Aerospace Research Laboratories
Technical & Educational Research Expenditures July 1, 2004 - June 30, 2005 |
||||
Federal Government |
$13, 173,979 |
Local Government |
$0 |
|
State Government-sponsored |
$111,036 |
Individuals |
$192,765 |
|
Foreign Governments |
$0 |
State Research |
$346,048 |
|
Industry |
3,244,634 |
MD Industrial Partnerships |
$137,258 |
|
Non-Profit Organizations |
33,934 |
Designated Research Initiative Funds |
$147,912 |
|
|
TOTAL: $17,387,569 |
||||
Advanced Propulsion Research Laboratory (APRL)
Opportunity exists to advance propulsion technologies by incorporating our understanding
of basic physical mechanisms related to fuel-air mixing and combustion processes into engine
design. Our long-term goals are to make aero-propulsion and space propulsion much more reliable,
more affordable, and environmentally benign, while increasing the specific engine performance.
In Advanced Propulsion Research Laboratory (APRL), fundamental and applied studies on
active/passive control of turbulent mixing and combustion processes are conducted to develop
advanced combustor technologies that will help achieve these long-term goals. APRL accommodates
two test stands connected to a continuous air supply capable of 358 cfm at 165 psig. One test
stand is used for detailed quantitative measurements and flow visualization, while the other is
dedicated for high-intensity reacting flow experiments. Advanced diagnostics, including
non-intrusive flow visualization, laser-based velocimetry, and radical chemiluminescence are
available along with more conventional flow measurement systems using thermocouples and
high-bandwidth pressure transducers. Recent research has focused on supersonic mixing enhancement
for scramjets, active control of dump combustor dynamics, and development of a highly efficient
liquid-fueled burner.
Learn more about Advanced Propulsion Research Laboratory...
Alfred Gessow Rotorcraft Center (AGRC)
Long-standing and important research is conducted in the Alfred Gessow Rotorcraft Center, as a U.S. Army Center of Excellence in Helicopter Technology. One of only three such centers in the country, the center conducts leading-edge research in rotorcraft aerodynamics, dynamics, acoustics, structures and flight mechchanics. Unique experimental facilities such as two fully-instrumented rotor rigs, a hover tower and a 10-foot vacuum chamber are funded by the Army and by an industry consortium.
The Smart Structures Program, funded by a university research initiative grant from the
Army Research Office, is a truly multidisciplinary effort within the Clark School involving
structures, controls, materials and aeromechanics. Faculty from four departments collaborate
on research involving the use of embedded sensors and actuators within composite parts to
alter shapes and loads to respond to changing conditions in structures. initial applications
of smart structures research are adaptive wings, variable speed helicopter rotors, vibration
control, noise reduction and structural monitoring of aerospace systems.
Learn more about Alfred
Gessow Rotorcraft Center...
Autonomous Vehicle Laboratory (AVL)
The Autonomous Vehicle Laboratory is a new facility in the Dept. of Aerospace Engineering
focused on the developed of autonomous aerospace platforms including MAVs, UAVs, nanosatellites
and other systems. Research areas include GPS waypoint navigation, path planning, adaptive
cooperative control, formation flying, collision avoidance, intelligent vehicle health
management and embedded systems. Unique capabilities include hardware and software tools
for advanced simulation of flight systems. Current projects are supported by NAVMAR,
and NAVAIR.
Learn more about Autonomous
Vehicle Laborabory...
Center for Hypersonics and Research
Another center for excellence, this one funded by NASA, is the Center for Hypersonic Education
and Research for the study of high speed flight (i.e., flight more than five times the speed of
sound). Research topics in the center cover all aspects of the hypersonic realm from the very
fundamentals of hypersonic fluid dynamics including leading edge flows, shockwave interaction
and real gas effects to very applied studies of vehicle configuration, optimization and engine
controls and integration.
Learn more about Center for Hypersonics and Research...
Composites Research Laboratory (CORE)
The Composites Research Laboratory (CORE) provides an environment for educational, research,
and development of activities in composite materials and structures. The goals of the laboratory
are to promote the understanding and the use of composite materials, to maintain up-to-date
manufacturing and testing facilities in order to conduct basic research, and to provide an
accessible knowledge and technology base. CORE is comprised of facilities which allow the full
spectrum of specimen manufacture, preparation, inspection, and testing. The manufacture of
composite components and specimens can be done in either an autoclave or a vacuum hot press.
A layup facility allows the fabrication of flat laminates with arbitrary stacking sequences.
This facility includes the necessary templates to accurately cut preimpregnated tape, and two
four-section cure assemblies with caul plates and aluminum dams.
Learn more about Composites
Research Laboratory...
Glenn L. Martin Wind Tunnel (GLMWT)
The Glenn L. Martin Wind Tunnel is a state of the art low speed wind tunnel that has been
actively involved in aerodynamic research and development since 1949. It was constructed as
part of a gift to the University in the late 1940's. It was provided with the best available
equipment at the time of its construction and has been frequently upgraded to maintain it as
a state of the art facility. It is large enough to perform extensive development tests for a
wide range of vehicles and other systems and is well suited for conducting major research
efforts in low speed aerodynamics and hydrodynamics. The range of applications for subsonic
aerodynamic tests is very broad. The list of research and development tests carried out
includes work on aircraft of many types and many other vehicles and devices some of which
are mentioned on our "Examples of our work" page. More than 1800 tests have been
conducted to date.
Learn more about Glenn L. Martin Wind Tunnel...
Morpheus Laboratory
The brainchild of Dr. James Hubbard, Morpheus Lab is a dynamic research facility focused on aerospace applications of smart materials and structures. The lab has facilities at both the NASA Langley Research Center and the University of Maryland College Park, with additional offices at the National Institute of Aerospace. The Morpheus Laboratory focuses on developing disruptive aerospace technologies based on smart materials. We concentrate on finding revolutionary solutions to real-world problems, with an emphasis on simplicity of concept and elegance of design.
Morpheus intends to benefit society through the generation of scholarship in the fields of adaptive aerospace structures and smart materials. In doing so, Morpheus hopes to bring a new vitality and vision to the aerospace industry.
We at Morpheus believe that all of our experiments should be able to stand up to the
rigors of actual flight, and as such we maintain a small squadron of flying testbeds for
this purpose.
Learn more about the
Morpheus Lab ...
National Institute of Aerospace (NIA)
While there are many university, industry, and government lab–based scientists and engineers who will be engaged in aerospace engineering and atmospheric science research at the NIA and more generally in the fields, a continuous supply of fresh talent will be needed to keep these activities vibrant and growing. In addition, the knowledge that will drive these fields forward will continue to change as innovations reveal new ways of thinking. These changes will demand either a newly educated workforce or the continuous upgrade of scientific knowledge for those already established in the fields. NIA has established and is growing a set of educational programs that bring important knowledge to scientists and engineers in the aerospace engineering and atmospheric science fields, to the ultimate benefit of society.
NIA has already taken a major step toward the development of a world-class
educational environment by bringing together six highly regarded universities: Georgia Tech,
University of Maryland, North Carolina A&T, North Carolina State, Virginia Tech and the
University of Virginia. This team has a portfolio of demonstrated educational capabilities
that are acknowledged by leaders in the science and engineering community to be among the
best in the world. The NIA graduate program is being established at the NIA headquarters in
Hampton, Va. offering M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the member universities. These educational
opportunities are available to NASA employees and other partners of the Institute through
local instruction and advanced distance learning facilities.
Learn more about the National Institute of Aerospace(NIA)
Space Systems Laboratory
A leader in the area of astronautics, the Space Systems Laboratory is centered around
a 50-foot diameter, 25-foot deep water tank that is used to simulate the microgravity
environment of space. The only such facility housed at a university, Maryland's neutral
buoyancy tank is available of undergraduate and graduate research opportunities. Research
in Space Systems emphasizes space robotics, human factors, applications of artificial
intelligence and the underlying fundamentals of space simulation. There are currently
five robots being tested, including Ranger, a four-armed satellite repair robot. Launched
by NASA in 1996, Ranger and its predecessor robot were both constructed in the Space
Systems Lab.
Learn more about Space System
Laboratory...
