Colloquium: January 13, 2015

Taking the Long View: How ISAAC Prepares LaRC for the Future

Brian K. Stewart

(video) within the Langley firewall only
Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 2:00 P.M. in the Pearl Young Theater

Abstract

In 2012, a small team of NASA Langley engineers formulated a strategy to expand a new commercial robotic composites fabrication platform into a robust research capability to advance the state-of-the-art of composite structures, materials and processing. Instead of focusing on the machine’s single purpose, the team instead formulated a bold, broad concept; with the accuratized, flexible robotic platform linking previously existing Langley Research Center expertise and capabilities. This expanded vision, the Integrated Structural Assembly of Advanced Composites (ISAAC), positions Langley to fulfill our key role in aerospace structures well into the future. While many see ISAAC only as a robot, the robotic mobility platform is but a single element of the broader concept. The integrated ISAAC capability includes engineering, analysis, design, tooling, layup, cure, inspection, testing and test data correlation. The lecture will include updates on the current state of the system, the integration of numerous activities across the Center and Agency, and an unexpected and surprising example that highlights the value of “Taking the Long View.”

Speaker

Brian StewartBrian Stewart is a Senior Researcher in NASA Langley’s Research Directorate. He has 35 years of experience with the research, engineering, development, and activation of numerous systems for NASA, industry and the US Navy. For the last two years, he has worked with a highly motivated team to advocate for, acquire and stand up ISAAC as a robust NASA capability. His expertise includes design and engineering of hypersonic facilities, robotic positioning systems, liquid-vapor cooling of solid-state lasers, soft composites research, hypervelocity test articles, shipboard systems and project management. He holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Old Dominion University, and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech.

Myra Walton-Basnight is hosting our speaker this month.