Articles tagged with Aerospace Engineering
A Cornell University-led team developed modular robots that can perceive surroundings, make decisions and reconfigure themselves for different tasks. The robots' autonomous behavior and shape changes mark a significant step towards real-world applicability.
Researchers at University of Illinois have discovered how to integrate ducted fans into wing sections to improve aircraft propulsive efficiency by ingesting low-speed air. This innovation modifies aerodynamic behavior, lift, drag, and pitching moment characteristics.
Researchers at UT Austin successfully demonstrated a novel approach to human-like balance in a biped robot, allowing it to dynamically balance without ankle control. The technique uses whole-body controllers and inverse kinematics to mimic human movement, with implications for robots in emergency response, defense, and entertainment.
Researchers developed a device that reflects sound in its original direction, more than doubling the effective range of previous technologies. The 'retroreflector' uses engineered materials to focus incoming sound waves onto a second layer, sending them back to their source.
A team of researchers from Utah State University and Belgium discovered the exact angle at which a bent fiber holds the most fluid, found to be 36 degrees. This discovery has multiple industrial applications, including drug manufacturing and fog-collection net development.
Kenneth Reifsnider, a renowned expert on composite materials, has been honored with the lifetime achievement award from ICCES. His groundbreaking research and innovations have significantly impacted the field of composites mechanics, technology, and life prediction.
A Rutgers-led team has invented a promising technology for killing microbes using paper-based sanitizers, which can eliminate more than 99 percent of bacteria cells. The devices consist of paper with thin layers of aluminum and hexagon/honeycomb patterns that produce plasma to kill microorganisms.
A NASA-funded study has identified four glaciers in West Greenland that are most susceptible to thinning due to their shape. These glaciers, including Rink Isbrae and Jakobshavn Isbrae, have already been losing mass and are expected to contribute significantly to future sea level rise.
A team of researchers from Utah State University, Dartmouth College and Brigham Young University used high-speed imaging and particle image velocimetry to describe the phenomenon. They found that buoyant spheres ascending through a fluid don't always behave as expected, with speed and vortex structures affecting their trajectory.
Researchers at Rutgers University have developed a soft motor that enables torque without bending, making it suitable for search and rescue missions, deep space exploration, and manipulating objects during MRI. The squishy wheels allow for passive suspensions in wheeled vehicles, making the design simple yet effective.
Vittoria Flamini has created computer models to determine if a percutaneous pulmonary valve will fit in a child's heart before surgery. The simulation takes at least a day and involves manipulating images of the patient's heart sent by medical teams.
The OU School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering has been selected for a national diversity program to close the gender and minority gap in mechanical engineering. The school will receive education and training on diversity and inclusion to attract and retain underrepresented students and faculty.
Researchers have developed a new technique to capture real-time 3D images of living organisms, such as zebrafish and fruit flies, allowing for the visualization of their anatomy and functions. This breakthrough uses Optical Projection Tomography, enabling the creation of three-dimensional images up to three millimeters long.
Researchers replaced live males with robotic replicas and found that female killifish were more likely to swim near yellow-colored replicas than other colors. The yellow pigment may be perceived as a "superstimulus", resulting in the females' preference for yellow mates.
Researchers at Harvard University and Cornell University have developed a non-rigid, shape-changing robot that can walk on four legs and operate without constraints. The robot can function in snowstorms, move through puddles of water, and withstand limited exposure to flames, with a payload capacity of up to 8 kg.
A team of biologists and engineers at the University of California, San Diego has discovered how white blood cells generate traction forces to propel themselves forward by coordinated action of contractile proteins. This finding is crucial for developing new pharmacological strategies to treat chronic inflammatory diseases.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati are working on an exoskeleton that could help geriatric patients regain independence in movement. The device is designed to supplement the user's natural movement, rather than forcing a predetermined motion, and has the potential to benefit patients affected by stroke and paraplegia.
Researchers from UT Austin successfully spoofed an $80 million yacht at sea using a custom-made GPS device. The team demonstrated that spoofing attacks can be carried out covertly and with significant difficulty in detecting, posing a serious threat to marine vessels and other forms of transportation.
Researchers at UT Arlington are working with IBM to minimize heat generated by stacked 3D integrated circuits and develop cooling solutions. The team aims to improve efficiency, speed, and reliability of 3D ICs, which could lead to significant financial savings and advancements in computing.
Researchers used a 3D foam replica and wind simulation to study tornado winds far beyond the storm's path. They found that complex terrain disrupts the tornado's structure, causing winds to extend into nearby valleys.
A team of aerospace engineers developed a prototype device that harnesses chest cavity vibrations to generate electricity for pacemakers, delivering eight times the required energy. The technology has potential as a biocompatible alternative to competing methods.
A study by NC State University researchers found that bank shots are more effective than direct shots, especially from 12 feet away or in the 'wing' areas between the three-point line and free-throw lane. The optimal aim points create a 'V' shape near the top center of the backboard.
The UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science will advance MEMS technology with a $5.5 million grant from the US Defense Department. The goal is to create electrically connected, rotating microscale motors for sensing and communications in defense systems.
UC San Diego engineers develop algorithms for swarms of ocean robots to track ocean currents, predict oil spill movement, and improve models. The system will enable local agencies to deploy robots quickly to monitor spills and aid in the development of marine protected areas.
A new study of extinct reptiles called kuehneosaurs shows that these early flyers used extraordinary extensions of their ribs to form large gliding surfaces on the side of the body. The research, published in Palaeontology, found that one species was more suited to parachuting than flying.
A team of Iowa State engineers has developed a sensor that can detect small vibrations caused by escaping air in spacecraft, allowing for faster leak detection. This technology, in partnership with Invocon Inc., aims to improve the safety and efficiency of NASA's space missions.
The Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics has awarded the 2007 SIAM Student Paper Prizes to Thomas T. Bringley, Nir Gavish, and Kristoffer G. van der Zee for outstanding papers in their fields.
A new study from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute reveals that carbon nanotubes exhibit fatigue resistance similar to soft tissue, making them suitable for creating synthetic muscle or electro-mechanical systems. The researchers successfully compressed the nanotube block over 500,000 times without significant degradation.
Researchers have discovered a binary asteroid system where two asteroids orbit around each other, creating a unique and fascinating phenomenon. The larger object is spinning so fast that it has been flattened into a flying saucer shape, with the lowest points on the surface actually forming the highest ridges.
Researchers have developed a new type of laminate that performs spectacularly in ballistics tests due to its high strength-to-weight ratio. The material is made by alternating layers of aluminum and titanium alloy foils, mimicking the internal structure of the red abalone's shell.
A team led by Professor Kenneth Mease will develop an algorithm to control a Mars lander's flight during the hypersonic entry phase and deliver the vehicle with pinpoint accuracy. The first demonstration of pinpoint landing is under consideration for a Mars mission in 2011.
University of Cincinnati aerospace engineering students, with help from NASA and industry sponsors, have designed, manufactured and launched a rocket they built from scratch. The Pathfinder rocket will reach an altitude of 50,000 feet to test its retrieval system and send back real-time footage.
A UB engineer developed software that can pinpoint leak locations on the space station and estimate hole sizes. This helps speed up the process of identifying source modules, which is crucial for astronauts' safety.
Researchers found that familiarity breeds content, with engineers three times more likely to consult familiar colleagues than experts. The study suggests companies can boost productivity and satisfaction by encouraging richer social connections.
The new flat motor can be configured in various formats, including a thin version that can drive changes in airplane wing camber or serve as the drive element in compact laptop computers. The prototype has reached high speeds and maximum torque of 0.4 Nm, with cost estimates as low as $10 for mass production.
Georgia Tech will focus on aeropropulsion and power technologies, bridging technology gaps for revolutionary engine components. The institute aims to develop innovative propulsion and power technologies, enabling NASA and industry to produce more efficient engines.
Researchers from CU-Boulder are using tiny, unmanned planes to monitor conditions like temperature, humidity, and wind speed during tropical storms. The flights will provide high-resolution video footage and help understand sea-surface changes during hurricanes.
Researchers developed a new method to save lives and protect property in windstorm-prone areas using a laminated glass window unit with a sacrificial ply. The design concept is promising for enhancing hurricane resistance of windows and offers a cost-effective alternative to expensive shutters or boards.
The university will offer 10 Chancellor's Teaching Assistantships with stipends and full tuition to encourage first-year students to participate in teacher training programs. The grant aims to increase minority Ph.D. enrollment at participating institutions.
Researchers created a virtual crash test dummy to predict head and chest injuries during accidents. The simulation shows that multiple impacts result in more severe injuries, regardless of the vehicle model involved.
Graduate students will work with leaders in biorobotics and neuro-mechanical prostheses, designing agile robots and creating devices to restore movement. The program aims to educate scientists and engineers for multidisciplinary teams.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have developed an algorithm that enables computers to filter out unwanted material and locate land mines in surveillance images with a high degree of accuracy. The system uses size and shape restrictions, as well as optical frequencies, to distinguish between mines and other objects.