Testimonials

“The University of Notre Dame enjoys an international reputation of excellence in the area of systems research. Faculty from the University are engaging in groundbreaking research that enhances the understanding of the behavior of systems in areas ranging from manufacturing to robotics to logistics to supply chain management. Notre Dame’s work contributes to the analysis and design of new decision-making methodologies and algorithms for systems that are more accurate, more efficient and more economical.”

-Michael A. Smith, former President, Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems-Syracuse

A Few of the Most Recent Notre Dame Inventions:

One of the most valuable inventions in recent years, generating earnings of more than $300,000 is something called piggyBac. Developed by biology professor Malcolm Fraser, it has become the most widely used tool for manipulating genes in insects, which is of interest to the pharmaceutical companies looking for gene targets for their new drugs.

Chemical Engineering professor Hsueh Chia Chang, director of the Center for Microfluidics and Medical Diagnostics, and his colleagues have developed and patented the means to quickly mix, pump, and separate incredibly minute amounts of liquid. That ability overcomes a major technical roadblock in the development of a whole new generation of advance diagnostic and sensing devices, ones similar tot he new glucose meters for diabetics.

Plasma Fairings for Landing Gear Noise Reduction

The noise produced on landing approach by commercial aircraft comes in equal parts from the jet engines and the airframe. A major component of airframe noise is produced by the deployed landing gear. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is seeking to quiet aircraft by focusing efforts on airframe noise reduction strategies. Flint O.Thomas, professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering, has developed plasma fairings for landing gear that reduce airframe noise during landing and take-off. Plasma actuators mounted on the landing gear provide effective streamlining, thereby minimizing the flow separation around the gear and significantly reducing the associated noise. The plasma fairings eliminate many problems associated with the use of mechanical fairings like gear access for maintenance and stowage during cruise and can be easily retrofitted on current aircraft. The patent is pending on this device.