Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science Aerospace Professors Receive Infrastructure Awards
Aerospace engineering professors Reza Faieghi (right) and Kazem Fayazbakhsh received infrastructure awards from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) through the John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) to acquire state-of-the-art equipment.
Two Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) researchers have received infrastructure awards from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to advance research in technologies that could have big impacts on the future of transportation.
The funding is provided through the John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) and will support the researchers as they optimize technology to build and deploy aircraft and vehicles with safety, efficiency and environmental footprint in mind. Combined, the funding totals $164,000.
Kazem Fayazbakhsh, a professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, aims to optimize the 3D printing process and design parameters for manufacturing lightweight aircraft parts from high-temperature thermoplastics. He will also test the impact of temperature and humidity on the mechanical performance of the 3D-printed parts, a crucial step in testing materials for aerospace applications. The awarded funding will help professor Fayazbakhsh acquire state-of-the-art equipment for his project, Aerospace Additive Manufacturing, which will be housed in TMU’s Facility for Research on Aerospace Materials and Engineered Structures (FRAMES).
Reza Faieghi is also a professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering. His project, Perception, Motion Planning and Control of Connected Autonomous Vehicles, will create algorithms to enhance the safety of autonomous cars and drones operating in complex urban environments. The project focuses on autonomous vehicles’ ability to identify safe and unsafe zones, navigate safe zones and adhere to navigation paths despite disturbances. The awarded funding will help professor Faieghi acquire infrastructure such as scaled cars and drones, sensors and communication technology to create realistic traffic scenarios for testing.
“Congratulations to professors Fayazbakhsh and Faieghi who are working to build a more sustainable aerospace industry,” said Steven N. Liss, vice-president, research and innovation at Toronto Metropolitan University. “These CFI awards will enable the researchers to acquire the tools needed to develop innovative aerospace transportation technology from construction to navigation.”
Read more about the CFI John R. Evans Leaders Fund (external link, opens in new window) .