NASA awards $30 million to four universities for next-gen aviation research

NASA’s University Leadership Initiative announced four multiyear awards totaling about $30 million to university teams working on cutting-edge aviation projects. The University of Minnesota, led by Terrence Meyer, will create a fuel-flexible propulsion system that switches from a conventional turbofan to a ramjet for supersonic cruise at Mach 4 or higher. Stanford University, under Somil Bansal, will design a machine-learning-based avionics safety framework, while a second Stanford team headed by Juan Alonso will build a high-fidelity simulation to chart low-noise flight paths for urban air mobility aircraft.

Virginia Tech, led by Darshan Sarojini, will employ model-based systems engineering and uncertainty quantification to streamline aircraft certification and reduce redesign costs. Andrew Provenza of NASA’s Glenn Research Center said the grants support the agency’s focus on high-speed travel, modernized air-traffic control and new air-transport options. The initiative also provides hands-on research experience for graduate and undergraduate students, strengthening the U.S. aeronautics workforce.