As part of the agency's University Leadership Initiative, NASA has selected four teams of university academics and students to address the key challenges facing the future of aviation.
Through this program, the academic community can help NASA achieve its aerospace research goals and give students experience solving real-world technical problems.
According to Bob Pearce, deputy director of the Aeronautical Research Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, the University Leadership Initiative is a crucial component of the institution's research portfolio. Diverse teams actively support our priorities and often lead the exploration of potential solutions beyond the scope of our current portfolio.
Three of the four teams will focus on issues related to ensuring the safe expansion of Advanced Air Mobility, while the fourth team will explore the method of generating electricity to power a future aircraft. Teams will collaborate with other universities and industry partners as they work on their projects to engage students from diverse backgrounds, backgrounds and abilities.
“This multidisciplinary approach allows lead teams to interact with others, particularly student populations that are underrepresented or have not been previously involved in aviation research,” said Koushik Datta, project manager for the University Leadership Initiative. “As we look to place an increased emphasis on future growth in Advanced Air Mobility and creating truly sustainable aviation, it is critical that we involve today's students in helping us meet tomorrow's challenges.”
After final negotiations with the four clubs, prizes of up to $25.1 million could be awarded over the next four years. The research areas of the groups are as follows:
University of New Mexico
The team will gather information on current and anticipated AAM operations to create models that can guide decisions about how the power grid infrastructure can support future AAM activities, including the demand for aircraft charging stations.
The University of Tennessee at Knoxville, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, the University of Maryland in Baltimore County, Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation, Argonne National Laboratory and Whisper Aero are some of the members of the team.
Boston University
The team will focus on building models that predict how to reduce noise from AAM aircraft operating in densely populated areas where wind conditions can change rapidly. These models can also offer recommendations for the best places to place the vertiports to reduce noise during takeoff and landing.
Team members include Joby Aviation, Tuskegee University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
University of Notre Dame
The team plans to create an automated decision-making capability that confirms that small drones are safe before flying, using a drone traffic management system created by NASA. This automated technology will replace a labor-intensive method that is not adequately equipped to deal with the growing number of drones.
The University of Texas at El Paso, Saint Louis University, DePaul University, and the DRONERESPONDERS Public Safety Alliance are some of the other members of the team.
Tennessee University of Technology
A 150-passenger electric aircraft with an integrated ammonia-based propulsion, power and thermal management system is the ultimate goal of the crew.
University of Dayton, University of Washington – Bothell, Tennessee State University, Ohio State University, Boeing Research and Technology, Raytheon Technologies Research Center and Special Power Sources are some of the other members of the team.
University Leadership Initiative alumni include new award winners. For the initiative, this is the sixth round of awards.
In 2021, four and six teams were selected. Three teams were announced in 2019, five teams were selected for the first attempt in 2017, and five teams were selected in 2020. Later this year, the subsequent request for proposals is expected to be formally announced.
Source: nasa.gov/press-release
Günceleme: 12/03/2023 00:11