A “new era of flight” is about to take off on Georgia Tech’s campus, says aerospace professor Brian German.
German spoke at the grand opening of the Aircraft Prototyping Laboratory (APL), a research facility dedicated to electric and autonomous flight vehicles.
Now, that could mean flying cars in our future thanks to Georgia Tech aerospace engineering talent, said Ángel Cabrera, president of Georgia Tech, during the event. But it also means the space could help shape the future of emergency drone response services, commercial flight options, and other “novel avionic” applications.
The ribbon cutting event highlighted just how important the new lab means for the State of Georgia, as politicians, industry leaders, and academics gathered to get a first-look at the space, located near the newly-opened Science Square in Atlanta’s West Midtown neighborhood.
“This facility demonstrates Georgia Tech’s long-term commitment to pioneering the technologies that will shape the future of aviation,” said Cabrera.
The 10,000-square-foot facility will host state-of-the-art research projects, including projects like RAVEN, a NASA collaboration to build and fly an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, and other initiatives including solar-electric aircraft and safety-critical software for advanced air mobility.
It will also serve as a “home for student clubs” interested in the future of autonomous flight, added German.
Some of those current clubs on campus include RotorJackets (a drone racing team) and DRXC (that promotes radio-controlled multirotor and fixed-wing design, building, and flight as a hobby).
The APL space is the latest showcase of the State of Georgia’s growing impact on the aerospace industry. Aerospace products are the state’s number one export (reaching $12.6 billion in 2024) and the state’s second largest manufacturing industry.
