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Virginia Tech Receives NASA Funding to Develop Self-Sustaining Planetary Exploration Concept |
ARI Professor Teaches Class in Mumbai (Bombay), India | |
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An autonomous space exploration system is currently under development at Virginia Tech in a joint project between the Alexandria Research Institute and the Aerospace and Ocean Engineering (AOE) Department in Blacksburg. One of 12 competitively solicited Phase I projects, it was awarded last year by the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC).
This novel exploration architecture harvests energy from the surrounding environment and will enable a persistent science presence on worlds with dense atmospheres such as Venus and Saturn’s moon, Titan.
The system consists of three major elements (see diagram below): a swarm of low-altitude, buoyancy-driven gliders for terrain exploration and sampling; a tethered, high-altitude, buoyant oscillating wing that absorbs wind energy by using small changes in pitch to cause large vertical motions; and a mid-altitude docking station to anchor the wind energy absorber, inductively recharge the gliders, and serve as a communications relay.
Self-Sustaining Exploration System Architecture (Click for larger image)
The study hopes to pave the way for future planetary missions using swarms of low-cost, rechargeable explorers, together with a distributed network of power and communication nodes sustainably energized by their surrounding environment. Such systems might be able to operate autonomously for years.
The project is directed by Craig Woolsey, an AOE assistant professor in Blacksburg, whose research expertise lies in the use of internal moving-mass actuation and shape-change buoyancy control for autonomous underwater vehicles.
The atmospheric glider will use the same basic locomotion principals as the underwater gliders now used for oceanographic research, increasing or decreasing its volume to change its buoyancy. Horizontal movement is controlled by shifting weights located within its outboard hulls, causing the inboard wing to twist, and the glider to bank left or right. With all maneuvering mechanisms located internally, they are protected from harsh atmospheric chemicals, such as the sulfuric acid on Venus or Titan's organic molecules.
George Hagerman, senior research associate at the Alexandria Research Institute, is co-principal investigator and responsible for the design of the oscillating-wing wind energy device, applying his expertise in renewable ocean energy conversion to the unique challenges of space exploration.
George Hagerman Craig Woolsey Woolsey and Hagerman are being assisted by Mike Morrow, an AOE graduate student who is developing a numerical simulation model of the glider.
The primary case study for this project will be a future mission to Titan, and the Virginia Tech team will be using wind speed measurements and other atmospheric data recently collected by the Huygens probe that parachuted to the surface of Titan last month.
For more information regarding this project, please contact George Hagerman at Hagerman@vt.edu. Additional information can be found by visiting: http://www.niac.usra.edu/ |
Dr. Luiz DaSilva, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, flew to India in January to teach Fundamentals of Computer Systems (ECE 4500).
In the recently announced joint Master’s in Information Technology (MIT) program between Virginia Tech and S. P. Jain Institute of Management and Research in Mumbai, India, this was the first class.
Luiz DaSilva The MIT program exposes graduate students to coursework in computer engineering, computer science and business. DaSilva’s course focused on hardware architecture for computer systems. Approximately 30 students attended the classes, which were taught in an intensive all-day format for five consecutive days. After course completion, students will spend approximately four weeks in design projects.
Class Participants of ECE 4500
The MIT Program is customized to address the needs of the IT Industry in Asia. The program leads to a Master's Degree in Information Technology given jointly by Virginia and SPJIMR, Mumbai.
Reception hosted by students for DaSilva
For more information regarding this program, please contact DaSilva by email: ldasilva@vt.edu |
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Alexandria Research Institute 206 N.Washington Street
Suite 400 P: (703) 518-8080 F: (703) 518-8085 |
Northern Virginia Center 7054 Haycock Road
Falls Church, Virginia 22043
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