Naval Academy Awarded DoD University Research Equipment Grant
POSTED ON: Wednesday, January 27, 2021 12:18 PM by mediarelations@usna.edu
The Naval Academy was recently awarded the DoD's Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP) grant for purchase of new research equipment.
The Naval Academy plans to use the $666,000 award to purchase an aerosol jet printer (AJP) that will benefit research across seven Naval Academy departments. These departments include Electrical and Computer Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Aerospace Engineering; Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering; Weapons-Robotics-Control Engineering; Chemistry and Physics.
“Aerosol jet printing is a new, disruptive technology in direct-write printing, additive manufacturing and microfabrication,” said Associate Professor Hatem ElBidweihy, USNA Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, project’s principal investigator. “It will enable the creation of intelligent devices with increased geometric freedom, mass customization, and tool-less manufacture; a game changer for our midshipmen teaching and research activities."
Midshipmen will use the AJP mainly for independent and capstone research projects to manufacture parts such as antennas, sensors and even thermoelectric generators. They will also use it to print integrated power, communication, and sensing systems on top of existing structures, such as small satellites or ships.
“The proposed aerosol jet printing (AJP) system will provide excellent tools to conduct basic and applied research as well as outstanding educational experiences to midshipmen in the overarching area of additively manufactured electronics,” said ElBidweihy. “Midshipmen will be directly involved in technology transition from laboratories to real world applications, bridging the gap between academic research and transition of new defense capabilities.”
One hundred fifty university research programs around the country received the award.
Category: Academics, Press Releases, Research, General Interest