A team of Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) researchers has been selected for a potential award by NASA to lead research into commercially viable civil supersonic transport aircraft that meet noise and efficiency requirements for overland flight. Put simply, their research is on designing an aircraft that can modify its shape in real time in order to optimize for fuel efficiency or quiet flight as the flight phase and conditions change. The team is one of five transformative system-level aviation innovations that NASA has selected as part of the NASA Aeronautics’ University Leadership Initiative (ULI.) [Read more…] about MAESTRO Lab and Collaborators win $10M Grant to Design Supersonic Transport Aircraft That Modifies Its Shape in Real Time
Graduate Students Participate in a Traditional Texas “Deer Camp” Weekend
The six graduate students of the MAESTRO Team were invited to join Dr. Hartl at his father’s deer lease for a weekend of “Texas Immersion.” [Read more…] about Graduate Students Participate in a Traditional Texas “Deer Camp” Weekend
MAESTRO Facilities Expand to Include the new “VR Annex”
Dr. Hartl and an ad hoc group of his students successfully converted the legacy dark room and optics laboratory in the Aerospace Engineering department into the new Immersive Mechanics Visualization Lab (MAESTRO VR Annex).
[Read more…] about MAESTRO Facilities Expand to Include the new “VR Annex”
MAESTRO Team Attends AIAA SciTech en Masse
With the premier aerospace technology conference in the world happening three hours to the north, Dr. Hartl and almost the entire the MAESTRO team rented two vans and made the short Texas drive. A total of seven talks were given by various team members, each with an associated paper having been prepared. [Read more…] about MAESTRO Team Attends AIAA SciTech en Masse
Team Plays Wiffle Ball Game to the Death
Almost the entire MAESTRO Lab team gathered in the Hartl Woods for a game of late-fall Wiffle Ball. [Read more…] about Team Plays Wiffle Ball Game to the Death
Edwin Peraza Hernandez successfully defends Ph.D. dissertation
Edwin Peraza Hernandez, a student researcher developing new analysis and design tools for self-folding active material-based origami structures, successfully completed his dissertation defense. Edwin was co-advised by Dimitris Lagoudas (AERO) and his committee members included Jay Walton (MATH), Richard Malak (MEEN), and Ergun Akleman (ARCH-VIZ). Edwin will continue with the team as a post-doctoral researcher will exploring new opportunities to apply his research. Congratulations, Edwin!
William Scholten successfully defends masters thesis
William Scholten, a student researcher developing new analysis tools for SMA-based morphing aerostructures tested in relevant environments, successfully completed his thesis defense. Will was co-advised by Tom Strganac (AERO) and his committee members included Paul Cizmas (AERO), Richard Malak (MEEN), and Travis Turner (NASA-Langley). Will has committed to continuing his research toward a Ph.D. degree with Dr. Hartl. Congratulations, Will!
Researchers work with NASA team on advanced morphing radiators
A team of researchers led by Dr. Darren Hartl, assistant professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Texas A&M University, has been selected for the second consecutive year by NASA’s Johnson Space Center (NASA JSC) to continue development of an advanced passively morphing radiator concept for manned spaceflight. Solutions such as shape adaptive radiators have been identified in the NASA Technology Roadmaps as essential to the success of future manned missions, such as proposed missions to Mars. [Read more…] about Researchers work with NASA team on advanced morphing radiators
Hartl receives Gary Anderson Early Achievement Award
Dr. Darren Hartl, TEES Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Texas A&M University, has received the Gary Anderson Early Achievement Award from the Aerospace Division of The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). [Read more…] about Hartl receives Gary Anderson Early Achievement Award
Team to study birds in hopes of creating shapeshifting aircraft wings
Dr. Darren Hartl, TEES Research Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University, and a team of researchers is using extensive data on avian biological systems in the hopes of creating unmanned aircraft with wings that morph and change during flight, much like a bird. [Read more…] about Team to study birds in hopes of creating shapeshifting aircraft wings