In research that may lead to next-generation airplanes and spacecraft, MIT engineers used carbon nanotubes to prevent cracking in multilayered composites.

The team’s new algorithm finds failures and fixes in all sorts of autonomous systems, from drone teams to power grids.

Designed to ensure safer skies, “Air-Guardian” blends human intuition with machine precision, creating a more symbiotic relationship between pilot and aircraft.

With this new approach, a tailsitter aircraft, ideal for search-and-rescue missions, can plan and execute complex, high-speed acrobatic maneuvers.

Technology demonstrations show the machine’s major components achieve the required performance.

With a grant from the Office of Naval Research, MIT researchers aim to design novel high-performance steels, with potential applications including printed aircraft components and ship hulls.

With 75 years of aviation industry-focused research and education under its belt, the lab continues to develop propulsion systems for next-generation aircraft.

A technique for synthesizing many “white graphene” nanotubes at a time paves the way for stronger, heat-resistant composites, and membranes for renewable energy.

The computer-vision technique behind these maps could help avoid contrail production, reducing aviation’s climate impact.

New algorithm could enable fast, nimble drones for time-critical operations such as search and rescue.