Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Events for April
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The Anatomy of Autonomy: An Aeronautical Systems Perspective
Wed, Apr 04, 2012 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Michael S. Francis, Chief Advanced Programs & Senior Fellow of United Technologies Research Center; Program Lead, Autonomous & Intelligent Systems of Sikorsky Aircraft Company
Talk Title: The Anatomy of Autonomy: An Aeronautical Systems Perspective
Abstract: The Anatomy of Autonomy: An Aeronautical Systems Perspective
Michael S. Francis
Chief Advanced Programs & Senior Fellow
United Technologies Research Center
East Hartford, CT
and
Program Lead, Autonomous & Intelligent Systems
Sikorsky Aircraft Company
Stratford, CT
Enabled by the many byproducts of the information revolution, autonomous capabilities are rapidly redefining many of the industrial age platforms and processes created over the last century, while concomitantly enabling a host of new ones. This presentation examines the subject of autonomy and its role in shaping contemporary aeronautical systems, encompassing its genesis, implementation and evolution, as well as its potential in shaping the future. Key capabilities such as low altitude flight, collision avoidance, contingency management and multi-vehicle collaborative operations are featured to illustrate some of the discriminating elements enabled by autonomous functionality. Related topics such as the many 'dimensions' of autonomy, along with its conceptual underpinning; the importance of autonomous functionality in contemporary systems integration; and the nature and importance of the human-system interaction are also addressed. Examples involving advanced unmanned systems, including the Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) and the micro air vehicle are employed to further illustrate concepts and provide useful insights into the promise and limitations that frame today's system designs. Key technical, institutional and cultural issues currently limiting realization of the potential of these systems are also discussed, as are some suggested ideas for their resolution.
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Refreshments will be served at 3:15 pm.
Host: Professor Blackwelder
More Info: http://ae-www.usc.edu/seminars/4-4-12-francis.shtml
Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 150
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: April Mundy
Event Link: http://ae-www.usc.edu/seminars/4-4-12-francis.shtml
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AME Department Seminar
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Youssef Marzouk, Professor. Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Cambridge, MA.
Talk Title: Bayesian Inference in Complex Physical Systems: Spectral Approximations and Optimal Maps
Abstract: Predictive simulation of complex physical systems increasingly rests on the interplay of experimental observations with computational models. Bayesian statistics provides a natural framework for quantifying uncertainty in parameter estimates and model predictions, for fusing heterogeneous sources of information, and for optimally selecting experiments or observations. Posterior simulation in Bayesian inference often proceeds via Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC), but the associated computational expense and convergence issues present significant bottlenecks in large-scale problems.
We present a new approach to Bayesian inference that entirely avoids Markov chain simulation, by constructing a map that pushes forward the prior measure to the posterior. Existence and uniqueness of a suitable measure-preserving map is established by formulating the problem in the context of optimal transport theory. We discuss various means of explicitly parameterizing the map and computing it efficiently through solution of an optimization problem, exploiting gradient information from the forward model when possible. The resulting scheme overcomes many of the computational bottlenecks associated with MCMC. Advantages of the map-based representation of the posterior distribution include analytical expressions for posterior moments and the ability to generate arbitrary numbers of independent posterior samples without additional likelihood evaluations or forward solves. The approach also provides clear convergence criteria for posterior approximation, and facilitates model selection through automatic evaluation of the marginal likelihood.
Host: Prof. Paul Newton
More Info: http://ame-www.usc.edu/seminars/index.shtml#upcoming
Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 150
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: April Mundy
Event Link: http://ame-www.usc.edu/seminars/index.shtml#upcoming
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AME Department Seminar
Thu, Apr 12, 2012 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Javier E. Garay, Associate Professor and Chair. Materials Science and Engineering Program. Mechanical Engineering Department. University of California, Riverside. Riverside, CA.
Talk Title: Processing of Functional Nanocomposites for Laser, Thermoelectric and Renewable Energy Applications
Abstract: Improved performance of devices often hinges on the development of materials with a precise blend of properties. In this talk, I will discuss our ongoing work on tailoring material properties using the platform of nanocrystallinity. Three different applications will be discussed: nanocrystalline materials for 1) improved thermoelectric performance, 2) increased laser power, and 3) improved permanent magnets for renewable energy generation. We will begin with an overview of the versatile material processing technique of current activated pressure assisted densification (CAPAD) which we use to overcome the grain growth challenge and efficiently produce materials large enough to be viable nanocrystalline parts. The method draws its effectiveness from large electric current densities that serve to heat the materials and also alter the processing kinetics. We will then discuss how precise control of nanostructure can lead to significantly improves properties for a wide range of applications. The materials produced are large-sized, fully dense materials with grain sizes much less than 100 nm. The results will be discussed in terms of crystal length scale effects and proximity of nanoscale phases.
Host: Prof. Andrea Hodge
More Info: http://ame-www.usc.edu/seminars/index.shtml#upcoming
Location: Robert Glen Rapp Engineering Research Building (RRB) - 208
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: April Mundy
Event Link: http://ame-www.usc.edu/seminars/index.shtml#upcoming
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AME Department Seminar
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Mitchell D. Smooke, Strathcona Professor of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science & Applied Physics. Department of Mechanical Engineering. Yale University. New Haven, CT 06520-8284.
Talk Title: Computational and Experimental Study of Laminar Flames
Abstract: As emissions legislation becomes more restrictive, a detailed understanding of pollutant formation in flames has become even more critical for the design of pollutant abatement strategies and for the preservation of the competitiveness of combustion related industries. It is clear that there will be continuing pressure to lower both NOx emission indices and soot volume fractions in practical combustion devices. This is in response to the toxicological effects of small particles and to the impact, for example, that soot can have on thermal radiation loads in combustors and on turbine blades. Moreover, soot emissions can enhance contrail formation and such "man made" clouds may have an impact ultimately on the Earth's climate. In this talk we discuss our research related to the effects of complex chemistry and detailed transport on the structure and extinction of hydrocarbon flames in coflowing axisymmetric configurations. We have pursued both computational and experimental aspects of the research in parallel on both steady-state and time-dependent systems. The computational work has focused on the application of accurate and efficient numerical methods for the solution of the steady-state and time-dependent boundary value problems describing the various reacting systems. Detailed experimental measurements were performed using two-dimensional imaging techniques. Our goal has been to obtain a more fundamental understanding of the important fluid dynamic and chemical interactions in these flames so that this information can be used effectively in combustion modeling.
Host: Prof. Paul Ronney
More Info: http://ame-www.usc.edu/seminars/index.shtml#upcoming
Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 150
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: April Mundy
Event Link: http://ame-www.usc.edu/seminars/index.shtml#upcoming