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Technical Seminar: Understanding the Flight of the Boomerang

Associate Dean of Research & Graduate Programs Hamid Rahai left, welcomes John Vassberg to CSULB.

Have you ever wondered how boomerangs fly? John Vassberg has. One of Boeing’s top aerodynamicists, Vassberg was at CSULB Friday to deliver one his most popular lectures—one that delves into the aerodynamic capabilities of a hunting tool developed by Aboriginal Australians thousands of years ago.

“It’s turned out to be a cult classic,” said Vassberg, who has given the talk in Paris and Brussels and at Caltech and University of Southern California. “Maybe I’ll teach you something so you’ll have something to do over the weekend,” he told faculty and students at the Spring Technical Seminar.

Now Technical Lead and Chief Aerodynamicist of Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ Advanced Concepts Design Center in Southern California, Vassberg did the research back in 2012 when he was asked to present at an American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) conference. Continue reading “Technical Seminar: Understanding the Flight of the Boomerang”

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Oct. 14 Technical Seminar Explores New Concepts in Rocket Propulsion

Next Gen Rocket PropulsionDr. Richard Cohn, Chief Engineer of the AFRL Rocket Lab at Edwards Air Force Base, will discuss new concepts in rocket propulsion on Friday, Oct. 14 during the College of Engineering’s first Technical Seminar of the semester.

Cohn will discuss the Integrated Modular Rocket Engine, on-demand solid propellant manufacturing, and new electric propulsion concepts that are currently being explored. In addition, his presentation will touch upon ongoing fundamental exploration work. Continue reading “Oct. 14 Technical Seminar Explores New Concepts in Rocket Propulsion”

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Stanford Professor to Discuss State of Robotics

Khatib headshotFaculty and students are invited to attend the CSULB College of Engineering’s  final technical seminar of the semester. On Friday, May 6 from noon to 1 p.m., renowned Stanford University robotics expert Oussama Khatib will discuss how the generations of robots now being developed will increasingly touch people and their lives.

Khatib’s talk, “The New Robotics Age: Meeting the Physical,” will take place in the Niggli Conference Room, ECS-312. He will discuss new developments in robotics in the context of the underwater robot, Ocean One (called O2), developed at Stanford in collaboration with Meka-Google Robotics and KAUST. Continue reading “Stanford Professor to Discuss State of Robotics”