Project Micro Morphing Aircraft Program Engineering First Time Researcher (FTR) Fellowship Term Spring 2026 Status Closed Research Area Autonomy and Control, Robotics Description Micro Morphing Aircraft are palm-sized unmanned vehicles that change their geometry in real time, adjusting camber, twist, and effective planform through lightweight, compliant mechanisms and micro-actuators. The goal is to keep control authority and efficiency in gusty, constrained environments. The technical core is structure–control co-design: morphing surfaces provide aerodynamic leverage when traditional control surfaces saturate, while embedded control algorithms coordinate shape change and actuation commands under tight computational limits. Selected students are expected to bring a builder’s mindset and reliability, along with foundational skills in one or more of the following areas: mechanical design and rapid prototyping, embedded systems and sensors, or modeling and control. Supervisor Ran Dai Mentor Type of work required Students in this role will contribute to the full research cycle: conceiving and refining morphing concepts; fabricating lightweight mechanisms and skins; integrating low-SWaP avionics, GPS/IMU sensing, and micro-actuation; and implementing onboard guidance and control algorithms suitable for resource-constrained hardware. Websites https://engineering.purdue.edu/AOL Qualifications 1. GPA above 3.5 2. Experience with UAV design and flight. Credit Hours 1 Weekly Hours 10 (estimated)