The University of Houston has inaugurated the Aerospace Innovation in Mechanics and Materials (AIM²) Laboratory, a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to advancing aerospace research and education.
The new laboratory, located in the Durga D. and Sushila Agrawal Engineering Research Building (AERB), officially opened this September and marks a significant step in UH’s expanding aerospace research enterprise.
Expanding Aerospace at UH
The AIM² Lab strengthens UH’s role as a hub for cutting-edge aerospace innovation, supporting the university’s participation in the NASA Minority University Research and Education Project (MIRO). Through MIRO, NASA fosters research capacity and workforce development at Minority Serving Institutions, preparing the next generation of aerospace leaders.
The AIM² Lab directly supports the NASA MIRO Inflatable Deployable Environments and Adaptive Space Systems (IDEAS²) Center, led by UH in collaboration with NASA Johnson Space Center, Texas A&M University, Stanford University, Houston Community College, San Jacinto College, and aerospace industry partners.
Spanning 1,900 square feet, the AIM² Lab is equipped with state-of-the-art technologies that will empower students and faculty to investigate advanced materials, robotics, and fabrication methods for extreme space environments. The laboratory supports research in areas such as 3D printing of aerospace materials, mechanics of inflatable and deployable space structures, robotic manipulation for in-space operations, and vacuum testing of components designed for space applications.
Among the advanced equipment housed in the lab are:
- Formlabs Form 4 and Form 3 SLA 3D polymer printers
- Stratasys Origin Two SLA/DLP printer for high-resolution additive manufacturing
- Trotec Speedy 360 CO₂ laser cutter
- Universal Robots UR12e robotic arm
- Vacuum chamber with air pump for space-environment simulation
- Custom-built 3D printer for direct ink writing of liquid crystal elastomers
- Fume hoods and materials characterization equipment
These capabilities, supported by NASA MIRO grant funds, will enable novel investigations into the mechanics and materials of space structures while offering students hands-on training with industry-grade systems.
Building Institutional Capacity
The AIM² Lab contributes to the IDEAS² Center’s core mission of enhancing institutional capacity in aerospace research and education. By providing cutting-edge tools and facilities, UH is not only strengthening its partnerships with NASA and industry but also expanding opportunities for students to engage in advanced aerospace research and workforce pathways.
“The AIM² Laboratory is an exciting addition to our aerospace research infrastructure at UH,” said Karolos Grigoriadis, Cullen Endowed Professor and Chair of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. “It represents our commitment to advancing NASA-aligned research in mechanics and materials, while providing opportunities for students to engage in the technologies shaping the future of space exploration.”