The Rotorcraft Centers of Excellence (Part One)

Introduction

On 6 September 2000, the joint Army/NASA National Rotorcraft Technology Center (NRTC) renewed the standing of the three Rotorcraft Centers of Excellence (RCOEs) by selecting them for five-year grants. Awards were made to the Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Maryland, and the Pennsylvania State University. The three grants total $2.3M per year.

The full and open competition for recognition as an RCOE was fierce. The awards followed six months of intensive work preparing the proposals, which were closely examined by a panel of experts from government and industry. These grants, the fourth competition since Rotorcraft Centers of Excellence were first established in 1982, will cover efforts from January 2001 to December 2005.

The RCOEs were established to support long-term basic research objectives and to establish a significant dual-use technology base. The purpose of the RCOE program is to provide a critical mass of multi-disciplinary research capability at several universities to provide interdisciplinary programs aimed at elimination of rotorcraft technology barriers. A range of faculty capabilities and appropriate rotorcraft-related course work in a number of disciplines were required to establish the centers. The involvement of historically black colleges and universities or other minority institutions in the execution of the research activities was also necessary.

The research topics requested under the RCOE grants are: (1) efficient low-noise rotors, (2) affordability, (3) low-vibration dynamic systems, (4) advanced drivetrains (excluding engines), (5) smart and composite structures, (6) integrated automated cockpits, (7) advanced dependable day/night adverse weather capability, (8) highly reliable safe operations, (9) digital-optical integrated flight controls, and (10) VTOL air traffic control systems. Research topics are focused on basic scientific issues that are of unique importance to rotorcraft and that have the potential for making significant contributions to government and industry research goals and missions.

Background

In 1981, Norman Augustine, then at Martin Marietta, was appointed as the chairman of a panel to recommend ways to promote more efficient rotorcraft designs and improve the technology of rotorcraft. One of his recommendations was to establish Rotorcraft Centers of Excellence at universities so they could contribute to rotorcraft research. The following year, three universities – Georgia Tech, Maryland, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute of Troy, New York – were selected by the Army Research Office (ARO). Dr. Robert Singleton was the Army Technical Monitor. The grants were renewed in 1988 by the ARO, and then again in 1993 by a consortium of the ARO and the four major U.S. helicopter manufacturers: Bell, Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, and Sikorsky.

The ARO, based in Durham, North Carolina, handles Army basic research (the so-called "6.1") funds. They work very closely with the universities. In 1995, however, the NASA and the Army formed the NRTC to bring together and coordinate research at government, industry and academic laboratories.

A national competition was again conducted and, in 1996, Rotorcraft Centers of Excellence were established at Georgia Tech, the University of Maryland, and Pennsylvania State University. Rensselaer’s director, Dr. Bob Loewy, by that time had become the Chair of the School of Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Tech, and Dr. Olivier Bauchau had similarly moved from RPI to GT.

The NRTC – which is guided by an Executive Committee composed of NASA, Army, Navy, Federal Aviation Administration, and industry leaders – focuses the resources of government, industry and academia in an innovative research partnership. The strategic objectives are to continue superiority of US military rotorcraft and to expand the world rotorcraft market and US industry’s market share. Mr. Andrew W. Kerr is the Director of NRTC, as well as of the Army Aeroflightdynamics Directorate (AFDD) at Ames. Dr. Yung H. Yu is the chief scientist at NRTC and the Technical Monitor of the RCOEs. He has been involved with the RCOEs since their inception, initially in his capacity as a division chief at AFDD, serving on the panel that conducts annual reviews. The NRTC office is small, with a total of only seven dedicated personnel. According to Dr. Yu, "A key function of the NRTC is to coordinate [rotorcraft research] activities of the universities, industry and government."

The NRTC, located at the NASA Ames Research Center, also manages a unique research program performed by the Rotorcraft Industry Technology Association (RITA). The RITA conducts cost-sharing (50/50 government/industry) research by the rotorcraft industry and universities. Georgia Tech’s Dr. Daniel Schrage explains: "The problem with the Centers is we’re paid for basic research. Industry can’t use most of it unless its put into a form compatible with their design and industry tools. So that’s what RITA was set up for – to address more of the near-term and mid-term versus the long term technologies."

There are two ways that universities can be involved through RITA. They can either receive a subcontract from industry or they can propose grants directly. In the latter case, they are also required to cost share at 50%. Dr. Yu comments, "Through my association with RITA, I’m very familiar with what industry and the universities are doing [through the RCOE programs]…. Because it’s under ‘one roof’, the universities are familiar with the RITA activities and the RITA members are familiar with the universities, so they can have really good cooperation."

For the recent grant proposal review, NRTC formed at team of senior government and industry researchers. Dr. Yu says that "most of them are world-class researchers in their own technical areas. So we were able to evaluate the technical aspects of the proposals very carefully. Basic research should be done in universities and I wanted to make sure the universities perform excellent basic research for the rotorcraft community."

The establishment of the RCOEs has been essential in achieving these goals. "I really want to emphasize the importance of basic research and training students for the community," Dr. Yu continues. "We really need well balanced students for the [rotorcraft] community."

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