University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies
Encyclopedia
The University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS, icon ) is an advanced research facility for aeronautics
and aerospace engineering
, located in the Downsview district of Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
. Established in 1949, the institute is managed by the University of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering
and mainly receives funding from governmental agencies such as the National Research Council and the Department of National Defence
. Notable international sponsors include the European Space Agency
, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
, Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik
, NASA Ames Research Center
and the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
.
In 1970, the institute was involved in the emergency rescue of the Apollo 13
astronauts, after the mission was aborted by a major accident en route to the Moon. UTIAS was contacted for assistance due to its expertise in shockwaves and aerospace dynamics. Scientists at UTIAS calculated the amount of pressure needed to separate the Lunar Module from the Command/Service Module
without damaging the hatch, allowing the crew to survive the re-entry to Earth. Observing the 40th anniversary of the incident in 2010, lunar module pilot Fred Haise
wrote a letter thanking the UTIAS team for its contribution.
In recent years, the institute has produced the world's first microwave
-powered aircraft, the world's first engine-powered ornithopter
(both inventions of James DeLaurier
), and Canada's first space telescope, MOST
. The major expertise areas represented are aircraft design, particularly at subsonic speeds, flight simulation, space robotics, microsatellite
technology, computational fluid dynamics
and nuclear fusion
. The institute's partners in the aerospace industry include Bombardier Aerospace
, MD Robotics (formerly Spar Aerospace
) and General Atomics
. It operates the Canadian Advanced Nanospace eXperiment Program
for the study and testing of nanoscale devices.
UTIAS enrolls about 80 students in M.A.Sc., M.Eng., and Ph.D. programs. In addition, institute members work with the faculty's undergraduate engineering science division to teach courses in the program's aerospace concentration option.
In the August of 2010 the landmark 40 ft steel sphere, running a blowdown supersonic wind tunnel, standing outside the entrance of UTIAS is being removed to make room for a new building.
Senior Lecturers
Professors Emeriti
Adjunct Professors
Aeronautics
Aeronautics is the science involved with the study, design, and manufacturing of airflight-capable machines, or the techniques of operating aircraft and rocketry within the atmosphere...
and aerospace engineering
Aerospace engineering
Aerospace engineering is the primary branch of engineering concerned with the design, construction and science of aircraft and spacecraft. It is divided into two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering...
, located in the Downsview district of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Established in 1949, the institute is managed by the University of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering
University of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering
The Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering is an academic division of the University of Toronto devoted to study and research in engineering. Founded in 1873 as the School of Practical Science, it is still known today by the longtime nickname of Skule...
and mainly receives funding from governmental agencies such as the National Research Council and the Department of National Defence
Department of National Defence (Canada)
The Department of National Defence , frequently referred to by its acronym DND, is the department within the government of Canada with responsibility for all matters concerning the defence of Canada...
. Notable international sponsors include the European Space Agency
European Space Agency
The European Space Agency , established in 1975, is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 18 member states...
, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory , just outside Livermore, California, is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center founded by the University of California in 1952...
, Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik
Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik
The Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik is a physics institute for the investigation of plasma physics, with the aim of working towards fusion power...
, NASA Ames Research Center
NASA Ames Research Center
The Ames Research Center , is one of the United States of America's National Aeronautics and Space Administration 10 major field centers.The centre is located in Moffett Field in California's Silicon Valley, near the high-tech companies, entrepreneurial ventures, universities, and other...
and the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority is a UK government research organisation responsible for the development of nuclear fusion power. It is an executive non-departmental public body of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and was formerly chaired by Lady Barbara Judge CBE...
.
In 1970, the institute was involved in the emergency rescue of the Apollo 13
Apollo 13
Apollo 13 was the seventh manned mission in the American Apollo space program and the third intended to land on the Moon. The craft was launched on April 11, 1970, at 13:13 CST. The landing was aborted after an oxygen tank exploded two days later, crippling the service module upon which the Command...
astronauts, after the mission was aborted by a major accident en route to the Moon. UTIAS was contacted for assistance due to its expertise in shockwaves and aerospace dynamics. Scientists at UTIAS calculated the amount of pressure needed to separate the Lunar Module from the Command/Service Module
Apollo Command/Service Module
The Command/Service Module was one of two spacecraft, along with the Lunar Module, used for the United States Apollo program which landed astronauts on the Moon. It was built for NASA by North American Aviation...
without damaging the hatch, allowing the crew to survive the re-entry to Earth. Observing the 40th anniversary of the incident in 2010, lunar module pilot Fred Haise
Fred Haise
Fred Wallace Haise, Jr. is an engineer and former NASA astronaut. He is one of only 24 people to have flown to the Moon. Having flown on Apollo 13, Haise was to be the sixth human to walk on the Moon, but the mission did not land due to a failure aboard the spacecraft.-Early life and...
wrote a letter thanking the UTIAS team for its contribution.
In recent years, the institute has produced the world's first microwave
Microwave
Microwaves, a subset of radio waves, have wavelengths ranging from as long as one meter to as short as one millimeter, or equivalently, with frequencies between 300 MHz and 300 GHz. This broad definition includes both UHF and EHF , and various sources use different boundaries...
-powered aircraft, the world's first engine-powered ornithopter
Ornithopter
An ornithopter is an aircraft that flies by flapping its wings. Designers seek to imitate the flapping-wing flight of birds, bats, and insects. Though machines may differ in form, they are usually built on the same scale as these flying creatures. Manned ornithopters have also been built, and some...
(both inventions of James DeLaurier
James DeLaurier
James D. DeLaurier is an inventor and professor emeritus of the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies. He is a leader in design and analysis of lighter than air vehicles and flapping winged aircraft.-Career:...
), and Canada's first space telescope, MOST
Microvariability and Oscillations of STars telescope
The Microvariability and Oscillations of STars telescope, better known simply as MOST, is Canada's first and only space telescope. It is also the smallest space telescope in the world...
. The major expertise areas represented are aircraft design, particularly at subsonic speeds, flight simulation, space robotics, microsatellite
Miniaturized satellite
Miniaturized satellites or small satellites are artificial satellites of unusually low weights and small sizes, usually under . While all such satellites can be referred to as small satellites, different classifications are used to categorize them based on mass .One reason for miniaturizing...
technology, computational fluid dynamics
Computational fluid dynamics
Computational fluid dynamics, usually abbreviated as CFD, is a branch of fluid mechanics that uses numerical methods and algorithms to solve and analyze problems that involve fluid flows. Computers are used to perform the calculations required to simulate the interaction of liquids and gases with...
and nuclear fusion
Nuclear fusion
Nuclear fusion is the process by which two or more atomic nuclei join together, or "fuse", to form a single heavier nucleus. This is usually accompanied by the release or absorption of large quantities of energy...
. The institute's partners in the aerospace industry include Bombardier Aerospace
Bombardier Aerospace
Bombardier Aerospace is a division of Bombardier Inc. and is the third-largest airplane manufacturer in the world. It is headquartered in Dorval, Quebec, Canada.- History :...
, MD Robotics (formerly Spar Aerospace
Spar Aerospace
SPAR Aerospace was a Canadian aerospace company. It produced equipment for the Canadian Space Agency to be used in cooperation with NASA's Space Shuttle program, most notably the Canadarm remote manipulator system....
) and General Atomics
General Atomics
General Atomics is a nuclear physics and defense contractor headquartered in San Diego, California. General Atomics’ research into fission and fusion matured into competencies in related technologies, allowing the company to expand into other fields of research...
. It operates the Canadian Advanced Nanospace eXperiment Program
Canadian Advanced Nanospace eXperiment Program
The Canadian Advanced Nanospace eXperiment program is the only Canadian nanosatellite program at present. It is operated by the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies, Space Flight Laboratory...
for the study and testing of nanoscale devices.
UTIAS enrolls about 80 students in M.A.Sc., M.Eng., and Ph.D. programs. In addition, institute members work with the faculty's undergraduate engineering science division to teach courses in the program's aerospace concentration option.
In the August of 2010 the landmark 40 ft steel sphere, running a blowdown supersonic wind tunnel, standing outside the entrance of UTIAS is being removed to make room for a new building.
Current Faculty
Professors- D. W. Zingg, B.A.Sc., M.A.Sc., Ph.D. (Director)
- Ö. L. Gülder, B.Sc. (METU), M.Sc. (METU), Ph.D. (Manchester) (Associate Director)
- H. T. Liu, B.A.Sc. (Shanghai), M.A.Sc. (Beijing), Ph.D. (Associate Director)
- T. D. Barfoot, B.A.Sc., Ph.D.
- G. M. T. D'Eleuterio, B.A.Sc., M.A.Sc., Ph.D.
- C. J. Damaren, B.A.Sc., M.A.Sc., Ph.D.
- A. Ekmekci, B.S. (Istanbul Tech.), M.S. (Lehigh), Ph.D. (Lehigh)
- J. J. Gottlieb, B.Sc., M.Sc. (Sask), Ph.D.
- P. R. Grant, B.A.Sc. (Manitoba), M.A.Sc., Ph.D.
- C. P. T. Groth, B.A.Sc. (UBC), M.A.Sc., Ph.D.
- A. A. Haasz, B.A.Sc., M.A.Sc., Ph.D.
- P. Lavoie, B.Sc.(Queen's), M.Sc. (Queen's), Ph.D. (Newcastle)
- J. R. R. A. Martins, M.Eng. (Imperial College), M.Sc. (Stanford), Ph.D. (Stanford)
- P. B. Nair, B.Tech. (IIT Bombay), M.Tech. (IIT Bombay), Ph.D. (Southampton)
- P. C. Stangeby, B.Sc., M.Sc., Dipl.Sci., D.Phil.(Oxon)
- C. A. Steeves, B.A., B.A.Sc.(UBC), Ph.D.(Cambridge)
Senior Lecturers
- J. W. Davis, B.A.Sc., M.A.Sc., Ph.D.
- M. R. Emami, B.Sc. (Sharif), M.Sc. (Sharif), Ph.D.
- R. Zee, B.A.Sc. (Waterloo), M.A.Sc., Ph.D. (Manager, UTIAS Space Flight Laboratory)
Professors Emeriti
- J. D. DeLaurier, B.S. (Illin.), M.S., Ph.D. (Stanford)
- J. H. de Leeuw, Dipl. Eng (Delft), M.S (Georgia Tech), Ph.D.
- B. EtkinBernard EtkinBernard Etkin, is a Canadian academic and one of the world's recognized authorities on aircraft guidance and control.Born in Toronto, Ontario, Etkin is a graduate of the University of Toronto and was Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering at the university in the 1970s...
, D.Eng. (Carleton), B.A.Sc., M.A.Sc., Order of Canada - J. B. French, B.A.Sc.,M.Sc.(Manch.),Ph.D., Order of Canada
- J. S. Hansen, B.A.Sc., M.A.Sc., Ph.D. (Waterloo)
- P. C. Hughes, B.A.Sc., M.A.Sc., Ph.D., MBA (York,1996)
- G. W. Johnston, B.A.Sc., M.A.Sc., Ph.D.
- L. D. Reid, B.A.Sc., M.A.Sc., Ph.D.
- J. P. Sislian, M.Sc. (Yerevan), Cand. Phys. & Math. Sci. (Moscow), Ph.D.
- P. A. Sullivan, B.E., M.E. (N.S.W.), D.I.C., Ph.D.(London)
- R. C. Tennyson, B.A.Sc., M.A.Sc., Ph.D.
Adjunct Professors
- J. Kleiman, B.S. (Vilnius), M.Sc. (Israel), Ph.D. (Adjunct Associate Professor)
- C. Walsh, B.A.Sc., M.A.Sc., Ph.D. (Adjunct Associate Professor)