Announcements

The Next Aeronautics Revolution

An AIAA Distinguished Speaker Lecture, via Zoom

presented by

Vanessa V. Aubuchon

NASA Manager of the Revolutionary Aviation Mobility Sub-Project in the Transformational Tools and Technologies Project

Wednesday, February 14th, 2024 at 12:00-1:00 PM

Imagine going home from work in a pilotless aircraft that takes off vertically from a building rooftop and transitions to forward flight to carry you out of the city to a landing pad in the suburbs. When you get home, you’re too tired to cook dinner, so you order your favorite Thai food from a restaurant three miles away and it lands in your driveway fresh and hot. Later that night, you get a stomachache and order some antacids from the pharmacy down the street, which is delivered via a drone to your home in a matter of minutes. Can you imagine a world of convenience and efficiency that is enabled by ubiquitous, autonomous air transportation? We are in the middle of an aeronautics revolution right now, where those scenarios are becoming a reality. This talk will discuss the “Third Wave of Aeronautics,” which is bringing aviation to people’s daily lives. NASA, alongside industry and the FAA, is developing the technologies and safety standards to enable faster local commutes, widespread package delivery, cost-effective cargo transportation to rural areas, and more routine connections between regional airports. Advanced Air Mobility targets safe, sustainable, affordable, and accessible aviation that will transform the world’s transportation systems. Current manufacturer progress, new enabling technologies, and challenges to realizing this new paradigm will be described.  

Vanessa Aubuchon has conducted research, guided development activities, and managed various aspects of projects and programs at NASA for over 18 years. She has an unfettered vigor for learning and development, solving problems, and improving processes. Thus, her career has been filled with experiences spanning space exploration to aviation, in multiple NASA organizations, including headquarters, in positions of researcher, project manager, systems engineer, and branch head. Currently, she manages the Revolutionary Aviation Mobility SubProject in the Transformational Tools and Technologies Project.  Ms. Aubuchon holds a Bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University and a Master’s degree from Virginia Tech. She is pursuing a Ph.D. in Engineering Management from Old Dominion University. She has been the recipient of the AIAA Hampton Roads Section Mitcheltree Young Engineer of the Year Award, Orion Exceptional Contribution Award, NESC, and NASA Group Achievement Awards, and multiple NASA Team Awards.  She serves as honorary president of the Peninsula Engineers Council, AIAA HRS Council Member, and AIAA Region I Deputy Director for Career and Professional Development, among several other roles on boards and committees. Ms. Aubuchon is also a mother of two young boys and enjoys volunteering as judge and queuer at annual FIRST Robotics Competitions and various other local STEM events. 

The presentation will be on Wednesday, February 14th, 2024 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM PST via Zoom. The Zoom link for the meeting is below.