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March 2011
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1. USN&WR: AA ties for 1st
MIT has, for the second consecutive year, tied with Cal Tech for first place in the US News and World Report rankings of aerospace engineering graduate programs. Both scored a 4.8 on a scale of 5. Following the two schools were Stanford, Georgia Tech, and Michigan. The ratings were based on input from aerospace department heads around the country. |
Amedeo Odoni
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2. Odoni elected to NAE
Acting Department Head Dave Darmofal writes: Please join me in congratulating Professor Amedeo Odoni on his selection to the National Academy of Engineering. Election to the NAE is among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer. Academy membership honors those who have made outstanding contributions to "engineering research, practice, or education, including, where appropriate, significant contributions to the engineering literature," and to the "pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of engineering, or developing/implementing innovative approaches to engineering education." In particular, Amedeo was recognized for his contributions to, and global leadership in air traffic control and airport systems.
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Eytan Modiano
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3. Modiano promoted to full prof
The MIT Corporation Executive Committee has approved the promotion of Professor and Interim Associate Department Head Eytan Modiano to Full Professor, effective July 1, 2011. This is in recognition of his international standing as an exceptional scholar in aerospace communications research, his excellent teaching, and his service to both the department and his profession. Eytan began teaching in the department in 1999. Prior to that, he was on the technical staff at Lincoln Lab.
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4. The defenders
As a new AeroAstro feature, we'll be reporting on the latest theses defenses. Thanks to Professor Nick Roy for the great suggestion.
Thomas Temple passed his defense on February 4. Thesis title was "A General Index Heuristic for Search with Mobile Agents." His committee comprised Professor Emilio Frazzoli (advisor/chair), Dr. Anouck Girard (U Mich), Dr. Ketan Savla (LIDS), and Professor Brian Williams. Congratulations, Tom.
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Missy Cummings
Hamsa Balakrishnan
 Elena de La Rosa Blanco
Jim Hileman
Nancy Leveson
Bobby Braun
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5. Newsbriefs
• In a recent story about the use of UAVs to inspect damage in earthquake and tsunami-ravaged Japan, American Public Media's radio program "Marketplace" interviewed Professor Missy Cummings about the future of such aircraft. You can stream the broadcast on the Marketplace website.
• Professor Hamsa Balakrishnan's research into making aircraft traffic flow more efficiently at Logan Airport was featured in the March 10 Boston Globe. The study has shown that taxi times and fuels consumption are reduced when gate pushbacks are better coordinated.
• Senior Garrett Hemann is second author on "Planning to Perceive: Exploiting Mobility For Robust Object Detection," which captured the best student paper for this year's upcoming International Conference on Automated Planning and Scheduling.
• AA seniors Mary Knapp and Ian Sugel won 2nd prize in the Nanosatellite Constellation Mission Idea Contest. Titled "ExoplanetSat Constellation," their mission would dedicate a fleet of small satellites to monitor the brightest sun-like stars for Earth-sized transiting exoplanets. The contest conference was held in Japan at the time of the massive earthquakes. AeroAstro grad student Tatsuya Arai, who helped organize MIT's involvement, said, "At the conference, Mary was so brave that even when aftershocks hit the venue a couple of times, and projectors and screens swung left and right, she did not stop; just continued her presentation."
• Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar named Professor Nancy Leveson to the Ocean Energy Safety Advisory Committee, "a permanent advisory body of the nation’s leading scientific, engineering, and technical experts who will provide guidance on offshore drilling safety, well containment, and spill response."
• Congratulations to Gas Turbine Lab research engineer Elena de La Rosa Blanco and Partnership for AiR Transportation Noise and Emissions Reduction Associate Director/Principal Research Engineer Jim Hileman on the birth of their first child, Santiago, who arrived February 21. All are doing well, (a bleary-eyed) Jim reports.
• Farzan Sasangohar, an ESD grad student, invites AeroAstro students to join the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society MIT Student Chapter. The majority of of HFES Student Group members are AeroAstro students, he says, and AeroAstro's HAL, ICAT and MVL labs are affiliated.
• NASA Chief Technologist Bobby Braun will speak on "Exploring Space Through Innovation and Technology," at 4pm on April 20 in 26-100. The talk is part of the Mass Space Grant Consortium 21st Annual Distinguished Lecturer Series and is cosponsored by AeroAstro. |
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6. Comings and goings
• Jori Barabino is our newest fiscal officer. He's located in 33-214.
• Quentin Alexander joined the department this month as administrative assistant to professors Balakrishnan, Hall, How, and Newman. You can find him in 33-336. |
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7. Seen around AeroAstro
WOMEN IN AEROSPACE — In January, the department and EAPS cosponsored the third annual Women in Aerospace Symposium. Invited doctoral candidates from a number of universities presented their work and networked with colleagues and professionals from industry and academia. AeroAstro grad student Sameera Ponda was one of the presenters, speaking on "Decentralized Mission Planning for Human-Robotic Teams."
NEITHER RAIN NOR SLEET — On a snowy January afternoon, 16.680 (the IAP prototyping and testing continuation of 16.82) students and TAs observe while junior Bill Dougherty launches a scale model of the mini UAV they designed. They were testing the vehicle for its flight characteristics and stability. While the actual UAV will be autonomous, this prototype is RC-controlled.
PI(E) DAY — Professors John Hansman (left) and Dave Darmofal good-naturedly submitted to a student pie-throwing on 3-14, otherwise known as Pi Day. Students made donations to a lottery for the opportunity to throw the pies. Proceeds went to charity.
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8. Not your average JetJoe
Administrative assistant Robin Courchesne-Sato of the Gas Turbine Lab reports:
IAP 2011 was a roaring time for 12 students who signed on for the Jet Engine competition, lead by Professor Zolti Spakovszky, Dr. Fred Ehrich, and lab manager Jimmy Letendre. The students first received lectures on the aerodynamics of turbomachinery and jet engine component design. They were then assigned to teams and asked to conduct a mean-line through-flow analysis using concepts seen in Unified Engineering. Dr. Fred Ehrich lectured them on JJ1200 "JetJoe" model jet engine function and operation. The teams measured the kit's components and submitted an aero/thermodynamic analysis predicting its performance. Then, each team assembled a kit and tested its engine in the GTL test cell under Jimmy's guidance. Measured performance was compared to predicted performance. Team B, comprising Carlos A Ruvalcaba, Jose Marquez, and Michael Lieu, was declared the winner and each member awarded a prize: “The Jet Engine”, a comprehensive textbook by Rolls Royce illustrating the design, operation, and servicing of aircraft gas turbine engines. A good time and hands-on engineering experience were had by all.
Congratulations to (from l.) Carlos A Ruvalcaba, Jose Marquez, and Michael Lieu - winners of our '11 JetJoe Comp. The students performed aero/thermodynamic analysis of the little jet engine, then ran the engine in test cell and compared performance with their predictions. |
 
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If you know of events, honors, activities, or other information you'd like to see in the next issue of AeroAstro enews, please send to wlitant@mit.edu — we'd be pleased to include your submissions. |
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