The projects involves the University Transportation Center of Excellence for Advanced Air Mobility and Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
The department is investing an initial $2 million over the next two years to support research in “multimodal transportation, emergency response, regional air mobility, and preparing the infrastructure and workforce needed to make new aviation technologies a success.”
Heading the N.C. A&T effort as principal investigator is Abdollah Homaifar, a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering within the College of Engineering.
N.C. A&T is being joined by researchers from N.C. State University and Elizabeth City State University, along with industry partners that include Boeing, AeroX, Crown Consulting, Flyabout Strategies LLC, AirDex Inc. and Raven Advisory LLC.
“Research leadership in air mobility and transportation is crucial given the importance of access in today's world," said Stephanie Luster-Teasley Pass, dean of the College of Engineering. "Our faculty and students are dedicated to finding solutions that enhance aviation technologies, focusing on improving safety, accessibility, and autonomous transportation. They are also committed to empowering students to apply their innovative ideas to meet the transportation challenges and design needs of the future."
A&T officials said the proposed research "will directly enhance connectivity between ground and air transport, ensuring multimodal operations and greater efficiency."
"It also will improve the state’s emergency response capabilities, enabling faster and more effective disaster relief efforts in rural communities."
Another focus of the center will be economic growth, in particular job creation in the sector.
N.C. A&T also will contribute to developing an advanced simulation platform between ground and air transport systems that aims to enhance connectivity, ensuring multimodal transportation solutions for urban and rural communities in North Carolina.
That includes "ensuring the safe and reliable deployment of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, connecting regional areas to major transit hubs and addressing operational challenges."
N.C. State’s research team will contribute primarily in the areas of surface and air mobility integration, rural emergency response, operational safety and reliability, and the potential economic, infrastructure, and workforce benefits and impacts of this technology.
ECSU’s research team will focus on assessing unmanned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility deployment for emergency response in rural areas and workforce training program for advanced air mobility operators.
©2024 the News & Record (Greensboro, N.C.). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
