University of Michigan Aerospace Engineering

09/02/2026

U-M Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering, Ricardo Vinuesa, and international co-authors were recently published in Nature for their work on "The HydroGym reinforcement learning platform for fluid dynamics."

Together, the team's work showcases a platform for training and comparing machine learning models for actively reducing drag, improving lift, cutting noise, and managing heat in relation to fluid dynamics.

Read the full article from the University of Michigan College of Engineering here: https://news.engin.umich.edu/2026/08/hydrogym-trains-assesses-ai-for-actively-controlling-fluid-dynamics/

With more than 60 environments, the simulated proving ground aims to speed the development of AI controllers that optimize drag, lift, noise and heat management.

09/02/2026

Last academic year, 16 University of Michigan aerospace engineering students took on a real-world engineering challenge by developing an autonomous system to detect, identify, and engage hostile drones.

Through the Department of Aerospace Engineering’s Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) Lab and x88 course series, the Michigan-Counter Aerial System Target Lock & Engagement (M-CASTLE) team partnered with industry sponsor Leidos to design and build a ground-based counter-drone defense system.

At the end of the academic year, the team successfully conducted a live demonstration at Mcity, in which the system autonomously detected, tracked, targeted, and engaged a test drone.

The live demonstration also provided an unexpected real-world test when a bird flew through the airspace. The system correctly identified it as a biological object, tracked its movement, and deliberately chose not to engage, which validated one of the project’s key safety requirements.

Read more here: https://aero.engin.umich.edu/2026/08/31/u-m-students-develop-counter-drone-defense-system-with-industry-leader-leidos/

Students in MBSE Lab build and design ground-based defense system in just an 8 month window

09/01/2026

MASA’s will have two Mass meetings coming up on Tuesday the 8th from 7-9pm and on Sunday the 13th from 2:30-4:30! If you are interested in joining we highly encourage you to stop by and chat!

09/01/2026

Come find out more about MASA at Aero-Festifall on Tuesday, September 1st from 3-5pm! We look forward to seeing everyone there!

09/01/2026

Controlling the flow of fluids is critical to many fields of science and engineering, but with complex physics and many variables, these flows usually can’t be directly predicted. Researchers from University of Michigan, University of Washington College of Engineering, RWTH Aachen University and TU München have built a platform focused on solving this problem through reinforcement learning.

By incorporating physics knowledge into the training of AI agents that actively modify fluid flows over surfaces, the new platform reduced the amount of trial-and-error needed to optimize reinforcement learning control strategies by as much as 65%.

Called HydroGym, it also compares control strategies on a level playing field, helping identify the best available approaches for solving problems such as improving the efficiency of airplanes and wind turbines, making jet engines quieter and cooling supercomputers.

Read more ⬇️

09/01/2026

C. Cybele Raver was confirmed as the University of Michigan’s 17th president today at a special meeting of the Board of Regents. Please join us in welcoming President-Elect Raver! myumi.ch/9JJEP

09/01/2026

AIAA will be hosting our mass meeting for this year on Wednesday, September 2nd, from 7:30 to 9 PM in FXB 1109 (the Boeing Auditorium)! 🚀 ✈️ ⭐️

We will be going over what AIAA is all about, some of the events that we host, introducing our board for the year, and getting to know each other! We are looking forward to continuing to grow the AIAA community at the University of Michigan, so please come if you can!

Please use the QR code to RSVP! Pizza will be provided for those who attend 🍕We can’t wait to meet everyone and get the year started!

09/01/2026

The University of Michigan Aerospace Engineering annual magazine is back, highlighting another academic year of innovation, discovery, and achievement across our department.

Use the link below to read the past academic year's reports on the exceptional research, awards, and accomplishments of our faculty, students, and staff.

Explore the latest edition and see what’s happening across U-M Aerospace Engineering:
https://aero.engin.umich.edu/about/department-publications/

08/31/2026

Welcome back, Michigan Aerospace students! 🎉

We are thrilled to have new and returning students back on campus as we gear up for another exciting academic year. This is your chance to learn from world-renowned faculty, collaborate with brilliant peers, and contribute to cutting-edge research that’s shaping the future of the industry.

We can't wait to see the amazing things you’ll achieve throughout this academic year!

08/28/2026

As AI systems become increasingly capable of exploring complex scientific problems, researchers are developing new ways to understand what machines learn.

In a new Nature Communications perspective, U-M Aerospace Engineering Associate Professor Ricardo Vinuesa and co-authors explore how artificial intelligence could contribute to scientific discovery and how researchers can translate what AI learns into knowledge that humans can understand, test, and use.

Their work highlights the potential for AI to expand the boundaries of scientific discovery while keeping human understanding and oversight at the center.

Read the full story to learn more: https://aero.engin.umich.edu/2026/08/27/how-ai-could-transform-scientific-discovery/

New Nature Communications perspective examines how explainable AI could translate machine-learned insights into human understanding