Research

Our research is focused on bridging the scientific gaps between traditional computer science topics and aerospace engineering topics, while achieving a high degree of closure between theory and experiment.  We focus on machine learning and multi-agent systems, intelligent autonomous control, nonlinear control theory, vision based navigation systems, fault tolerant adaptive control, and cockpit systems and displays.  What sets our work apart is a unique systems approach and an ability to seamlessly integrate different disciplines such as dynamics & control, artificial intelligence, and bio-inspiration.  Our body of work integrates these disciplines, creating a lasting impact on technical communities from smart materials to General Aviation flight safety to Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) to guidance, navigation & control theory.  Our research has been funded by AFOSR, ARO, ONR, AFRL, ARL, AFC, NSF, NASA, FAA, and industry.

Autonomous and Nonlinear Control of Cyber-Physical Air, Space and Ground Systems

Vision Based Sensors and Navigation Systems

Cybersecurity for Air and Space Vehicles

Air Vehicle Control and Management

Space Vehicle Control and Management

Advanced Cockpit/UAS Systems and Displays

Control of Bio-Nano Materials and Structures

Education

Integrated Research/Education University Aircraft Design Program Development, Phases I – II

Air Force Research Laboratory, Sub-Contract Through University of Washington – Seattle
1 January 2014 – 31 December 2015
Co-P.I. Dr. Thomas W. Stragnac
Total award $150,000

The Air Force Research Laboratory is interested in strengthening airplane design education by posing students and faculty with problems of interest to the Air Force that are in the public domain. It is expected that a few key ideas about strengthening aircraft design education by adding elements of realism, hands-on experience, and response to challenges that reflect real issues the technology struggles with. The focus will be on developing design and analysis methods and tools for a tailless supersonic flight vehicle with high maneuverability.

Many questions remain as to the viability of a completely tailless supersonic aircraft. What configurations enable elimination of the tail surfaces? What level of maneuvering is possible? What are the tradeoffs between maneuverability, max mach and range for tailless vehicles compared to their tailed counterparts? What technologies (innovative control effectors, control algorithms, etc) need to be developed and demonstrated to enable a completely tailless, supersonic aircraft design to be efficient and controllable? If not completely tailless, can the size of the tails be dramatically reduced? Can active aeroelastic control technology be employed to exploit the flexibility of long, slender bodies associated with supersonic vehicles?

The proposed work seeks to conduct applied research for the purpose of enabling activities that will explore the design and technology space for Efficient Supersonic Air Vehicles. It is anticipated that the results will produce innovative solutions to the design problem, and new design and analysis tools. We propose to investigate nonlinear approach & landing control laws for a tailless supersonic aircraft that accomplish global tracking of both fast and slow states, using recent results we developed using geometric singular perturbation methods [1]. The objective is to reduce the approach speed while accurately tracking flight path and velocity. The approach has been applied to simultaneously tracking both fast and slow variables for a desired reference trajectory that requires the aircraft to fly between linear and nonlinear flight regimes. These results will be achieved through a Design/Build/Fly approach.

TECHNICAL OBJECTIVES

  1. Identify key technical challenges
  2. Highlight shortcomings and limitations in public domain aerodynamic and aeroelasticity tools
  3. Propose solutions
  4. Synthesize a preliminary design of a supersonic tailless aircraft, based on general guidelines learned from past work
  5. Build and fly sub-scale low speed demonstrator
  6. Collect and analyze flight data

Working with me on this program is Graduate Research Assistant:

  • Frank Arthurs, Ph.D. student

Systems Engineering Design Course Curriculum Development

University of Texas
1 August 2013 – 15 December 2014
Co-P.I. Dr. Thomas W. Stragnac
Co-P.I. Dr. Raktim Bhattacharya
Total award $100,000

This project seeks to support the project Systems Engineering Design Initiative as a sub-contract effort to the University of Texas – Austin. The purpose is to investigate and develop educational tools and practical experience in the teaching of Systems Engineering (SE) principles and practices, which can be later transitioned into a broad range of aerospace engineering courses. The course AERO 440 Cockpit Systems & Displays at Texas A&M University (TAMU) already has significant SE content that will be enhanced and upgraded, and then integrated into the collective courses of instruction within the broad Systems Engineering Design Initiative effort. The AERO 440 course project for Spring 2014 will be purposely selected and directly tied-in with the Systems Engineering Design Initiative efforts at the University of Texas – Austin.

TECHNICAL OBJECTIVES

  1. Plan and test courses of instruction that integrate the fundamental principles of SE into existing design courses. The objective is to introduce students to the practical application of the fundamentals of SE without displacing other course content. The target TAMU courses are the AERO 401 for the fall 2013 semester and AERO 402 and AERO 440 for the 2014 spring semester.
  2. Critically review UT Austin Systems Engineering (SE) Student Handout and revise/enhance as appropriate for use by TAMU for the purpose of a design-focused undergraduate student introduction to and practical application of SE for aeronautical systems.
  3. Critically review UT Austin SE workshop presentation materials intended to introduce the fundamentals of SE to aerospace undergraduate aerospace students involved in extramural design projects, from the perspective of practical application of SE to extramural aerospace student projects but not limited to aeronautics. TAMU shall develop a plan for implementation and revise and/or develop materials for a TAMU version of a SE workshop. TAMU shall conduct the workshop a minimum of once per semester.

Working with me on this program is Graduate Research Assistant:

  • Frank Arthurs, Ph.D. student

Development of an Integrated Multidisciplinary Curriculum for Intelligent Systems

National Science Foundation
1 March 2001 – 29 February 2004
Co-P.I.s Dimitris C. Lagoudas, Thomas W. Strganac, Othon K. Rediniotis, and John D. Whitcomb
Total award $354,999

This program is a curriculum development in the Aerospace Engineering department which provides undergraduate students an optional degree specialization in intelligent systems, encompassing both specialized core courses and elective courses throughout the freshman through senior years. Each participant receives specialized instruction in intelligent autonomous vehicles; biomimetics; smart materials technology; fluid-structure-control interactions; multidisciplinary design optimization; computational mechanics; controls; aerodynamics; and structures. The capstone of this program is a two-semester senior design sequence in which students design, simulate, test, build, and fly intelligently controlled uninhabited aerial vehicles (UAVs). Students who complete this Intelligent Systems option receive a certificate recognizing their accomplishment.

Working with me on this program are Graduate Research Assistants:

  • Brian Wood
  • Monish Tandale
  • Roshawn Bowers