Vehicle Systems and Control Laboratory

VSCL and Team

The Vehicle Systems and Control Laboratory is a part of the Texas A&M University Department of Aerospace Engineering.


Events

  1. UAS Video Tracking Challenge
    18-21 October 2012
    Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
    Supported by the Air Force Research Laboratory, Raytheon Intelligence and Information Systems Division, and Texas A&M University Vehicle Systems & Control Laboratory


News

  • Anshu Siddarth and Ryan Weisman have been selected to be members of the AIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control and AIAA Atmospheric Flight Mechanics Technical Committees respectively.
  • Josh Harris has won a 2012 NASA Aeronautics Undergraduate Scholarship. This is a major award which provides tuition funds up to $15,000 for educational and related costs, and an optional 10 (Ten) week summer internship, with $10,000 stipend amount. Only 20 students were awarded out of more than 200 applicants.
  • Elizabeth Rollins has been awarded a Summer Graduate Research Fellowship by the USAF. She will be working at the Air Force Research Laboratory at WPAFB this summer.
  • Tim Woodbury has been awarded a summer fellowship to work at the MIT Lincoln Laboratory this summer.
  • Grant Atkinson has been awarded a summer internship with Boeing.

Current Research

Raytheon Target Tracking
Title: Intelligent Motion Video Algorithms for Unmanned Air Systems, Phase II
Description: The Vehicle Systems & Control Laboratory has been awarded a Phase II contract from the Raytheon Company, Intelligence and Information Systems Division to develop and flight test a Reinforcement Learning based approach for autonomous tracking of ground targets using a fixed wing Unmanned Air System (UAS). The capability of autonomously controlling both a UAS and an onboard motion video system to track a selected target can free a human operator to select viable targets, analyze images received, and prosecute mission objectives, rather than having to guide the UAS. Flight test demonstration is scheduled for Summer 2011.
NASA Morphing
Title: Machine Learning Control of Morphing Micro Air Vehicles
Description: This project investigates a creative and bioinspired theory of learning control which is capable of addressing the essential functionalities of a morphing Micro Air Vehicle (MAV), and which is also extensible to capabilities such as flapping and perching. The objective is to address the optimal shape control of an entire air vehicle configuration as a function of flight condition, not just simple changes such as wing sweep angle or incidence angle. The project spans theory to computation to experiment, and incorporates machine learning concepts integrated with model reference adaptive control. It uses nonlinear synthesis and simulation models of appropriate fidelity validated and verified with a hardware testbed, and culminates in a flight test demonstration.
Media:

Some of our other research topics include:


  • Autonomous Intelligent Control of Unmanned Vehicles
  • Vision Based Navigation Systems
  • Intelligent Cockpit Computing and Displays
  • Air Traffic Control
  • Human Factors