@NMSU

College of Engineering recipient of $200,000 UAV helicopter

Northrop Grumman donated a state-of-the-art UAV (Unmanned Aircraft Vehicle) helicopter to the College of Engineering Tuesday, Feb. 17, entering engineering week on a very positive note. Feb. 15-21 was celebrated as Engineering Week 2009 throughout the nation.

The unmanned vehicle was donated as part of Northrop Grumman's overall initiative to advance interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers. NMSU is one of only three universities to which Grumman donated the helicopters. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Cal Poly Pomona are the other universities that received a similar UAV.

"Northrop Grumman's generous gift of this vehicle will give our aerospace and other engineering students a highly advanced UAV platform to study. The university is highly committed to advancing STEM programs," said Interim President Waded Cruzado. "Northrop Grumman's gift will undoubtedly help us strengthen and meet this land-grant university's goals toward promoting careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics."

The vehicle was presented to College of Engineering Dean Steve P. Castillo and Vice President for Research Vimal Desai Chaitanya by Carl Johnson, vice president for Northrop Grumman Aerospace systems and Rob Sheehan, director of flight test engineering and operations, at a ceremony conducted at the Horseshoe.

The RMAX Type II remote-controlled helicopters measure an estimated 12 feet in length by 6.5 feet wide and 4 feet in height. The vehicles are typically used for observation purposes in agriculture and forestry.

"This is known as one of the most advanced remote-controlled helicopters around," said Ou Ma, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering who will be the craft's keeper. "I have been working in aerospace and I know how sophisticated this aircraft is. There are many things we can do with this platform, but we will mainly use it to teach students flight dynamics and control in both component and system levels."

Written by Mario Montes.