration brings together academia, industry and government to explore how the Internet of Things can make cities work better

From left: Daniela Galatro (MIE PhD candidate), Zhe Gong (ECE MASc candidate), Carlos Da Silva (MIE PhD 1T6), Kshitij Gupta (MIE MASc candidate) are members of a multidisciplinary team improving battery technology for electric vehicles. (Credit: Liz Do).

U of T Engineering researchers developing next generation of battery technology for electric vehicles

December 14, 2017

An MIE team led by Dean Cristina Amon, in collaboration with ECE researchers, aims to improve efficiency and reliability of lithium batteries

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette (ECE MASc 9T0, at right) presents the Meritorious Service Cross to Professor Tom Chau (IBBME), Pierre Duez (EngSci 0T0, MASc IndE 0T3), Andrea Lamont, and Eric Wan (CompE 1T0, ECE MASc 1T3) on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, during a ceremony at Rideau Hall. (Credit: MCpl Vincent Carbonneau, Rideau Hall, OSGG).

Professor Tom Chau, U of T Engineering alumni awarded Governor General Meritorious Service Decoration

December 12, 2017

Virtual Music Instrument, developed by Chau and his team, has helped children with disabilities in seven countries worldwide

Professors Brenda McCabe, Daman Panesar, Shoshanna Saxe, Heather MacLean and Daniel Posen (all CivE) are collaborating with companies in construction, building services and engineering consulting to reduce the greenhouse gas impacts of future infrastructure projects. (Photo: Tyler Irving)

Green infrastructure: New tool to help construction industry reduce carbon footprint

December 8, 2017

U of T Engineering partnership with Ellis-Don, BASF and WSP will focus on life-cycle analysis of buildings, bridges and more

In a comment piece published today in Nature, Professor Ted Sargent (ECE) and his co-authors suggest that artificial intelligence and machine learning could be leveraged to speed up the development of sustainable energy technologies. (Photo: Johnny Guatto)

Artificial intelligence can accelerate the race toward sustainable energy technologies

December 6, 2017

We’ve all heard that artificial intelligence and machine learning are poised to transform our lives with self-driving cars and voice-activated robotic assistants. But these technologies may also be the key to speeding up the development of clean energy — from better batteries to more efficient solar cells. That’s the argument advanced today in Nature by […]

Professor Mireille Broucke (ECE) uses flying robots like these drones as a testbed to develop control algorithms capable of handling dynamic, real-world situations. (Photo: Tyler Irving)

Steering through uncertainty: U of T Engineering research creates control algorithms for self-driving robots

December 4, 2017

Mireille Broucke and her colleagues in the Institute for Robotics and Mechatronics design theoretical frameworks to help drones and autonomous vehicles navigate in changing conditions