Engineering On The Edge

The future of advanced technology looks amazingly bright. From carbon nanotubes to personal supercomputers to fuel cells, we’re on the verge of another technological revolution. The future of the U.S. manufacturing sector, however, does not look as rosy.

A few months ago, we told you about the “Ensuring American Leadership in Advanced Manufacturing” report that was submitted by the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). One of the council’s recommendations was to create an initiative to support advanced manufacturing via researching new technologies and public-private partnerships.

“We cannot remain the world’s engine of innovation without manufacturing activity.” — PCAST report.

Cleveland’s NASA Glenn Research Center isn’t waiting for an executive order to work with industry. On October 27, it hosted a workshop that included more than 30 exhibits demonstrating the latest NASA technologies that could benefit the automotive industry. The workshop was arranged by The Manufacturing Advocacy & Growth Network in Cleveland (MAGNET) and the Center for Automotive Research at The Ohio State University.

During the workshop, which was held in Glenn’s aircraft hangar, attendees learned about technologies such as advanced materials, including metal and fiberglass foam, nanotechnology, extreme environment sensors, and power generation via fuel cells and new battery gels. The goal was to inform the automotive industry about cutting edge technologies that could be leveraged to improve automobile performance, efficiency and manufacturing processes. Attendees had the opportunity to have one-on-one conversations with NASA innovators to discuss their near-term technology needs and how NASA’s research and development could help address their future technology requirements.

The workshop was held in the NASA Glenn hangar in Cleveland, OH.

Specialists were on hand to discuss the process of working with NASA, partnership opportunities, and how intellectual property and other concerns are handled. Additionally, exhibits from local universities including the Cleveland Institute of Art, as well as NASA research aircraft and space hardware were on display.

“Some people think that it must be hard to work with NASA. We’re trying to show them with events like this that we want to partner with you,” Robert “Joe” Shaw, Glenn’s deputy director of technology partnerships and planning, told the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

The workshop is a great example of a government agency working with universities and private industry. It’s a step toward sharing technology that could help the U.S. manufacturing sector grow. From big public-private partnerships like commercial space flight, to small regional events like the workshop, the space agency is leading the way into yet another new frontier.

Sources: NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland.com