June 29, 2011
November 24, 2009
On Nov. 11, 2009, Lockheed Martin presented a check to The University of Texas at Austin in the amount of $95,390, of which $50,000 will support two UT aerospace engineering student projects: the Small Autonomous Rover and the Longhorn Rocket Association. These projects provide critical hands-on experience for aerospace students as they apply classroom theory to real-world challenges. The department deeply appreciates Lockheed Martin’s continued support.
The Horizon Rover Unmanned Autonomous Vehicle project, advised by Professor Robert H. Bishop, has been under development for several years by undergraduate and graduate ASE/EM students. The objective is to develop autonomous obstacle avoidance technologies applicable to a wide range of vehicles types, from autonomous planetary surface rovers to UAS. The UT rover technology is now in its second generation with plans to improve the overall design in a third generation. Key technologies of the current generation include optimal path planning, dynamic obstacle avoidance and trajectory management. The Horizon Rover capabilities are being expanded to surface celestial navigation by fusing heterogeneous sensors suite including a star tracker, LIDAR imager, inertial measurement unit, GPS (for Earth applications), and a variety of sensors for measurement for sensing wheel velocities and heading.
The Longhorn Rocket Association (LRA), currently advised by Professor Charles Tinney, was founded in Fall 2007. In the early years of its inception, LRA members spent most of their time building hobby rockets from kits. Since then, students have become exposed to the design process and are participating in research about materials, aerodynamics, and building methods. Students are also being introduced to engineering skills such as performing trade studies and writing technical proposals. In the Spring of 2009 the LRA reached a new milestone when members designed and built two high powered amateur rockets. Their next goal is to design a rocket expected to reach an altitude of 100,000 ft (19-20 miles). The hope is that in future years the LRA will be able to collaborate with other aerospace groups like the Texas Spacecraft Lab (TSL) and carry payloads such as the picosatellites being built in the TSL.
Left: John Butler, Dan Crowley and Art McAnarney of Lockheed Martin presented the check. John Butler ’74 (BS Chemistry) is Vice President of Programs and Senior Naval Advisor at Lockheed Martin. Dan Crowley ’85 (BS Mechanical Engineering, ’91 MS Manufacturing Systems) is Executive Vice President of the Joint Strike Fighter Program. Art McAnarney is the College Relations Representative for Lockheed Martin.
Present to accept the check were ASE/EM Chairman and Professor, Philip L. Varghese, ASE/EM Professor and former department chairman, Professor Robert H. Bishop, and ASE/EM Professor Charles Tinney. The remainder of Lockheed’s gift benefits a computer lab in the College of Natural Sciences, and was accepted by Dean Mary Ann Rankin.
Horizon Rover graduate students present for the check presentation were Hector Escobar and Ana Guerrero. LRA students in attendance included: Stephen Seegmiller, President; Ryan Mire, Vice President; Jason Kish, Secretary; Shaina Shapiro, Treasurer; Jacob Rendon, Historian; Dan Oropeza, Assistant Vice President; Alexis Avram, Assistant Secretary; Pascual Mauricio, Assistant Treasurer; Rebekah Sosland, Member.
