News
Dr. Jack Langelaan wins NSF CAREER award
The National Science Foundation had awarded Dr. Jack Langelaan of Penn State's Aerospace Engineering Department, a Career award to study the Theory and Practice of Autonomous Soaring for Aerial Robots (UAVs).
The five year project will study small and mini uninhabited aerial vehicles (UAVs) that are ideal for many missions which are too risky or infeasible for larger vehicles. However, small size results in performance limitations: there is reduced capacity for on-board energy storage and sensing payload, and viscous forces are a large contributor to drag, making design of efficient vehicles difficult. Birds and insects are faced with similar problems, and they have evolved flight strategies to overcome the challenges associated with small size. This research aims to develop planning and control algorithms that will enable small and mini UAVs to extract energy from the surrounding atmosphere: like birds and human glider pilots, they will be able to soar. There are three aims: (1) the development of planning algorithms that can account for the complex effects of vehicle kinematics/dynamics and environmental factors such as wind on the feasibility and costs of a trajectory; (2) the development of a vehicle that uses intelligent planning and control algorithms to overcome the challenges associated with its physical constraints; (3) enabling novel science missions. Further, the planning techniques developed here will be applicable to other instances of robot planning under complex dynamic and environmental conditions. The ultimate goal of this research is to enable a robotic aircraft to track a migrating raptor over extended distances and time. Recognizing that this is an ambitious goal, requiring advances in other areas of robotics research as well as intelligent planning and control, this research identifies several science missions that are enabled in the short and medium term by a soaring-capable mini-UAV. These science missions will be undertaken in collaboration with researchers at Penn State's meteorology department and researchers at the Acopian Center for Conservation Learning at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary.
http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward.do?AwardNumber=0746655
http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward.do?AwardNumber=0746655
Dr. George Lesieutre wins AIAA award
The American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics presented to Dr. George Lesieutre an award to recognize sustained, significant service and contributions to the AIAA by members of the Institute. This award acknowledges his nearly three decades of service to AIAA, the the Penn State Student Chapter, to the Orange County, California Section and to the SDM technical community.
Prof. Farhan Gandhi wins Popular Mechanics' Award
Farhan Gandhi, Professor of Aerospace Engineering, was recently selected as a 2007 recipient of Popular Mechanics' Breakthrough Award. This selection is for research done on a "Centrifugal-Force-Actuated Variable-Span Morphing Helicopter Rotor." He received the award at a ceremony in New York City on 10 October 2007. For more information, visit http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/industry/4224761.html?series=37
Heather Rarick, BS '87, received World Class Engr. Award
After graduation from Penn State's Aerospace Engineering program, Ms. Rarick became an ascent flight design engineer for NASA's Space Shuttle at Rockwell Space Operations Company in Houston. She continued her carrer with the United Space Alliance, working for its chief information officer as a project manager. In 1999, she returned to Mission Control in the International Liaison Office serving as liaison between U.S. and Russian space officials during missions. Heather began working for NASA in the same capacity in 2001. After several more advancements, Ms. Rarick was selected as one of two new Flight Directors. In this capacity, she is in full control of Mission Control at Johnson Space Center during a space mission. We were pleased (with the Leonhard Center) to host her visit in early October, 2007.
Prof. Lyle Long becomes Moore Distinguished Scholar
Lyle Long, distinguished professor of aerospace engineering, has been selected to fill the Gordon and Betty Moore Distinguished Scholar position at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) for the 2007-2008 academic year. He will focus on developing spiking neural networks for massively parallel computers. His goal is to increase the understanding of human and monkey cognitive processes, as well as develop artificial intelligence for robotics. A faculty member since 1989, Long also holds courtesy appointments in acoustics, computer science and engineering, and mathematics. He received his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Minnesota, a master's degree in aeronautics and astronautics from Stanford University and a doctorate of science degree from George Washington University. The Moore Distinguished Scholars program was created through a $300 million gift from Gordon and Betty Moore to support distinguished scientists as visitors to Caltech. Gordon Moore was one of the founders of Intel Corp.
Prof. Mark Maughmer answers Probing Question
Research Penn State features a "Probing Question" in frequent Faculty/Staff Newswire editions. On June 21, Dr. Mark Maughmer addressed the subject "How do dimples make golf balls travel farther?" You can read the article by Mike Shelton at http://live.psu.edu/story/24768.
Two faculty members promoted to full professor status
Dr. Deborah A. Levin and Dr. Kenneth S. Brentner were recently informed by President Graham Spanier that they were approved for promotion to full professorship, effective July 1, 2007. Details will appear in the annual newsletter, due later this summer.
Spring Commencement - Friday, May 18, 2007
The department of Aerospace Engineering's largest group of Bachelor of Science graduates in 20 years leaves campus with their degrees. Over 70 students receive their diplomas at the College of Engineering's commencement at 8:00 p.m., May 18.
Nittany Griffin competed in Arizona
The Nittany Griffin (remote controlled sailplane)
and its design team has returned from Arizona and had a good trip. They finished 2nd in the Speed Event and 3rd in the Endurance Event. There were 50 Entrants in the Competition. 39 Showed up and 19 actually flew. Our team finished 12th overall and MIT took 1st prize. The students involved are all enrolled in AERSP 204H/404H: Flight Vehicle Design and Fabrication, under the direction of Prof. Mark Maughmer.
Space Systems Engineering Certificate Program Approved
The College of Engineering's undergraduate studies committee recently approved the certificate program which is intended primarily for Engineering students. Under the direction and jointly administered by the Department of Electrical Engineering's Communications and Space Sciences Laboratory and the Department of Aerospace Engineering, requirements include an application, twelve relevant academic credits and a hands-on space systems project and report. For more information, contact Dr. Sven Bilen at 814-863-1626 or sbilen@psu.edu or visit http://www.engr.psu.edu/Departments/spacesys.asp.
Death of Dr. Anthony K. Amos
We received word that professor emeritus of aerospace engineering Anthony K. Amos (retired June 30, 1999) passed away in December, 2006 in his native Ghana. A memorial service and burial in Accra were planned. His obituary can be found on his department webpage, under faculty.
Possible new Minor IST for Aerospace Engineering
Dr. Lyle Long, Professor of Aerospace Engineering and Mathematics, has proposed an IST minor specifically for aerospace undergrads. More details can be found at http://www.personal.psu.edu/lnl/istaero.html.
2006-07 Scholarships and Fellowships announced
The 2006-07 Scholarship/Fellowship/Award winners in Aerospace engineering were honored at the annual reception. This year's event was held on Wednesday, November 15, 2006 in the Stavely Conference Room. Over 40 department and College of Engineering scholarships were announced, as well as 11 fellowships. The department continues to be grateful to the generous donors who make these financial awards available. Below are group photos of the fellowship, college scholarship and department scholarship winners in attendance.
Leishman Lecture on Helicopters
Dr. J. Cordon Leishman, Minta Martin Chair of Engineering and Professor of Aerospace Engineering at University of Maryland, spoke on "The Helicopter: Thinking Forward, Looking Back" on November 10 at University Park campus. He is Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of the American Helicopter Society. This lecture was based on his Cierva Lecture, presented to the Royal Aeronautical Society in London on October 5, 2006.
Guy Bluford, 2006 Homcoming Grand Marshal
Dr. Guion S. Bluford, Jr. (BS '64) of The Aerospace Technology Group is recognized as the first African American in space. He is a veteran of four space flights and spent over 688 hours in space in his 14 years of working with NASA.
Students work on successful Spirit III launch
Brian Pomeroy and Bruce Davis as well as more than a dozen other Aerospace Engineering undergrads worked on the ESPIRIT (Engineering/Scientific Projects for Research and International Teamwork) rocket, which was launched from the Andoya Rocket Range in Norway. For more information, visit http://spirit.ee.psu.edu/
Chris Saunders is Sailplane champion
Christopher Saunders, senior, recently won the 18 meter class National Sailplane event in Hobbs, NM flying an ASG-29. His fastest speed was 97.61 mph, and the greatest distance flown on a single day was 404.5 miles. This astounding achievement for a 21 year old is due to the fact that Chris lives on an airport owned by his grandfather. He's been flying since the age of 11.
Prof. Ken Brentner to become AHS Journal Editor
Associate Professor Kenneth S. Brenter has accepted the position of Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the American Helicopter Society, International, for a three year term to commence in 2007.
Computational Science Graduate Minor
Beginning in fall, 2006, the College of Engineering offers a graduate minor in computational science. Administered through the Department of Aerospace Engineering,the program provides an opportunity for graduate students in all colleges and majors. For further information, contact professor of aerospace engineering Lyle Long at lnl@psu.edu or http://www.csci.psu.edu