Wichita State University’s FirePoint Innovations Center recently received a $4.6 million award from the U.S. Army Research Office for research that will focus on advancing thermoplastic composite and additive manufacturing technology.

“Our partnership with WSU will improve the structural integrity of both current and future Army aviation platforms, making them more lightweight, durable and reliable,” said Dr. Robert Haynes, who is the Army focal for the project and an aerospace engineer for the Army’s DEVCOM Aviation and Missile Center (AvMC) Technology Development Directorate (TDD).

Tools and methods for showing compliance with airworthiness requirements will be a specific focus for both efforts.  

“We are excited to expand our relationship with the U.S. Army and use our expertise and equipment to help advance the understanding for how to certify parts made from these technologies,” said Pierre Harter, WSU associate vice president of research operations and director of R&D for the National Institute for Aviation Research. Harter also serves as a co-principal investigator on the effort. “Modernization is the Army’s first priority, and we’re excited to develop and demonstrate technology benefitting Future Vertical Lift, one of the Army’s six modernization priorities,” said Dr. Mark Robeson, chief of the Structures Branch at the U.S. Army DEVCOM AvMC TDD.

FirePoint is a part of Wichita State’s division of Industry and Defense Programs, working closely with the university’s National Institute for Aviation Research.