aerospace-innovation

The CEI Aerospace initiative fuels innovation at the crossroads of research, technology, and workforce development. Faculty pursue cutting-edge research, students engage in hands-on projects, and collaborations with industry provide valuable real-world context. By combining these elements, the program tackles pressing issues in aviation, space systems, and advanced engineering, while also preparing students for careers in aerospace and defense.

1. Research & Development (R&D): Faculty and Research

The CEI Aerospace initiative brings together faculty expertise and applied student research to address real-world challenges in aviation, space systems, and advanced engineering. These projects emphasize innovation, industry collaboration, and translational impact across defense, commercial aerospace, and emerging technologies.

GPU-Accelerated Digital Twin for Aerospace Power Systems (Dr. Ehsan Reihani) 
This project develops a high-fidelity, GPU-accelerated electromagnetic-transient (EMT) digital twin for aircraft and spacecraft electrical power systems. The system models complex power architectures—including HVDC buses, propulsion systems, and avionics loads—with microsecond-level precision. By integrating physics-based simulation with machine learning surrogates, the platform enables rapid design iteration, fault analysis, and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, significantly reducing certification risk and development time.
                                                                  Ehsan Reyhani

Hydrogen Hub for Sustainable Energy Systems (Dr. Saeed Jafarzadeh)
This research explores a scalable hydrogen-based energy ecosystem that integrates renewable energy generation, hydrogen production, storage, and utilization. While grounded in agricultural applications, the hydrogen hub model has strong relevance to aerospace and defense logistics by enabling energy independence, reducing carbon emissions, and supporting resilient off-grid operations.
                                                                  Saeed Jafarzadeh

IoT-Based Runway Condition Monitoring (Dr. Amin Malek)
This project proposes a distributed sensor network embedded in airport runways to monitor real-time conditions such as moisture, vibration, and structural strain. Sensor data is transmitted to cloud-based platforms (AWS IoT Core and SageMaker) to generate predictive insights and early warnings for hazardous conditions such as ice formation, debris, or surface degradation. The system provides a scalable, low-cost solution to improve aviation safety and operational efficiency.

Amin Malek

IoT-Enabled Structural Health Monitoring for UAVs (Dr. Amin Malek)
This research focuses on integrating lightweight wireless sensors into UAV structures to continuously monitor stress, vibration, and temperature. Using cloud-based analytics and machine learning, the system detects anomalies and predicts potential structural failures in real time. The approach offers a low-power, cost-effective solution tailored to UAV operations, with strong potential for commercialization and patent development.

CEI supports a growing pipeline of aerospace-focused R&D projects spanning simulation, materials, propulsion, and autonomous systems. Current and recent initiatives include:

  • Drone Vision Systems using computer vision for object detection and battlefield applications
  • Laser Heat Sink Research leveraging advanced modeling (ANSYS) to improve thermal dissipation in high-energy systems
  • NASA Blunt Body Aerodynamics Research improving spaceframe efficiency through fluid dynamics analysis
  • Autonomous Drone Flight and Wing Design Competitions advancing student capabilities in robotics and aerostructures

These projects are often conducted in collaboration with partners such as NAWCWD, NASA, and AFRL, and frequently result in publications, prototypes, and technology transfer opportunities.

2. Workforce Development

CEI Aerospace is equally focused on building a highly skilled workforce pipeline by connecting students with hands-on research, internships, and industry placements in aerospace and defense sectors.

 

Students participate in applied research and internship programs that bridge academic theory with real-world engineering practice. These experiences emphasize systems thinking, multidisciplinary collaboration, and technical depth.

Embedded Systems Internship Experience (Justin Lo)
Students gain direct exposure to low-level engineering challenges, including firmware development on microcontrollers, sensor calibration algorithms (e.g., thermistor linearization), and communication protocol implementation (SPI, UART). Experiences also extend beyond software into system integration and mechanical fabrication, reinforcing a “close-to-the-metal” engineering mindset critical for aerospace systems.

Justin

AFRL Digital Engineering Research (Brhyona Thomas)
Research conducted at the Air Force Research Laboratory explored the development of dynamic Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs) using Microsoft Visio. These diagrams were integrated with databases to enable real-time updates, multi-user perspectives, and automated validation through scripting. The work demonstrates how digital engineering tools can enhance accuracy, traceability, and decision-making in complex aerospace systems.

Brhyona

CEI Aerospace has established a strong track record of placing students into competitive aerospace roles:

  • Full-time placements at organizations such as NAWCWD and AFRL
  • Paid internships and part-time roles supporting research and engineering development
  • Student involvement in high-impact projects aligned with defense and space missions
The program engages over 200 engineering students and maintains a pipeline of dozens of active and prospective R&D projects. These efforts ensure that students graduate with both theoretical knowledge and practical experience, positioning them for immediate impact in the aerospace workforce.