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Alliances, Students Help Shape Future Industry

Jose Mustre - CINVESTAV
Director General

STORY INLINE POST

Thu, 12/01/2016 - 13:45

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Q: How have alliances helped to structure CINVESTAV’s focus in the aerospace industry?

A: Our Queretaro campus is dedicated to materials science, with specific research into aerospace materials. Through our collaboration with CIDESI, we are tackling specific problems regarding the deposition of thin film to increase strength and flexibility. Intense knowledge and expertise exchanges have generated enough confidence in our center that we have secured projects financed by the US Air Force. Studies commissioned by the Air Force are not solely focused on aerospace, however. Our Irapuato Campus works on the genomics of micro- organisms and plants, working with bacteria that can survive temperatures above 80°C and high-pressure atmospheres. This was commissioned and financed by the US Air Force.

NASA is also contributing to our Center. Our Monterrey Campus is working on research for its operations. Understanding microbial behavior in low or zero gravity environments, supported by NASA’s financing, is part of how Mexican R&D can shape the aerospace industry of the future. Furthermore, through an alliance with the Mexican Space Agency (AEM), our information technology department presented a White Paper on satellites last year.

CINVESTAV signed an agreement with France’s Safran Group to do research in areas of interest to them. This offers students an opportunity to work on projects that generate truly transferable skills. They have launched projects involving drones, for instance, inspired by the research we promote at CINVESTAV.

Q: What applications do you envisage for the results from your drone projects?

A: Several entities have shown interest in this project such as the Mexican Navy, which is keen to use drones to comb risk areas, to survey poppy fields for example, or to view conflict zones from above before sending troops in to control a situation. Primarily, drones must be lightweight and have long battery lives so that a soldier or officer can fly it quickly to a zone and send images of what is happening back to a base. We have begun developing this project in France but not yet in Mexico.

Q: What does the Aerospace sector represent for CINVESTAV and its future growth?

A: The aerospace industry is one of the most important in which to be involved. One of our principal missions is human capital development. Through our ongoing academic relationship with French entities, we expect more growth in this area.

Our laboratory in Queretaro is focused on composite materials for aerospace coatings including isolating ceramics or extremely thin metal alloys. to achieve better aerodynamics, heat resistance or weight savings. Our centers can offer high-tech lab equipment that is useful to aerospace companies for occasional processes but not economically viable for them to own. Offering our services in these cases broadens our involvement in the industry by helping at crucial moments as well as conducting research into new strategic fields. Our most important goal is to open innovative projects in areas that are not traditionally tackled at an industrial level.

Q: How are your students contributing to R&D efforts for the aerospace sector?

A: CINVESTAV does research in all fields of natural sciences and education at 10 campuses across the country. For three years, we have offered a Master’s degree in autonomous vehicles and CONACYT has approved our doctoral program in this area. We hope to develop several students’ theses. One example is a drone that navigates using air thermals, allowing it to remain airborne much longer than average. Other students have gone as far as to research the viability of engineering a convertible aircraft. One of our Master’s degree students looked into the creation of an aircraft that would fly like a bird, moving its wings. Unfortunately, maintaining a certain altitude has been challenging for the unit when faced with cross-currents and other external conditions. Continued R&D efforts are the only way to achieve world-class developments.

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