GTRI Aerospace, Transportation and Advanced Systems Laboratory
Encyclopedia
The Aerospace, Transportation and Advanced Systems Laboratory (ATAS) is one of eight labs in the Georgia Tech Research Institute
. ATAS develops advanced systems concepts and performs research related to aerospace
systems, power and energy systems, threat systems, intelligent autonomous system
s, and systems engineering
methodologies. The lab also develops advanced technologies and performs research in a range of areas relevant to aerospace and ground transportation as well as to national defense.
and flow control, aeroacoustics
, computational aeroelasticity
, wind tunnel
testing, aircraft structural analysis, rotorcraft, intelligent systems
, fuel cell
and battery technologies, smart small scale projectiles, embedded computing, unmanned aerial vehicle
s, and flight stability and control.
The lab also performs applied research and development of radar
-related technologies in support of national defense preparedness. The lab’s prototype development capabilities span the spectrum from mechanical and electronics design and fabrication to full system integration including embedded computing and control systems
. ATAS has also achieved a national reputation for its expertise in threat systems, advanced transmitter
technology, radar system development, and weapon systems interpretation.
Within ATAS, the Food Processing Technology Division's (FPTD) Agricultural Technology Research Program
(ATRP) conducts significant research in improving the production and quality of food while minimizing the environmental impacts of the industry. This program is designed to enhance the productivity of Georgia’s agribusiness
and the competitiveness of Georgia’s food processing
, applying computer vision
, robotics
, plant ergonomics, biosensor
s, and wearable computer
technology.
.
Georgia Tech Research Institute
The Georgia Tech Research Institute is the nonprofit applied research arm of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia, United States...
. ATAS develops advanced systems concepts and performs research related to aerospace
Aerospace
Aerospace comprises the atmosphere of Earth and surrounding space. Typically the term is used to refer to the industry that researches, designs, manufactures, operates, and maintains vehicles moving through air and space...
systems, power and energy systems, threat systems, intelligent autonomous system
Autonomous system
Autonomous system may refer to:* Autonomous system , a collection of IP networks and routers under the control of one entity* Autonomous system , a system of ordinary differential equations which does not depend on the independent variable* Autonomous robot, robots which can perform desired tasks...
s, and systems engineering
Systems engineering
Systems engineering is an interdisciplinary field of engineering that focuses on how complex engineering projects should be designed and managed over the life cycle of the project. Issues such as logistics, the coordination of different teams, and automatic control of machinery become more...
methodologies. The lab also develops advanced technologies and performs research in a range of areas relevant to aerospace and ground transportation as well as to national defense.
Research areas
Current contracts include work in aerodynamicsAerodynamics
Aerodynamics is a branch of dynamics concerned with studying the motion of air, particularly when it interacts with a moving object. Aerodynamics is a subfield of fluid dynamics and gas dynamics, with much theory shared between them. Aerodynamics is often used synonymously with gas dynamics, with...
and flow control, aeroacoustics
Aeroacoustics
Aeroacoustics is a branch of acoustics that studies noise generation via either turbulent fluid motion or aerodynamic forces interacting with surfaces. Noise generation can also be associated with periodically varying flows...
, computational aeroelasticity
Aeroelasticity
Aeroelasticity is the science which studies the interactions among inertial, elastic, and aerodynamic forces. It was defined by Arthur Collar in 1947 as "the study of the mutual interaction that takes place within the triangle of the inertial, elastic, and aerodynamic forces acting on structural...
, wind tunnel
Wind tunnel
A wind tunnel is a research tool used in aerodynamic research to study the effects of air moving past solid objects.-Theory of operation:Wind tunnels were first proposed as a means of studying vehicles in free flight...
testing, aircraft structural analysis, rotorcraft, intelligent systems
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
, fuel cell
Fuel cell
A fuel cell is a device that converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen or another oxidizing agent. Hydrogen is the most common fuel, but hydrocarbons such as natural gas and alcohols like methanol are sometimes used...
and battery technologies, smart small scale projectiles, embedded computing, unmanned aerial vehicle
Unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
s, and flight stability and control.
The lab also performs applied research and development of radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
-related technologies in support of national defense preparedness. The lab’s prototype development capabilities span the spectrum from mechanical and electronics design and fabrication to full system integration including embedded computing and control systems
Embedded system
An embedded system is a computer system designed for specific control functions within a larger system. often with real-time computing constraints. It is embedded as part of a complete device often including hardware and mechanical parts. By contrast, a general-purpose computer, such as a personal...
. ATAS has also achieved a national reputation for its expertise in threat systems, advanced transmitter
Transmitter
In electronics and telecommunications a transmitter or radio transmitter is an electronic device which, with the aid of an antenna, produces radio waves. The transmitter itself generates a radio frequency alternating current, which is applied to the antenna. When excited by this alternating...
technology, radar system development, and weapon systems interpretation.
Within ATAS, the Food Processing Technology Division's (FPTD) Agricultural Technology Research Program
GTRI Agricultural Technology Research Program
The Agricultural Technology Research Program is part of the Aerospace, Transportation and Advanced Systems Laboratory of the Georgia Tech Research Institute. It was founded in 1973 to work with Georgia agribusiness, especially the poultry industry, to develop new technologies and adapt existing...
(ATRP) conducts significant research in improving the production and quality of food while minimizing the environmental impacts of the industry. This program is designed to enhance the productivity of Georgia’s agribusiness
Agribusiness
In agriculture, agribusiness is a generic term for the various businesses involved in food production, including farming and contract farming, seed supply, agrichemicals, farm machinery, wholesale and distribution, processing, marketing, and retail sales....
and the competitiveness of Georgia’s food processing
Food processing
Food processing is the set of methods and techniques used to transform raw ingredients into food or to transform food into other forms for consumption by humans or animals either in the home or by the food processing industry...
, applying computer vision
Computer vision
Computer vision is a field that includes methods for acquiring, processing, analysing, and understanding images and, in general, high-dimensional data from the real world in order to produce numerical or symbolic information, e.g., in the forms of decisions...
, robotics
Robotics
Robotics is the branch of technology that deals with the design, construction, operation, structural disposition, manufacture and application of robots...
, plant ergonomics, biosensor
Biosensor
A biosensor is an analytical device for the detection of an analyte that combines a biological component with a physicochemical detector component.It consists of 3 parts:* the sensitive biological element A biosensor is an analytical device for the detection of an analyte that combines a biological...
s, and wearable computer
Wearable computer
Wearable computers are miniature electronic devices that are worn by the bearer under, with or on top of clothing. This class of wearable technology has been developed for general or special purpose information technologies and media development...
technology.
Location
The ATAS main research facility is located at the Cobb County Research Facility in Smyrna, GeorgiaSmyrna, Georgia
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 40,999 people, 18,372 households, and 9,498 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,949.9 people per square mile . There were 19,633 housing units at an average density of 1,412.6 per square mile...
.