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To UTand Beyond Roughly three hours from Rocky Top lies the University of Tennessee system’s greatest hidden gem: the University of Tennessee Space Institute.

On this campus in Tullahoma, researchers are working with the United States Air Force and using nanotechnology to test different medicines on tumors—and of course, figuring out what else man can do and learn in the final frontier.

In this issue, read about everything the institute is working and collaborating, and maybe you’ll end up with space fever too.

Graphic by Jeremiah Corbett • The Daily Beacon

Volume 132 Issue 36

utdailybeacon.com @utkdailybeacon

Thursday, October 13, 2016

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The Daily Beacon • Thursday, October 13, 2016

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Nanotechnology: small molecules, big impact Shelby Whitehead Contributor

When people imagine a mad scientist’s laboratory, they may picture vials and microscopes scattered around a room filled by men in white, puffy protective suits and goggles.

This is exactly what it’s like in the UT Space Institute’s clean room.

The room is completely enclosed, but windows allow outsiders to watch the science take place inside. On the ceiling, fans circulate and filtrate the air, allowing only pure air inside the completely sterile environment. To enter the clean room, a person must walk into a closet space and dress in a white sterile suit, including a cap and booties.

The labs are part of UTSI’s Laser Center, and the clean room is an epicenter for research that requires extremely sterile surroundings.

“When we’re dealing with tiny motors on an integrated circuit of these devices, just one particle landing on it would destroy that device.

So anything that requires ultra clean processes can be done inside here,” Joel Davenport, director of advanced research labs and technical support, said.

One type of research being conducted in the clean room is nanotechnology, involving molecules that are extremely small. The National Nanotechnology Initiative website said “nano” molecules are a million times smaller than the length of an ant.

But something so small is having a huge impact on science.

Nanotechnology involves the use and creation of those super-small particles, and UTSI has been using nanotechnology to test and treat cancerous tumors.

A leader in UTSI’s nanotechnology and laser research is William Hofmeister, professor in the Center for Laser Applications Research. One way in which Hofmeister’s methods are unique is through his use of lasers in manipulating the nanofibers.

“We suspected that … laser machining was capable of nanofabrication and largely unexplored territory. So we explored. And we discovered,” Hofmeister said.

His methods are not only creative, but they are cutting edge in cancer and tumor research.

The nanomolecules join together and become a long, thin string of nanofibers. These nanofibers are used to grow a glass shell around the outside of the fiber. Then the fiber is dissolved, so only the glass remains.

The glass shell creates a hollow tube, which can be arranged together to create a series of tiny channels.

These channels can be stuck into the tumor, and each glass can be individually filled with a different type of medicine. The medicine flows down the tube like a drink flows down a straw.

This glass channel allows the researchers to see exactly how the medicine impacts the tumor by specifying application. The small tubes arranged side by side allow the researcher to compare many different treatments on the same tumor.

This research has major implications in

UTSI’s Laser Center clean room where nanotechnology is being developed. Amanda Collins • The Daily Beacon biomedical engineering and cancer treatment.

Hofmeister continues to work with students and professional within the nanotechnology field to create methods that can be applied to the cancer research, stem cell research and cell development.

Nanotechnology is also used in micromachining, microfluidics and molecule manipulations, meaning this field is expanding how researches deal with the study of small processes.

UT partners with U.S. Air Force Tom Cruise

News Editor Through the UT Space Institute’s advanced research and development and their prime location adjacent from Arnold Air Force Base in Tullahoma, Tennessee, a partnership has developed that carries the institute further on a national level.

Adjacent to Arnold Air Force Base, UTSI has acquired a partnership with the U.S. Air Force by aiding in various missions that cater to the needs of the Department of Defense.

Possessing state of the art, yet inexpensive, test facilities, UTSI provides a location for Air Force members to come and run diagnostics on various equipment that would generally cost more if tested on base.

The history of this partnership dates back to the conception of the institute. During the height of the Cold War, the institute was created to support the Air Force’s missions.

“Our history has been strongly involved with the Air Force,” Mark Whorton, institute direc-

tor, said. “Our primary, core mission here is to support them.”

Not only does the Air Force provide access to less expensive equipment, but they also allow UTSI to use various types of equipment that may not otherwise be available to the institute.

UTSI’s wind tunnel and 3D print technology played a major role in a recent diagnostic test for the Air Force. After a newly designed, midflight refueling device had been unsuccessful in flight, UTSI was able to recreate the device and ultimately resolve the issue.

“We never even thought about an error in the basic design of the device,” Joel Davenport, advanced research labs director, said. “But we were able to locate it for the Air Force and make it mission ready.”

Although diagnostics play a major role in the partnership, additional research continues in support of the Department of Defense. Through the Hypersonic Initiative, UTSI hopes to aid the Air Force in developing rockets that can reach a target in the matter of minutes if necessary.

John Schmisseur, B.H. Goethert Professor, shared his vision of the hypersonic plans and

their ability to provide safety on a national level.

“We’re motivated by concerns of the U.S. and its lead diminishing,” Schmisseur said. “In terms of national defense, if you can reach out and touch someone before they reach out and touch you, it’s always a good thing.”

From Schmissuer’s vision, possessing these abilities would prevent more intense weapons, such as nuclear missiles, from being necessary to use, and “it keeps everyone honest.”

An additional collaboration exists within the propulsion lab at the institute where UTSI operates various jets engines owned by the military in conjunction with Air Force operators.

“We have a memorandum with the base to use this (propulsion lab) as a shared facility,” Davenport said. “We provide the facility; the base provides the equipment.”

Although the research at UTSI continues to move forward in various aspects of innovative research and education, the institute’s primary mission remains the same.

Through new developments, UTSI hopes to continue supporting the security of the country and its allies into the future.

UT SPACE INSTITUTE ISSUE

Thursday, October 13, 2016 • The Daily Beacon

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Hypersonic initiative looks to bring Mach 5 to UT Space Institute Tom Cruise

News Editor Innovation is at the heart of the UT Space Institute’s research. Aerospace, biomedical and engineering research are just a few of the fields UTSI delves into; however, one research plan stands out above the rest.

The Hypersonic Research Initiative is a large concept within the walls of UTSI, and the institute is looking to bring on a new field of study — never before seen at the institute.

Currently, researchers are using wind tunnels capable of Mach 2, or two times the speed of sound, to study different flow features and aerodynamics.

Soon, UTSI will be equipped to produce Mach 4, a supersonic speed, inside the largest wind tunnel in the academic world. While this ability will bring large amounts of research opportunities, the institute aspires higher, aiming to reach Mach 5, or hypersonic, at five times the speed of sound.

Recently, hypersonic aircrafts have become a popular topic throughout the nation. The U.S. Air Force announced plans to invest a large amount of resources into hypersonic aircrafts in hopes of beginning testing within the next five years.

John Schmisseur, professor at UTSI, recognized the heavy interest in this initiative and has designed a research plan to bring hypersonic capabilities to the institute. Through his research, Schmisseur hopes to cater to U.S. needs in several sectors.

“Hypersonics is a tactical balance of preventing larger scale weapons such as nuclear missiles from being necessary,” Schmisseur said. “We also want to use this hypersonic research to drive us to new accomplishments and growth.

This can benefit us from an industrial and economic standpoint here at home.”

In addition to the applications for hypersonics within this hemisphere, Schmisseur hopes the initiative will help extend space access by producing satellites for orbit or safely bringing astronauts home.

“Our ultimate mission is to provide for the department of defense,” Schmisseur said. “But we can still look to providing a better quality of life and provide a better impact.”

Overall, the multi-phase research plan will focus around detailed research on the fundamental aspects of high speed flows. Through this research, complex flow and shock wave studies will partner with experimental studies on high Mach speeds.

Along with Schmisseur, UTSI has formed a grad-student group, led by Phil Kreth, called

HORIZON which is currently taking on various research projects within this initiative.

One specific research project, funded by the Office of Naval Research, is focusing around the turbulence or “shock” that an aircraft might encounter at high speeds. These shock-boundary layer interactions will allow researchers to mimic the shock separation around the aircraft and better develop a more aerodynamic scale for successful travel.

“There’s a lot of unsteadiness that leads to certain problems in some aircraft,” Kreth said. “That’s what we are trying to prevent.”

This advanced research, however, cannot be performed with the current wind tunnels that UTSI has to offer. With this in mind, a more efficient building is being designed to support these Mach capabilities.

In what was previously known as the “blue building,” a new tunnel will be installed to produce Mach 4, with a focus on transferring to Mach 5 soon after.

The transfer will not come easy.

“Once you get above Mach 4, the temperature drops and liquefies the air,” Advanced Research Labs Director Joel Davenport said. “To heat the air poses a much more difficult process.”

From Mach 4, researchers will study and learn the various aspects and mannerisms of the tunnel to prepare for Mach 5 and beyond.

Graphic by Hannah Jones • The Daily Beacon

Education program goes the distance for UT students Tom Cruise

News Editor

Approximately 40 graduate students live on the campus of the UT Space Institute and participate in research and study in various academic paths; however, some students choose a program that provides the same learning experience from a distance.

The distance education program allows students from all over the world to participate in what UTSI has to offer. By providing the knowledge and skills needed to lead technical organizations to success, the program continues to thrive.

Participation in distance education allows many of the country’s astronauts to obtain their master’s degrees in various fields. A total of 12 astronauts have attended the program between 1970 and 2002 with nine graduating.

“Our distance ed program has helped get astronauts to space,” Coordinator Barbara Birdsong said.

Additionally, UTSI provided International astronaut and Colonel of the Canadian Air Force Chris Hadfield with his degree in aviation systems.

The distance education program began in 1981 in response to the demand for education

on aviation systems and engineering management. The education department recognized this need and created the program for students in the military and those who were unable to attend classes on campus.

The main classroom for distance education possesses a unique history of its own. Following the Vietnam War, stealth technology was a great interest for the U.S. The classroom was once titled the “Owl flight simulator” where researchers would watch an owl fly back and forth to determined its ability to fly quietly.

Following the flight simulator room’s transformation into a classroom, a three-camera operating system was installed. After recording live lectures in the classroom, video tapes were sent to students in the Air Force.

Additionally, video tapes were sent to the National Technological University in Fort Collins, Colorado, and this collaboration was the beginning of distance education programs across the country.

Media Production Specialist Mark Cross shared the significance of the program and its influence on the U.S. education system.

“Sending tapes to the National Technological University was the ‘grandfather’ of distance education,” Cross said.

Hundreds of video tapes were being sent out from UTSI until 1992. During this time, the UT “Ed-Net” system was created to allow

The astronaut wall in the main lobby of UTSI highlighting the astronauts who have attended since 1970. Photo by Amanda Collins • The Daily Beacon for interactive classes. Using telephone lines, UTSI transferred data through numerous switch boards providing real-time interaction.

As the demand for distance education grew into the 2000’s, UTSI’s technology grew as well.

Once the Internet started becoming more popular and faster, the education program changed from an analog to digital system.

“We now record all of our videos and put

them into files for students to log in and view,” Cross said.

While some things have changed, the threecamera system continues to be the basis of the program as it looks to continue its success into the future.

“We have students currently viewing our videos at sea and all over the world,” Cross said.

“And that’s always very exciting.”

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The Daily Beacon • Thursday, October 13, 2016

(Above) The main entrance to the University of Tennessee Space Institute.

(Right) The vaccuum chamber of the UT Space Institute is used to simulate the vacuum of space.

(Far Right) The view of the Wood’s Reservoir Lake from the UTSI cafeteria.

All photos by Amanda Collins • The Daily Beacon

“

The University of Tennessee Space Institute: 50 years in the making Tom Cruise

News Editor

Sitting on a peninsula, overlooking a quiet rural lake, you can find the University of Tennessee Space Institute.

Located in Tullahoma, Tennessee, the institute stands isolated from the general public and possesses a serene atmosphere that one could associate with a private resort.

In 1964, the space institute was created to address the needs of the U.S. during the Cold War. Due to the acceleration of the space exploration program, the state of Tennessee and UT jointly established the institute to support those efforts.

Fifty years later, the institute still carries on that support for U.S. ambitions but welcomes new fields of research to carry into the future.

Prior to entering the building, a quiet display of nature engulfs the area. After walking up the stairs between large pillars and through a revolving glass door, visitors are welcomed into the institute’s main lobby.

Among one of the most recognized aspects of the institute is the Astronaut Wall displaying all of the astronauts that have walked through the institute since the beginning of its educational opportunities.

Though modest, the wall shares the portraits and titles of the 12 astronauts, nine of which have graduated from UT, and their current status. One astronaut, Colonel Chris A. Hadfield, attended UTSI as an international student and is currently active in the Canadian Air Force.

Captain Scott Kelly, who recently visited UT in August 2016, is recognized on the wall with a master’s degree in Aviation Systems as a class of ‘96 graduate.

Education is one of the prime focuses of UTSI. Although associated with space, the institute’s educational programs extend beyond that. Graduate students pursue a variety of programs such as aviation, mathematics and various engineering degrees.

Students within aerospace programs can have the opportunity to experience flight with UTSI’s flight simulator which allows for realtime feel and control of flying an aircraft.

Through their various programs, UTSI is recognized for its distance learning which allows students outside of campus, at sea and abroad to participate in classes and obtain their education.

“Many of our astronauts participated in the distance education program to obtain their degrees,” Barbara Birdsong, UTSI coordinator, said.

Students who are active on campus engage in formal coursework but also participate in intensive research. The research program exists as the heart of the institute by providing learning and experience for students, but also by performing mission oriented research in aerospace and materials science.

One research program, the Hypersonic Initiative, is currently in development and with research projected to begin soon.

Beginning with the current capabilities of producing Mach 4 for flight research, the new program looks to produce Mach 5, which is considered hypersonic, and will allow further research in the fields of space travel.

In this research, among other initiatives, UTSI collaborates with the U.S. Air Force Arnold Engineering Development Center, which is one of the world’s largest aerospace test facilities. The institute is located adjacent to Arnold Air Force Base and each provide support and resources for the other.

“We have a strong relationship with the

If you don’t go or look into space, you never get to learn the fundamental cosmic questions.”

Air Force as far as personnel and capabilities that we have that we can draw on,” Joel Davenport, director of advanced research labs and technical support, said. “Many of those from the base also come here to get their education.”

An additional research program, in collaboration with the Department of Defense, exists within the institute’s propulsion lab, which tests various aspects and capabilities of different jets engines.

Security is very high within and around the propulsion lab due to national security standards; however, many affiliates of the institute note that when the engines are being tested, there’s no secret about when it is happening.

“We’re remote enough to where you can make a lot of noise,” Davenport said.

In additional aerospace research, UTSI currently holds a water tunnel to allow research on fluid dynamics to understand flow of air and water around different structures. The water channel lets researchers slow the flow down to produce a visual that would typically be impossible to see in air.

“What we do on this is get our first ideas and take that information and go farther with that analysis,” Trevor Moeller, associate professor of mechanical, aerospace and biomedical engineering, said.

Dr. Mark Whorton, UTSI Director Adjacent from the water tunnel is the lowspeed wind tunnel, which allows speeds of 180 miles per hour.

Mark Whorton, the recently named the director of the institute, looks to move quickly into future planning of education and research. He has begun initiating strategic objectives to advance the institute, while maintaining the institute’s close relationship with the Air Force.

Whorton expressed the importance of space research and exploration and looks for UTSI to become a larger part of it.

“The things we can touch and see in a lab only makes up 4 percent of the universe,” Whorton said. “If you don’t go or look into space, you never get to learn the fundamental cosmic questions.”

For more than 50 years, UTSI has focused on its diverse research and the faculty-student teams that embody it. While the initial focus of the institute was aerospace and aeronautic research, today over 2,000 students from all around the world hold degrees from UTSI. Through the quiet hills of Tennessee, miles from UT’s main campus, innovation and research continue to thrive as Whorton and his researchers, students and staff work toward the future of their institute.

UT SPACE INSTITUTE ISSUE

Thursday, October 13, 2016 • The Daily Beacon

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New space institute director honors the past, looks to the future

Tom Cruise

News Editor As the University of Tennessee Space Institute looks to progress forward, leadership is required by those who share the same vision.

In July of this year, Mark Whorton began his pursuit of the future at UTSI as the new director.

Prior to accepting the job as UTSI’s director, Whorton earned an extensive background of expertise in modeling, designing and analyzing control systems for aerospace vehicles.

The majority of his career, from 1989 to 2009, was spent at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. During this time, Whorton managed teams designing navigation systems for NASA’s launch vehicles.

For the past seven years, Whorton has held the title of chief technologist at Teledyne Brown Engineering in Huntsville, Alabama, developing imaging systems for the International Space Station.

Additionally, Whorton held the title of adjunct professor at Tennessee State University’s Center of Excellence in Information Systems from 2001 to 2003. There, he worked on the next-generation of ground-based telescopes.

Now, as the director of UTSI, Whorton hopes to carry his past experiences with him, but feels that it is time to move on to a new endeavor.

“I reached a point in my career where I was ready to move back into the public sector,” Whorton said. “I was ready to move into academia.”

Chancellor Jimmy Cheek emphasized the difficultly in finding a suitable candidate for the director position before Whorton applied.

After Whorton’s application submission, it

became clear to Cheek that he had found a new director.

“He is just ideally qualified,” Cheek said. “It’s clear he has a passion for what’s happening at the space institute.”

UTSI provided just the public sector opportunity Whorton sought. Housing ground breaking research studies, possessing an alumni of national and international astronauts and partnering with the U.S. Air Force provided exciting opportunities as director.

Honoring the upbringing of the institute, Whorton explained how the respect of the past can carry an institution forward.

“This place has a long, deep history and there’s a lot to look back on and be proud of,” Whorton said. “But as I’ve said from the beginning, I’m ready create a future we can be proud of.”

Cheek shares Whorton’s vision of a positive future for the space institute as well as his goal to make the institute more well known in the general public.

“One of our priorities is to allow people to better understand what we are doing at the institute,” Cheek said. “Even though the institute is not located in Knoxville, it’s a critical asset to us.”

Promptly after the start of his new position, Whorton and the UTSI staff moved quickly into a strategic planning process to help shape the direction of the institute for the next three to five years.

While understanding the amount of talent and resources UTSI provides, Whorton wants to capitalize on advancements occurring worldwide and hopes to keep the institute up to speed.

The future of the institute will also be determined on the recognition it receives. Whorton is aware of UTSI being a relatively unknown

name, even among those who are associated with UT. His strategy, however, falls beyond marketing and advertisement for the institute.

“We clearly need to make the institute better known,” Whorton said.

“To do that, we need to generate really substantial work ... I’ve always been personally involved with research and development. What I think will happen is that I will use my skills to influence and shape where we go strategically.”

As various aspects of the institute move forward, Whorton has held on to one key interest that has been with him from a young age: space exploration.

Whorton dreams of man returning to the Mark Whorton is the current director of the UT Space moon to set up manufacturing capabilities that will Institute. Amanda Collins • The Daily Beacon allow mankind to travel furget to Mars.” ther to other planets, such In collaboration with NASA and other space as Mars.

The moon, as Whorton noted, will be a programs, Whorton hopes to make this vision more efficient base to send manned explora- a reality. Under his direction, UTSI’s future tions to other planets, instead of attempting to looks to be as vast as the space it was founded behind. bring the resources from Earth.

“The stuff we can see and touch make up “I’m hoping in my lifetime to see boot prints on Mars,” Whorton said. “To do that, we need four percent of the universe,” Whorton said. to spend time on the moon developing tech- “We thought we understood everything, but nologies and learn to live off the resources to there’s so much more to learn.”

New printing technology furthers research opportunities Shelby Whitehead Contributor

With the press of a button, a spool of plastic can become a solid object before your eyes.

3D printing is opening new doors in industry, machinery and creativity by transforming a digital design into a tangible object within minutes.

It all starts with a model of what is going to be printed. Once the model is created, the printing software separates the model into many horizontal layers, a process called slicing. The 3D printer then layers all of the 2D horizontal segments of the model until the 3D object is created, a process called additive manufacturing.

The UT Space Institute uses 3D printing to create models for various studies, including

model trucks and airplane blades.

“We use 3D printing for a lot of our test articles,” Trevor Moeller, associate professor of mechanical, aerospace and biomedical engineering at UTSI, said.

Some of the 3D test articles put into action make up a spin rig, which is used to simulate how the blades of a turbine engine bend under stress. This study is a component of non-contact measurement systems, which researches the bending of blades on an engine as it spins back and forth.

3D printed blades of different colors were mounted on the spin rig in order to test aircraft engines. Sensors, called accelerometers, attached to the blades measured and recorded the vibrations of the spinning blades. The sensors were capable of detecting if the blades were bent or damaged while the spin rig was

in operation.

“It (spin rig) allows us to do component testing of airplane components, that’s the big thing,” Joel Davenport, director of advanced research labs and technical support, said.

In addition to providing many objects in the spin rig operation, including cones, blades and models to test turbine wind resistance, 3D printing granted researchers quick access to testable parts.

This new method of printing has many uses in industry, from automotive to aerospace, through its ability to produce to-scale models at a faster rate than ordering or purchasing the desired object.

“These are hobby-scale 3D printers, but we’ve really started using them a lot for things like air foils, different structures, optic mounts and air flow devices. And you’ll see that all over

the place,” Davenport said.

3D printing is gaining consumer popularity as well, with major companies like Microsoft and Google developing their own 3D printing software. Consumers have the option of buying a printer and the software or purchasing a DIY kit to assemble a personal 3D printer.

Unlike traditional printing, 3D printers are not limited to paper. Objects can be printed in materials such as plastic, metal, and ceramic, further increasing the applications of 3D printing.

The medical industry is also beginning to adopt a process of bio-printing in which living cells are layered and printed to create tissues.

Some medical professional believe this is the future of transplants.

“It (3D printing) really has taken on a life of its own,” Davenport said.

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The Daily Beacon • Thursday, October 13, 2016

Tunnel to the Future, of Aerospace, Ground Research Shelby Whitehead Contributor

Loud and large, the wind and water tunnels at the UT Space Institute are at the forefront in research on air and water flow for ground and aerospace studies.

Although air and water are a part of everyday life, few people may realize the science behind their movements. UTSI has the resources it needs to explore aerodynamics and fluidics (the movement of air and water, respectively) in an innovative way. “We’re trying to understand how fluids or air ‌ flows around different structures,â€?

Joel Davenport, director of advanced research labs and technical support, said.

The water tunnel at UTSI slows down the process of water flow to about a one inch per second. Colored dyes are injected into the water and a laser is directed to shine light on the colored liquid streak.

As it moves through the water, the dye produces a visual of how air would flow across an object. “It allows flow visualization,� Trevor Moeller, associate professor of mechanical, aerospace and biomedical engineering, said.

The water tunnel is a highly controlled environment, and its main purpose is to create a visual of water flow that can be easily observed. The tunnel provides a closed system which removes all turbulence. This ensures that the only movement of the water is a direct result of an object in the water acting as an obstacle.

“You don’t get a lot of just numbers from it, so it’s not a quantitative type of analysis.

It’s more qualitative,� Davenport said. “We get our first ideas, and then we go father with that analysis.�

The companion to the water tunnel is the wind tunnel. At a much faster rate, the low speed wind tunnel blows air at a rate of 250 feet per second.

This tunnel provides UTSI with the opportunity to work on projects in conjunction with the Air Force.

One such project was a malfunctioning device for mid-flight testing. The device had a nozzle that hung from the back of an Air Force aerial refueling jet and released water vapor in the direction of a jet flying behind it. The vapor would freeze to the second jet due to the high altitude and would be an effective test of the jet’s ability to withstand ice buildup.

The problem arose in the high altitude winds; the air foil rocked up and down at an alarming speed instead of remaining stable for the tests. UTSI took the malfunctioning air foil and tested in within the wind tunnel. “Once we duplicated it, we could really analyze it,� Davenport said.

They found that the underlying structure of the air foil was what caused it to be unsteady in the air. The air foil experiments and solutions gained from them cost considerably less when conducted in the wind tunnel versus in a larger facility. “The nice thing about the wind tunnel here is it’s very inexpensive to operate compared to the big wind tunnels on base,� Davenport said.

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Director of Advanced Research Labs and Technical Support Joel Davenport explains simulated airflow on a scale truck.

Amanda Collins â&#x20AC;˘ The Daily Beacon Another feature of the wind tunnel is its moving road bed within the tunnel. UTSI can simulate a road way within the tunnel to study the forces of air acting on a semitruck as it drives down the highway.

A model truck with tufts of yarn across its surface is set on the moving road way in the tunnel. When the wind tunnel is set to the speed of standard highway travel, the tufts of yarn move to depict the activity of air in real life.

Researchers at UTSI use this depiction to shape the future structures of trucks to be more aerodynamic, resulting in less fuel

being used as they travel. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you could just improve the aerodynamics a little bit,â&#x20AC;? Davenport said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a huge amount of fuel considering how much trucking there is in the country.â&#x20AC;?

These implications of UTSIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s research are significant for the Department of Transportation and the corridor of automotive industries in the area.

A vast amount of aerodynamic testing can be done on a computer, but all research aims to gain the validation of real results.

The wind tunnel at UTSI provides the opportunity to gain that data.

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7

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UT SPACE INSTITUTE ISSUE

The Daily Beacon • Thursday, October 13, 2016

Sci-Fi becomes reality through movie inspiration Bryanne Brewer

Arts & Culture Editor

Flying transportation We were first introduced to the idea of flying transport in the 1982 film “Blade Runner.” The film featured ground based vehicles that could take off vertically, hover and cruise using jet propulsion.

Similarly, films like “Back to the Future” and “The Fifth Element” also featured flying or hovering vehicles as a major mode of transportation— ranging from cars and taxis, to buses and trains.

Maglev, deriving from magnetic levitation, is a transportation method possible today. It allows vehicles, mainly trains, to move without touching the ground and uses magnets to create propulsion and lift while still allowing for high

speeds. The first commercial maglev system was a shuttle in Birmingham, UK that ran in 19841995. The track was two thousand feet long and levitated .59 inches, which isn’t very high, but still isn’t on the ground.

More recently a company named Terrafugia has created a product more similar to the flying cars of “Back to the Future.” The company unveiled a vehicle design with the potential of vertical takeoff and landing capabilities, as well as computer controlled flight. They are currently completing the final design for a final prototype and plan on entering the production stage in the

next two to three years.

Space Tourism The 1968 film “2001: A Space Odyssey” is arguably the greatest movie made as it pertains to space exploration. While it’s not the first of it’s kind, it attacks the issue in a more serious manner, which made it seem more true to life

and possible.

Now, the idea of allowing casual passengers to travel to various space bodies and planets could become a reality. Several startup companies have been created, all with the hopes of creating a suborbital space tourism industry. The American company, Space Adventures, Ltd., has been the only company to send paying passengers to space, with current plans to send passengers as close as a hundred kilometers from the Moon’s surface. It’s incredibly expensive, but a real possibility.

Laser Cannons As depicted in nearly every sci-fi film, laser cannons have been a dream of the future. The laser cannon was actually the standard weapon for use by most starships in the “Star Wars” franchise and existed in various forms such as turret-mounted guns and smaller guns carried by some infantry, like stormtroopers.

Similarly, the US and various other governments have been experimenting with the practical uses of laser cannons as weaponry. After many trials, and many errors, the US Navy created a working solid-state laser. During tests aboard the USS Dewey in the summer of 2012, the laser weapon system successfully shot down surveillance drones and fast boats in it’s first round of sea trials. While we currently don’t have laser guns barely stronger to pop stationary balloons, it’s not a stretch to say the weaponry of “Star Wars” is upon us.

Robots The 1984 film “Terminator” opened our eyes to the possibly dangerous implications of creating robotic companions as synthetic intelligence takes over the Earth. Similarly, the film “Blade

•All photos courtesy of IMDb Runner” explores the problems that arise as robots become aware and lash out at their roles as sentient slaves.

While that possibility is ever looming over our heads, there are some robotic companions that we shouldn’t have to worry about. One of which is SpotMini, Boston Dynamic’s German shepard sized robot dog. The small house robot is even capable of completing house hold chores like loading the dishwasher.

Another, even more helpful robotic companion is Pepper, a SoftBank creation. While she still has some minor bugs, Pepper acts as an assistant that will do things like cleaning the house or lend a hand as owners get older. The small robot is very social and reacts to emotional cues, but the current edition still has conversational issues (like giving random facts and trivia).

Propulsion lab propels new research with rich history

Tom Cruise

News Editor Through the quiet atmosphere that surrounds Tullahoma, Tennessee, an occasional disturbance breaks the silence, shaking buildings, causing wildlife to flee and grabbing the attention of those around.

For researchers in the UT Space Institute propulsion lab, it is just another day of testing.

The propulsion lab is one of the largest, most secure facilities at the institute. Within the lab, multiple jet engines, owned by the military, are being tested and ran through various tests to ensure their capabilities within the Earth’s atmosphere.

“This is a unique facility within UT,” Joel Davenport, director of advanced research labs, said. “You don’t see this anywhere else. There’s no other university that has this going on.”

Military, after-burning engines are what make the propulsion lab one of a kind. The lab cur-

rently houses jet engines from the T-38 aircraft which are used for pilot training in the Air Force as well as for NASA chase planes.

With the accessibility of the engines and the need for cost efficient research, UTSI and the Air Force both benefit from the lab’s abilities.

Arnold Air Force Base is currently developing sensors for new, larger engines. To test these sensors, it would require millions of dollars to run the engines in their facilities on base.

Instead, the propulsion lab allows the Air Force to set up their sensors on an inexpensive scale and perform diagnostics to ensure a successful device. In turn, UTSI can further their own research options through the use of the jet engines.

Recently, new technology was developed within the lab to retrieve information that was deemed unobtainable in the past. Through advanced, heat resistant cameras, researchers are able to capture the flame release from the engine and display it in 3D on the monitors.

“You can actually see that flame coming

toward you,” Davenport said. “It’s a huge amount of information that you would never have been able to have any other way.”

These cameras and other advanced technologies were designed to further research, but also to aid the Air Force in its ability to locate and diagnose problems that have previously gone unnoticed or been at too great a cost to pursue.

“UTSI faculty are actively involved with helping the military so that they can help resolve some of the uncertainty of their data,” Associate Professor of Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering (MABE) Trevor Moeller said.

During a regular test, a team of operators watch over 10 different monitors possessing complete computer control of the engine. The engine can be uniquely controlled in ways that it was not initially designed. Through this independent control, the researchers can mimic forms of failure that the engine has never experienced before.

Alternative fuels have also become an impor-

tant aspect of the propulsion lab research, working with the Environmental Protection Agency and their gas analysis capabilities.

“We’ve been able to compare all of the alternative fuels at the same time,” Davenport said.

“We’re able to see at one time how they all compare, and that’s something that’s never been done before.”

An exciting piece of history also rests within the propulsion lab. The rack which holds the array of monitors used by the researchers was donated to the institute by NASA. This particular rack was used during the ground support on the Apollo Space Program.

While research is currently being performed on the smaller engines, UTSI has obtained newer generation engines from the F-18 aircraft, which is primarily used on Naval aircraft carriers. With this new engine, the lab will go from producing approximately 3,500 pounds of thrust to approximately 18,000 pounds of thrust.

“This will get us into a newer generation of research capabilities,” Davenport said.