Development of Air-table Facility for Space Systems Senior Design Program
  PI: Dr. Andre Mazzoleni - North Carolina State University

Much of NASA's current efforts are directed toward development of a new "Apollo-class" system for the purpose returning to the moon. One of the key components of such a system will be the ability to maneuver spacecraft relative to one another for docking and inspection purposes. One way to test out guidance and control systems for these types of applications is by using an air table along with 2-dimensional scale models. The proposed work involves having NC State Aerospace Engineering students develop an air table facility and spacecraft models in order to test a variety of maneuvers as discussed above.

  Initiating Biologically-Inspired Morphing Flight Senior Design Project

The aim of this proposal is to seek support for setting up the experimental part of a senior design class, Biologically Inspired Morphing Flight. The goal will be to build an autonomous small morphing aircraft. The course demands creative integration of traditionally disparate disciplines such as aerodynamics, controls, structural topology and design approaches, smart materials, signal processing, circuit design,; wireless sensors and communications, and systems integration. An important component of the project is the wing’s sensing and actuation.