Feature Channels: Aviation and Aeronautics

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Released: 16-May-2019 8:05 AM EDT
Particles from aircraft engines affect airways
Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology

In a unique experimental setup, Swiss researchers have investigated the effect of exhaust particles from aircraft turbine engines on human lung cells. The cells reacted most strongly to particles emitted during ground idling. The study also showed that the cytotoxic effect is only to some extent comparable to that of particles from gasoline and diesel engines.

   
Released: 8-May-2019 12:05 PM EDT
Measuring flying comfort: researchers investigate airplane seat accommodation
Penn State College of Engineering

Whether for business or personal travel, now, more than ever, thousands of Americans spend their days in the air. While most airplane passengers are hoping for maximum comfort during their flights, airline companies look to maximize their profits — sometimes at the expense of passengers’ space. How to meet the seat needs of airline passengers isn’t something that has been quantified, so a team of researchers at Penn State set out to measure seat accommodation.

Released: 7-May-2019 11:50 AM EDT
Rutgers Senior Heads Student-Led Rocket Launch
Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Timothy Nuber, an aerospace engineering senior at Rutgers–New Brunswick's School of Engineering, is gearing up to watch a rocket he helped construct with Operation Space launch at the end of this month. Nuber founded and serves as president of the Space Technology Association of Rutgers (STAR), a democratic community of students that work together, not against each other, to stand out in the highly competitive space industry, and they plan to build and launch their own rocket here at Rutgers.

Released: 2-May-2019 10:05 AM EDT
High-speed experiments improve hypersonic flight predictions
Sandia National Laboratories

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — When traveling at five times the speed of sound or faster, the tiniest bit of turbulence is more than a bump in the road, said the Sandia National Laboratories aerospace engineer who for the first time characterized the vibrational effect of the pressure field beneath one of these tiny hypersonic turbulent spots.

25-Apr-2019 11:30 AM EDT
New Mathematical Approach Tested for the Search of Flight MH370
American Institute of Physics (AIP)

The 2014 disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 remains ones of the biggest mysteries in aviation. Recent efforts combining satellite data with a new mathematical approach, analyzing how debris moves around the ocean, aim to make headway in the search. Using what are known as Markov chain models, an international team of researchers has narrowed down a potential crash location substantially north of the region where most search efforts have concentrated. They discuss their work in this week’s journal Chaos

Released: 26-Apr-2019 11:00 AM EDT
University of Maryland’s Schools of Medicine and Engineering First to Use Unmanned Aircraft to Deliver Kidney for Transplant
University of Maryland Medical Center

In a first-ever advancement in human medicine and aviation technology, a University of Maryland unmanned aircraft has delivered a donor kidney to surgeons at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore for successful transplantation into a patient with kidney failure. This successful demonstration illustrates the potential of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for providing organ deliveries that, in many cases, could be faster, safer, and more widely available than traditional transport methods. The momentous flight was a collaboration between transplant physicians and researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore; aviation and engineering experts at the University of Maryland; the University of Maryland Medical Center; and collaborators at the Living Legacy Foundation of Maryland.

Released: 24-Apr-2019 4:05 PM EDT
Penn State Aerospace Engineering Head Appointed to FAA Aircraft Certification Review Committee
Penn State College of Engineering

Amy R. Pritchett, professor and head of aerospace engineering at Penn State, was recently named one of six experts by U.S Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao to serve on a U.S. Department of Transportation Special Committee that will review how the Federal Aviation Administration certifies aircraft.

Released: 18-Apr-2019 7:00 AM EDT
Future hypersonics could be artificially intelligent
Sandia National Laboratories

Sandia announced today the formation of Autonomy New Mexico, a national academic research coalition whose mission is to create artificially intelligent aerospace systems.

4-Apr-2019 3:00 PM EDT
Projection system to study insect vision could lead to new navigational aids
University of Alabama Huntsville

Development of a virtual reality-like projection system to study insect vision could eventually provide the U.S. Air Force with a new type of navigation system.

Released: 8-Apr-2019 3:00 AM EDT
Delta secures top spot in 29th Annual Airline Quality Rating
Wichita State University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Delta Air Lines is No. 1, and JetBlue is No. 2, according to the 29th annual Airline Quality Rating (AQR), released today, Monday, April 8. The AQR is the most comprehensive study of performance and quality of the largest airlines in the United States. The rating is a multifactor examination of the airlines based on mishandled baggage, consumer complaints, on-time performance and involuntary denied boardings.

Released: 3-Apr-2019 6:00 AM EDT
Upcoming Airline Quality Rating to Reveal Best U.S. Carriers
Wichita State University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

The 29th annual Airline Quality Rating (AQR), the longest running and most comprehensive study of the performance quality of the largest airlines in the United States, will be announced via a nationally distributed news release on Monday, April 8, at 3:01 a.m. EDT.

Released: 1-Apr-2019 1:00 PM EDT
How to Ice-Proof the Next Generation of Aircraft
American Institute of Physics (AIP)

To prevent ice formation and subsequent drag on aircraft during flight, current systems utilize the heat generated by burning fuel, but these high-temperature, fuel-dependent systems cannot be used on the proposed all-electric, temperature-sensitive materials of next-generation aircraft. As some scientists search for new anti-icing methods, some have taken a different approach. They’ve published evidence in Physics of Fluids showing that equipment important in controlling landing and takeoff can double-up as icing control. It depends on plasma actuators.

Released: 25-Mar-2019 8:05 AM EDT
SUSU Works with Materials for Aerospace, Electric Power, and Military Industries
South Ural State University

One key area of development in metallurgy today is the creation of new materials with especially high density, which can be used in the aerospace, aviation, military, and electric power industries. Researchers from South Ural State University are working with materials that are promising for all of these fields.

21-Mar-2019 10:15 AM EDT
More Efficient Satellite Launch Platform on the Horizon
University of Sydney

As part of a global industry research project, combustion experts from the University of Sydney’s School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering are one step closer to developing a more efficient and cost-effective access to space platform for satellite launches.

Released: 19-Mar-2019 1:00 AM EDT
Student steps in to help Airbus with last-minute project need
Wichita State University

Having direct access to students’ talent and skills is a huge part of why Airbus Americas moved to the Wichita State University campus two years ago. One of those opportunities for collaboration played out perfectly this winter when Airbus officials in the research and technology department needed a last-minute artistic rendering for an airplane seat under development.

   
Released: 12-Mar-2019 3:50 PM EDT
Secondhand Smoke Linked to Early Vascular Aging in Flight Attendants
Wolters Kluwer Health: Lippincott

Flight attendants with past exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) have preclinical signs of accelerated vascular aging, reports a study in the February Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

Released: 12-Mar-2019 11:05 AM EDT
At 3,836 mph, which way does the air flow?
University at Buffalo

UB aerospace engineer James Chen publishes a paper that extends classical kinetic theory into high-speed aerodynamics, including hypersonic speed, which begins at 3,836 mph or roughly five times the speed of sound. The new study and others by Chen in influential academic journals attempt to solve long-standing problems associated with high-speed aerodynamics.

Released: 11-Mar-2019 11:05 AM EDT
Innovative 'Structural Battery' Nearly Doubles Drone Air Time
Case Western Reserve University

'Structural battery' drone wings developed by a team led by Case Western Reserve University in Ohio allowed for a total flight time-- nearly three hours--that nearly doubled the craft's previous air time. The Feb. 22 launch at Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport was funded by Ohio and federal funds.

22-Feb-2019 2:40 PM EST
The Speedy Secrets of Mako Sharks – ‘Cheetahs of the Ocean’
American Physical Society (APS)

To investigate how shortfin mako sharks achieve their impressive speeds, researchers tested real sharkskin samples, using digital particle image velocimetry. They discovered that a “passive bristling” capability of the microscopic surface geometry of the shark’s scales controlled flow separation, which causes pressure drag -- the most influential cause of drag on aircraft. The work will be described at the 2019 APS March Meeting, and could lead to new designs to reduce drag on aircraft.

Released: 1-Mar-2019 10:05 AM EST
Wichita State University once again tops national rankings for engineering R&D
Wichita State University

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has released updated rankings for university research and development (R&D) expenditures, and Wichita State has held its position as the top university in the country for industry-funded aeronautical R&D with a total of $34 million.

Released: 28-Feb-2019 10:05 AM EST
Making Flight Safer With the “Internet of Airplanes”
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute computer scientists Stacy Patterson and Carlos Varela have teamed up to develop a prototype framework, the “Virtual Sky” platform, to fuse and analyze flight sensor data correctly, reliably, and quickly. Virtual Sky would serve as a model extension of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Next Generation Air Transportation System, a sweeping modernization of the National Airspace System that includes greater use of computer and satellite systems in air traffic elements like communication, navigation, weather, information management, and tracking.

Released: 22-Feb-2019 10:00 AM EST
Field campaign flies through icy weather
National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)

Winter in the United States can produce some of the most dangerous weather for the aviation industry, including freezing rain, freezing drizzle, and sleet. Those are the ideal conditions for a field campaign focused on collecting in-flight data in some of the most treacherous North American icing conditions.

Released: 12-Feb-2019 1:05 PM EST
Working with NASA to Secure Drone Traffic
Homeland Security's Science And Technology Directorate

Because heightened drone traffic also produces challenges for law enforcement as they try to identify and interdict illicit activity, DHS S&T is working closely with NASA and the FAA to develop its own independent USS to monitor traffic and enable greater transparency.

Released: 6-Feb-2019 9:00 AM EST
Land-Mine Detection Project Earns First Place at Create the Future Contest
Binghamton University, State University of New York

Jasper Baur and William Frazer, students at Binghamton University, State University of New York, won first place in the aerospace and defense category at the Create the Future Technology design contest for their project which uses drones to locate dangerous landmines.

Released: 28-Jan-2019 11:05 AM EST
Airline quality expert explains how government shutdown affects air travel
Wichita State University

Dean Headley, co-author of the national Airline Quality Rating from Wichita State University, explains how the government shutdown affects air travel.

   
Released: 24-Jan-2019 2:05 PM EST
Engineers eye static electricity to power our electronics
University at Buffalo

Static electricity is one of the most common, yet poorly understand, forms of power generation. A new study suggests the cause of this hair-raising phenomenon is tiny structural changes that occur at the surface of materials when they come into contact with each other. The finding could someday help technology companies create more sustainable and longer-lasting power sources for small electronic devices.

15-Jan-2019 1:05 PM EST
Feathers: Better Than Velcro?
University of California San Diego

The structures zipping together the barbs in bird feathers could provide a model for new adhesives and new aerospace materials, according to a study by an international team of researchers publishing in the Jan. 16 issue of Science Advances. Researchers 3D printed models of the structures to better understand their properties.

Released: 10-Jan-2019 10:05 AM EST
Five UAH programs ranked among the nation’s top 25 by NSF
University of Alabama Huntsville

The National Science Foundation released their latest survey of federally financed research expenditures, and five UAH programs continue to be ranked among the top 25 in the nation.

   
Released: 2-Jan-2019 3:05 PM EST
Test Flights Open Skies for Commercial Use of Drones
University of North Dakota

The University of North Dakota, along with research partners from Harris Corporation and the Northern Plains Unmanned Aircraft Systems Test Site, achieved a major industry milestone on Dec. 21 with the first-ever test flights over a specially developed UAS network of technologies that opens the skies for broad commercial use of drones.

Released: 5-Dec-2018 1:05 PM EST
‘Special Airlift Mission 41’ To Conduct College Station Flyover In Honor Of President George H.W. Bush
Texas A&M University

The 89th Airlift Wing, based at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, will conduct a tribute flight in honor of former President George H.W. Bush with an Air Force VC-25A over the interment site at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library Center on the campus of Texas A&M University today at about 3:55 p.m. CST.

Released: 4-Dec-2018 6:05 PM EST
ANGELS will guide space start-ups
University of Adelaide

The space industry is set to benefit from expert guidance from University of Adelaide lawyers on Australian and international laws that regulate their activities.

   
Released: 26-Nov-2018 1:05 PM EST
Future of flight is now
Case Western Reserve University

Many experts agree the future of flight will rely on zero-emission and/or renewable energy technology. That is, aircraft will be propelled by ions—electrically charged molecules—that create thrust in their wake. But that future is already here.

Released: 20-Nov-2018 7:05 AM EST
2018-19 Airline Food Study
Center for Food As Medicine and Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center

The study assigned a “Health Score” (5 stars = highest rate, 0 star = lowest) based on eleven criteria including health and calorie levels of meals, snack boxes and individual snacks, level of transparency (display nutrient information & ingredients), improvement and maintenance of healthy offerings, menu innovation, food and water safety and cooperation in providing this information. The survey includes health ratings, average calories per airline, comments, best bets, food offerings, costs, nutrition information (e.g., calories, and exercise equivalents.

Released: 19-Nov-2018 5:05 PM EST
Progress of Unmanned Aerial Systems Program at UTEP is Soaring
University of Texas at El Paso

Michael McGee, Ph.D., has made UTEP the focal point of efforts to significantly improve public safety and bolster border security through the utilization of drone technology. His ability to bridge communication between various governmental agencies has not only elevated UTEP’s drone program, it has also increased the campus’ footprint.

Released: 13-Nov-2018 8:05 AM EST
New Scheduling System Could Help Reduce Flight Delays
Binghamton University, State University of New York

Scheduling and coordinating air traffic can be difficult, but taking the airlines’ and passengers’ delay costs into account can actually save airlines money and result in fewer delays, according to a new study from Binghamton University, State University of New York.

Released: 7-Nov-2018 10:05 AM EST
Wind tunnel and lasers provide hypersonic proving ground at Sandia National Laboratories
Sandia National Laboratories

Sandia National Laboratories, with a hypersonic wind tunnel and advanced laser diagnostic technology, is in an excellent position to help U.S. defense agencies understand the physics associated with aircraft flying five times the speed of sound.

Released: 6-Nov-2018 12:05 PM EST
From “Touching the Stars” in a U-2 Spy Plane to Bringing Babies into the World
Cedars-Sinai

Cholene Espinoza, MD, is the second woman to fly a U-2 spy plane, and while her experience “touching the stars” was breathtaking, it doesn’t compare to the magic of her richest role yet: welcoming babies to the world.

Released: 2-Nov-2018 11:05 AM EDT
Feeling the need for speed, neutrons study fluid flow for hypersonic flight
Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Searching for solutions to supersonic fluid flow behavior, researchers from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and the U.S. Air Force are using neutron radiography at DOE’s ORNL. The team says a better understanding of spray dynamics will lead to improved fuel injector designs for the aeronautic and automotive industries as well as other spray-related applications used in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, and more.

Released: 31-Oct-2018 11:05 AM EDT
DHS S&T Announces Second Biometric Technology Rally
Homeland Security's Science And Technology Directorate

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is calling for submissions to a Biometric Technology Rally scheduled for Spring 2019

30-Oct-2018 12:05 PM EDT
Strong Ability to Detect and Perceive Motion May Prevent Pilot Disorientation
Massachusetts Eye and Ear

A new study led by researchers at Massachusetts Eye and Ear found that good performance on a piloting task was associated with lower vestibular thresholds, which represent stronger ability to sense and perceive information about motion, balance and spatial orientation. Published online today in the Journal of Neurophysiology, the findings suggest that astronauts or pilots with higher vestibular thresholds are more likely to become disoriented during flight, especially in situations when gravity is less than that on Earth – such as on the Moon.

Released: 25-Oct-2018 11:05 AM EDT
Looking ahead: What’s the next big thing in aviation screening?
Homeland Security's Science And Technology Directorate

Although airports are much more secure today, the check-in, security, and boarding process is more time-consuming and intensive which affects the passenger experience. Since the aviation experience has changed so drastically, it begs the question – what will airport security look like 20 years from now?

Released: 22-Oct-2018 10:30 AM EDT
Sandia delivers first DOE sounding rocket program since 1990s
Sandia National Laboratories

A new rocket program could help cut research and development time for new weapons systems from as many as 15 years to less than five. Sandia National Laboratories developed the new program, called the High Operational Tempo Sounding Rocket Program, or HOT SHOT, and integrated it for its first launch earlier this year under the National Nuclear Security Administration's direction.

Released: 18-Oct-2018 3:55 PM EDT
Penn State Engineers to Study Use of Beamed Microwave Energy to Launch Space Vehicles
Penn State College of Engineering

The Air Force Office of Scientific Research has awarded two Penn State College of Engineering faculty members funding totaling more than $823,000 for a three-year program to develop and use a facility to study the use of beamed microwave energy to launch space vehicles off the surface of Earth.

Released: 9-Oct-2018 8:00 AM EDT
Lockheed Martin partners with Uni of Adelaide on machine learning
University of Adelaide

Technology and innovation company Lockheed Martin Australia has become the first Foundation Partner with the University of Adelaide’s new Australian Institute for Machine Learning.

Released: 2-Oct-2018 3:05 PM EDT
PNNL and LanzaTech team to make new jet fuel
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Carbon-rich pollution converted to a jet fuel will power a commercial flight for the first time today. The Virgin Atlantic Airlines’ flight from Orlando to London using a Boeing 747 will usher in a new era for low-carbon aviation that has been years in the making. Through a combination of chemistry, biotechnology, engineering and catalysis, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and its industrial partner LanzaTech have shown the world that carbon can be recycled and used for commercial flight.

Released: 19-Sep-2018 4:05 PM EDT
Physicists Train Robotic Gliders to Soar Like Birds
University of California San Diego

Scientists know that upward currents of warm air assist birds in flight. To understand how birds find and navigate these thermal plumes, researchers used reinforcement learning to train gliders to autonomously navigate atmospheric thermals. The research highlights the role of vertical wind accelerations and roll-wise torques as viable biological cues for soaring birds. The findings also provide a navigational strategy that directly applies to the development of UAVs.

12-Sep-2018 8:15 AM EDT
John Christian Named AIAA Associate Fellow
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)

John Christian, assistant professor of mechanical, aerospace, and nuclear engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, has been elected to the Class of 2019 Associate Fellows of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

   


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