Category: News

Researchers at The University of Texas at Arlington and The University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute (UTARI) have demonstrated a new way to mechanically tune the stiffness of advanced ferroelectric materials, opening the door to more durable sensors, actuators, and memory devices. Supervised by Dr. Ye Cao, associate professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and a UTARI researcher, the study shows that freestanding ferroelectric membranes can undergo nonvolatile domain switching, meaning their internal structure remains stable even after mechanical strain is removed. The findings were recently published in Physical Review Materials.

Using advanced phase-field simulations, Dr. Cao’s team studied thin membranes made of barium strontium titanate, a material widely used in electronic and electromechanical applications. The research identified that applying tensile or compressive strain can permanently reconfigure the material’s internal polarization domains, resulting in a large and controllable change in stiffness, or Young’s modulus. At specific temperatures and material compositions, the elastic tunability reached more than 50 percent, a level of control that is difficult to achieve using traditional electric-field methods. Importantly, this strain-based approach avoids performance degradation commonly associated with repeated electrical switching.

The work was carried out by Laveeza Ahmad, a Ph.D. student working under Dr. Cao, with collaboration from Joseph H. Ngai, professor in the Department of Physics at UTA. Together, the team’s results provide a new design framework for mechanically reconfigurable ferroelectric devices, particularly for flexible electronics and nonvolatile memory technologies. The study highlights UTA’s growing role in advancing fundamental materials research with strong potential for future engineering and defense-related applications.

The paper can accessed here: https://journals.aps.org/prmaterials/abstract/10.1103/597g-g87y

The aerospace industry plays a critical role in the U.S. economy and national security, driving innovation, high-skilled employment, global competitiveness, and technological leadership. Demand for skilled aerospace professionals continues to grow due to factor such as rapid innovation, an aging workforce, education and training gaps, limited pathways for community college students and high turnover rate and workforce retention challenges, making new approaches to workforce development essential.

Funded by the National Science Foundation through its ExLENT program, the Beginnings: Preparing and Advancing College Engineering Students for the Aerospace Workforce with Experiential Learning and Research project brings together the University of Texas at Arlington, the UTA Research Institute, Tarrant County College, and industry partner RECARO Aircraft Seating to develop a regional aerospace workforce pipeline.

The project is led by Dr. Shiyao Lin, Principal Investigator, with Dr. Md Rassel Raihan, Dr. Md Mahmudur Rahman, and Stuart E. Riley serving as Co-Principal Investigators. Together, the leadership team brings expertise spanning non-destructive evaluation, manufacturing and testing, VR and AR technologies, and community college workforce training.

The project establishes a structured workforce pipeline in the Dallas Fort Worth region, one of the nation’s largest aerospace hubs. It follows an academic-to-training and training-to-internship pipeline. Each year, approximately 20 Tarrant County College students participate in hands-on training at TCC composite manufacturing facilities before transitioning into advanced experiential learning opportunities at the University of Texas at Arlington and UTARI. At the university level, 20 UTA students per year, including traditional undergraduates and six veteran students, engage in cohort-based training focused on aerospace manufacturing, testing, and analysis through project-based learning, laboratory experiences, and immersive technologies.

Following training, students move into industry- or research-aligned pathways based on their interests. Application-inclined students may pursue industry internships, with two interns per year placed at RECARO Aircraft Seating, supported by guidance informed by industry partners such as Lockheed Martin and ANSYS. Research-inclined students follow a research pathway, with approximately eight students per year placed at UTARI to participate in applied aerospace research projects addressing real-world engineering challenges.

The project also hosts open-house events that reach approximately 200 visitors per year, increasing public awareness and literacy in aerospace engineering and STEM careers. By integrating community college education, university training, applied research, and industry engagement, the Beginnings project aims to foster cohorts of students, veterans, researchers, and industry engineers to develop the aerospace engineering community collectively, reinforcing the U.S.’s leading position in aerospace and defense technologies.

The University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute (UTARI), through its Automation and Intelligent Systems (AIS) group, is partnering with Hydronalix on SCARAB – Swarm-capable Autonomous Robotic Aquatic Bridging, a project funded through the U.S. Army Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. Hydronalix focuses on development and manufacturing of advanced Unmanned Surface Vessels (USV’s) and has established itself as a trusted provider of unmanned surface systems through its long-standing support of U.S. military operations.

This initiative brings together Hydronalix’s rugged unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) and UTARI AIS’s expertise in autonomous control and swarm coordination to develop modular, rapidly deployable aquatic bridging solutions for contested and austere environments.

Key Technical Objectives:

• Swarm Autonomy & Coordination: Develop distributed algorithms for cooperative USV behaviors, enabling dynamic formation control and adaptive bridging under variable river currents and environmental disturbances.
  
• Computer Vision for Guidance and Control: Integrate onboard vision systems to support real-time navigation, obstacle detection, and formation alignment, ensuring precise bridging operations in complex environments.
  
• Simulation & Validation: Use Gazebo and ROS-based high-fidelity simulation environments to model hydrodynamic effects, obstacle avoidance, and load-bearing scenarios before transitioning to field trials.
  
• Real-World Demonstrations: Conduct semi-autonomous and teleoperated bridging exercises at Patagonia Lake, validating system performance in realistic operational conditions.

This capability enhances mobility and logistics for military operations, providing rapid, resilient bridging solutions where traditional infrastructure is unavailable or compromised. This collaboration sets the foundation for future innovations in autonomous bridging technologies.

Engineers at The University of Texas at Arlington have developed a lightweight, air-powered soft robotic exoskeleton that helps reduce muscle injuries and improve workplace safety. The Pneumatically Actuated Soft Elbow Exoskeleton (PASE) assists arm movement during lifting and assembly tasks that helps prevent musculoskeletal disorders affecting millions of workers each year.

Funded by UTA’s Interdisciplinary Research Program, the project was led by Dr. Mahmudur Rahman from the Department of Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering, with co-principal investigator Dr. Muthu Wijesundara from UTARI’s Biomedical Technologies Division; Veysel Erel, research scientist III at UTARI; Eshwara Prasad Sridhar, graduate research assistant in the Department of IMSE. Initial tests involving participants aged between 18-45 using the exoskeleton showed up to a 22% reduction in muscle activity and reported less fatigue during lifting tasks.

UTARI’s Biomedical Technologies Division participated in the ninth annual Adaptive Sports Expo at UTA’s Maverick Activities Center, presenting research aimed at making exercise more accessible and engaging for people of all abilities.

Among the featured technologies was the Adaptive Exergame Rower, a rowing machine designed for wheelchair users. Visitors could try the equipment while playing a rowing video game, racing to complete 500 meters in the shortest time. The live leaderboard added a fun and competitive element that drew plenty of smiles and repeat attempts. The Adaptive Exergame Rower received positive feedback from all those who tried it. The Dual Player Cycling Machines also drew attention, featuring two linked bikes that power a cooperative game where one user pedals with their feet and the other cycles with their hands to move a virtual boat. Attendees said they enjoyed the chance to exercise and play together.

This new development reflects UTARI’s role as a responsible community partner and its ongoing commitment to advancing technology that supports health, inclusion, and quality of life and contributing to the University’s strategic goals.

Dr. Xin (Jeffrey) Liu, Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) at UTA and a researcher with the Institute for Predictive Performance Methodologies (IPPM) at UTARI, has been awarded a $750,000 NASA grant, dedicating to additively manufactured (AM) metamaterials that improve the safety of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). This project will pioneer energy-absorbing lattice materials, expand hands-on student training, and build regional partnerships that accelerate AAM technologies from lab to flight.

At the heart of the effort is a new class of adaptive, multi-stage energy-absorption metamaterials that can be tailored for landing structures to enhance survivability under extreme conditions while keeping aircraft lightweight. PI Dr. Liu will collaborate with Dr. Yiran (Emma) Yang in the Department of Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering department at UTA, Dr. Shiyao Lin and Dr. Robert Taylor in the MAE department at UTA, and Dr. Sameehan Joshi in the Materials Science and Engineering at University of North Texas for this highly interdisciplinary research. This project will integrate materials science, advanced manufacturing, computational mechanics, and structural design with a clear line of sight to the needs of the 3D-printed aircraft community.

“With NASA’s support, we’re unlocking the potential of advanced metamaterials that will make aircraft lighter, safer, and more efficient” said Dr. Xin Liu, principal investigator. “By coupling research breakthroughs with internships, workshops, and competitions, we’re growing the workforce and accelerating real-world impact for AAM.”

Why it matters: As cities prepare for next-generation air transport, safety, infrastructure, and vertiport operations demand materials that are both lightweight and high-performance. Dr. Liu’s team targets that need by delivering tailorable energy-dissipation mechanisms and a community-centered pathway to train the engineers who will design, manufacture, and test tomorrow’s aircraft structures.

We are excited to announce the appointment of Dr. Richard M. Voyles, Automation and Robotics Chair, as the new Executive Director of the University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute (UTARI), effective October 1.

Dr. Voyles joins UTARI as a distinguished leader and innovator in applied research, bringing with him a career that spans industry, academia, and government. He joins us from Purdue University, where he led the Collaborative Robotics Lab and served as the Daniel C. Lewis Professor of the Polytechnic and Professor of Robotics in the School of Engineering Technology—experience that strategically compliments and strengthens UTARI’s suite of cutting-edge capabilities.

In addition to his academic work, Dr. Voyles has significantly shaped national research initiatives through his roles at the National Science Foundation and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy where he launched the National Robotics Initiative and co-founded the Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program.

As Executive Director, Dr. Voyles will lead UTARI in advancing our mission, expanding our reach, and deepening our strategic partnerships. His proven experience in bridging the gap between academic research and industrial application will be invaluable as we continue to drive innovation throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth region and beyond.

His appointment marks an exciting new chapter for UTARI, and we are confident that that his visionary leadership and strategic expertise will be instrumental in strengthening the institute and expanding its influence as we continue to propel UTA to the forefront of discovery.

We’re proud to announce the successful launch of UT Arlington’s new netted drone facility—a space built for innovation, safety, and the future of aerial technology.

Though the grand opening has come and gone, the energy it sparked continues to propel us forward. The event marked a major milestone in UTA’s commitment to advancing drone research and development. Attendees got a first look at the fully enclosed testing environment, where drones can fly freely while remaining safely contained—ideal for prototyping, training, and performance testing.

This facility isn’t just a structure—it’s a launchpad for ideas. With its reinforced netting and modular layout, it offers a controlled space for experimentation, collaboration, and breakthroughs in drone technology.

Dr. Endel Iarve, UTARI Institute for Predictive Performance Methodologies Director and Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at UTA, has been elected a Fellow of the American Society for Composites (ASC), one of the highest honors in the field. The ASC Fellowship recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the composites community through research, education, and service. Dr. Iarve will be honored during the Awards Ceremony at the 2025 ASC Annual Technical Conference taking place October 6-8, 2025, in Dayton, Ohio.

More information on the ASC Annual Technical Conference: https://ascdayton.com/