Acquisition of Metal Additive Manufacturing Machine to Support Defense Manufacturing Research and Innovation at Rio Grande Valley and the National I-DREAM4D Consortium
Abstract
Groundbreaking advances in advanced manufacturing processes and smart technologies for cyber-physical systems are driving revolutions in materials/structures design and synthesis, providing innovation opportunities that transform a broader spectrum of military systems where advanced performance and protection at extreme conditions are expected. The objective of this request is to support a stream of ongoing research projects and two national consortia led by the PI team, through which 4 minority institutions are supported. Specifically, this requested major equipment supports UTRGV DoD Consortium for Innovation Driven Research Education for Advanced Manufacturing for the Defense (I-DREAM4D, www.idream4d.org) funded by DoD ($3.9 million, 2020-2024). The consortium is composed of five higher education institution members with three minority-serving institutions (UTRGV, UTSA, and Virginia State University), two national labs (Army Research Lab, Oak Ridge National Lab), members from defense industry, local high schools, and community colleges. The requested metal additive manufacturing machine facilitates the goals of the consortium to 1) advance research in material engineering through additive manufacturing (AM) and AI; 2) sustain an innovation-driven manufacturing education ecosystem to prepare future scientists and engineers who lead U.S. defense manufacturing innovation; and 3) expose and recruit future STEM talents through high school summer manufacturing innovation camps, and regional defense expos/exhibitions planned in 5 regions the consortium serves with a total population of 20 million, most of which are from underrepresented minority groups. UTRVG, a multi-campus and the nationÕs second-largest Hispanic-serving institute (HSI) has a record high total enrollment of 32,618 in Fall 2020, of whom 89.4% are Hispanic. The requested equipment is critical to the goal of increasing participation of underrepresented minorities in all STEM programs and specifically in advanced materials and manufacturing while broadening and enhancing UTRGVÕs core priority of student success through engaged learning, research, and creative works that will transform the Rio Grande Valley, the Americas, and beyond. The requested Metal Additive Manufacturing Equipment supports funded research projects and education programs organized in three levels, with the participation of minority students and faculty at UTRGV: 1) Advanced material synthesis and additive manufacturing science; 2) Materials/structure design enabled by AM and Artificial Intelligence (AI); and 3) Military devices and components enabled by AM and AI. Since 2019, the team has engaged more than 652 undergraduate students in the defense manufacturing education program, supported more than 95 students in funded research and industry projects, and exposed 1300 high school students to advanced defense manufacturing technologies though defense expos, summer camps, and invited talks provided by DoD. The team at UTRGV was recenlty selected by DOE/NNSA and NSF for awards of two large grants ($9 million total) to prepare STEM talents and to advance research at UTRGV, leveraging AM for energy production and critical infrastructures. Currently, the team only has limited access to a Renishaw AM 400 machine located in LA, California, through a collaboration arrangement, which is no longer sufficient to support the research and education programs at UTRGV. The pandemic has additionally caused serious logistic challenges to all operations at every facet. Direct access to modern metal additive manufacturing machines is in desperate need to support a stream of funded projects, support student learning in STEM, and support impactful outreach programs the team offers.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 02, 2022
- Source ID
- W911NF2210177
Entities
People
- Jianzhi Li
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Office of the Secretary of Defense
- University of Texas Rio Grande Valley