<p>One of two engineering faculty members in Florida to be so recognized.</p>
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William S. Oates, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering, was selected by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA, DARPA</a> | Home) as one of 33 rising stars at 24 U.S. universities to participate in the agency's Young Faculty Award program for 2009. The 33 participants will receive grants of approximately $300,000 each to develop and validate their research ideas over the next two years.</p>
<p>The objective of Oates' research project, titled "Field-Coupled Mechanics and Nonlinear Control of Photo-Responsive Adaptive Structures," is to optimize special characteristics within a type of material known as photoelastomers polymers that change their shape in response to light to create highly adaptable "smart" structures. Among the possible applications for such materials could be using them to:</p>
<pre><code>* Design flapping-wing, micro-air vehicles essentially tiny, remotely piloted or autonomous aircraft that could be used for military or law-enforcement surveillance or for safe observation of hazardous environments
* Provide texture control of adaptive skins, which could increase the maneuverability or efficiency of aircraft under certain conditions
* Design remote laser control of microfluidic systems and microscale actuators for drug delivery or microelectronic communication devices
</code></pre>
<p>"This award will provide a wonderful opportunity to advance our knowledge of these fascinating materials," said Oates, who has served on the faculty of the Florida A&M University-Florida State University College of Engineering since 2006. "I am looking forward to working with DARPA and several Department of Defense organizations to transition these materials to various applications."...
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See: The</a> Florida State University
and <a href="http://www.darpa.mil/Docs/YFA09AnnouncementFinal.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.darpa.mil/Docs/YFA09AnnouncementFinal.pdf</a></p>