Mario Gomes Headshot

Mario Gomes

Principal Lecturer

Department of Mechanical Engineering
Kate Gleason College of Engineering
mwgeme@rit.edu
585-475-2148
Office Location
GLE-2189

Mario Gomes

Principal Lecturer

Department of Mechanical Engineering
Kate Gleason College of Engineering

Education

BsE, Cornell University; MS, Georgia Institute of Technology; Ph.D., Cornell University

Bio

Dr. Mario W. Gomes completed a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering at Cornell University and a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. After working for a few years as a mechanical engineer, he returned to Cornell University and completed his Ph.D. in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics. Dr. Gomes previously worked in industry as a Project Engineer and served as a Lecturer at Arizona State University.

Dr. Gomes’ research focuses on the application of rigid-body dynamics to energy systems with the goal of developing new renewable energy sources and exploiting natural dynamic behavior to conserve energy in existing systems. Dr. Gomes has studied Passive Dynamic Walking systems as an undergraduate by creating and using simulations of a 2D-knee-jointed walker. Passive Dynamic walkers are an uncontrolled assembly of sticks and hinges which, when designed correctly, and given the appropriate initial conditions can fall in to a stable human-like walking cycle down a ramp. His master's work was in the field of Passive Haptic displays, where he developed control approaches for force-feedback systems which were only able to dissipate the user's energy. These systems are inherently safe for the user since the power flow is only in one direction, from the user into the system, and not vice-versa. His Ph.D. work examined the limits of performance for locomoting apes and robots, specifically brachiation (ape-swinging) robots, and passive dynamic walking robots. By creating physics based computer models, he showed that it was possible for very simple models to walk across level ground (or brachiate under flat ceilings) with zero energy required to sustain the motion.

Dr. Gomes' current research interests are in fields of

  • dynamics and design of tethered airfoils (kites) for energy production
  • locomotion mechanics
  • mechanical energy storage systems
  • engineering education (project-based learning)

For more about Dr. Gomes see his website.

Select Publications

· M. Gomes and A. Ruina, A walking model with no energy cost', Physical Review E, vol 83, Issue 3, 8 March 2011, pp. 6-9

· L. Smoger, M. Gomes, and E. DeBartolo, Minimum Constraint Design Analysis and Modification

· of a Biaxial Tensile Test Fixture for Hyperelastic Materials', 2011 ASME International Mechanical

· Engineering Congress and Exposition, Denver, CO, November 2011

· M. Gomes and A. Ruina, A five-link 2D brachiating ape model with life-like zero-energy-cost motions', Journal of Theoretical Biology, vol 237, Issue 3, 7 Dec 2005, pp.265-278

mwgeme@rit.edu
585-475-2148

Select Scholarship

Journal Paper
Jr., Daniel G. Schuster, et al. "Nonlinear Response and Atability of a 2D Rolling Semi-Cylinder During Optical Lift." Nonlinear Dynamics 81. June (2015): 561-575. Print.
Artusio-Glimpse, A., et al. "Rocking Motion of an Optical Wing: Theory." Applied Optics 53. 31 (2014): 11-19. Print.
Gomes, Mario and Andy Ruina. "A Walking Model with No Energy Cost." Physical Review E 83. 3 (2011): 6-9. Print.
Published Conference Proceedings
Gomes, Mario W. and Konrad Ahlin. "Quiet Nearly Collisionless Walking." Proceedings of the 2015 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA). Ed. IEEE. Seattle, WA: n.p., 2015. Web.
Figliotti, Matt and Mario W. Gomes. "A Variable-Inertia Flywheel Model for Regenerative Braking on a Bicycle." Proceedings of the ASME 2014 Dynamics Systems and Controls Conference (DSCC'14). Ed. Jingang Yi. Austin, TX: n.p., Web.
Gosavi, Shriya and Mario W. Gomes. "Power Production for a Small-Scale Experimental Hydrokite System." Proceedings of the International Conference of Control, Dynamic Systems, and Robotics (CDSR'14). Ed. Davide Spinello. Ottawa, Ontario, CA: n.p., 2014. Web.
Douglas, Matt and Mario W. Gomes. "Dynamics of a River Kite Power Production System with a Kinetic Energy Storage Device." Proceedings of the International Conference of Control, Dynamic Systems, and Robotics (CDSR'14). Ed. Davide Spinello. Ottawa, Ontario, CA: n.p., 2014. Web.
Ramesh, Ashwin and Mario W. Gomes. "Power Generation for a Tethered Wing with a Variable Tether Length." Proceedings of the International Conference of Control, Dynamic Systems, and Robotics (CDSR'14). Ed. Davide Spinello. Ottawa, Ontario, CA: n.p., 2014. Web.
Vardhan, Saloni and Mario W. Gomes. "Dynamic Analysis of a Rimless Wheel on Randomly Generated Rough Terrain." Proceedings of the International Conference of Control, Dynamic Systems, and Robotics (CDSR'14). Ed. Davide Spinello. Ottawa, Ontario, CA: n.p., 2014. Web.
Ahlin, Konrad and Mario W. Gomes. "Quantifying Frictional Losses for a 2-Degree-of-Freedom Energy-Efficient Walking Robot." Proceedings of the International Conference of Control, Dynamic Systems, and Robotics (CDSR'14). Ed. Davide Spinello. Ottawa, Ontario, CA: n.p., 2014. Web.
Gomes, Mario W. and Elizabeth A. DeBartolo. "Team-Based Design-and-Build Projects in a Large Freshman Mechanical Engineering Class." Proceedings of the 2013 ASEE Annual Conference. Ed. ASEE. Atlanta, GA: American Society for Engineering Education, 2013. Web.
Gomes, Mario. "Aerial Photography Project Using MATLAB Programming for Freshman Introduction to Mechanical Engineering Course." Proceedings of the 2011 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition. Ed. American Society for Engineering Education. Vancouver CA: n.p., 2011. Web.
Smoger, Lowell, Mario Gomes, and Elizabeth DeBartolo. "Minimum Constraint Design Analysis and Modification of a Biaxial Tensile Test Fixture for Hyperelastic Materials." Proceedings of the 2011 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition. Ed. ASME. Denver Co: n.p., 2011. Web.
Invited Keynote/Presentation
Gomes, Mario W. "Nearly Collisionless Motion for an Inertia-Coupled Rimless Wheel (+hardware)." Dynamic Walking 2015. Dynamic Walking. Columbus, OH. 21 Jul. 2015. Conference Presentation.
Gomes, Mario W. "Tethered Wings for High-Altitude Windpower and Low Pressure-Head Hydropower." UNC Charlotte (Mechanical Engineering Dept. Seminar). UNC Charlotte (Mechanical Engineering) Chris Vermillion. Charlotte, NC. 2 Apr. 2015. Lecture.
Gomes, Mario W. "Tethered Wings for High-Altitude Windpower and Low Pressure-Head Hydropower." Golisano Institute for Sustainability: Graduate Seminar. RIT: GIS. Rochester, NY. 3 Mar. 2015. Lecture.

Currently Teaching

MECE-205
Dynamics
3 Credits
A basic course in the kinematics and kinetics of particles and rigid bodies. Newton's Laws and the theorems of work-energy and impulse momentum are applied to a variety of particle problems. Systems of particles are employed to transition to the analysis of rigid body problems. Absolute and relative motion are used to investigate the kinematics and kinetics of systems of rigid bodies. Newton's Laws are applied to a variety of two-dimensional rigid body problems.
MECE-389
Undergraduate Special Topics
1 - 3 Credits
In response to student and/or faculty interest, special courses that are of current interest and/or logical continuation of regular courses will be presented. (Pre-requisites may apply depending on the topic, therefore department permission is required for enrollment) See instructor for more details.

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