Chapter Presents STEM Research to Industry, Government at Annual Meeting

The chapter attended the third annual student clubs meeting in May at the Portuguese Naval Academy to share R&D activities and opportunities with representatives from government, industry and academia. The chapter was represented at the meeting by Jorge Reis Silva, professor, University of Beira Interior (UBI) and adviser, and students Tiago Sanches, Joao Santos and Alexandre Nunes. Students presented their work in the fields of aeronautics, computer science and electromechanical engineering. Sanches presented his working project, "Optimal Robust Trajectory Control of Atmospheric Flights," a time-constrained waypoint navigation algorithm for improved flight planning and operating both unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and manned aircraft. His work could lead to improved stand-alone capabilities for UAVs and predictability for air traffic control services, reducing airport traffic congestion and arrival delays and improving aviation safety. Santos, under the research group "FireCamp2," which aims to improve fire prevention and emergency procedures on campsites, is working on a mobile app for firefighting aircraft operations optimization. The app would provide viable water points, per aircraft type, once installed on the pilot's tablet or smartphone with a GPS-referenced map of the area and the pilot's location. Nunes is working on the development of an opposed piston geared hypocycloid engine for aircraft applications, as it allows for higher specific torque and power/weight and power/volume ratios as well as superior engine balance. It also reduces the piston's side load, mass and sinusoidal motion at a lower development cost than conventional engine improvements. At the event, Rear Adm. Carlos Rodolfo, PRT NA (Ret.), AFCEA regional vice president, Atlantic Region and chairman, Portugal Chapter, also presented new student chapter board members with Silva. They included Sanches, president, Santos, second vice president, and Nunes, secretary.

Event Photographs: