Symposium 6 Invited Speaker
Dr. Mostafa Hassanalian
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
New Mexico Tech
Presentation Title: Unlocking Nature's Secrets: Bioinspired Aerodynamics and Autonomous Drone Systems
Abstract: Over millions of years, nature has evolved highly efficient structures, materials, and mechanisms that enable remarkable capabilities in flight, sensing, navigation, and energy management. Engineers increasingly draw inspiration from these biological systems to develop innovative solutions for modern aerospace challenges. The field of bioinspired engineering and biomimicry seeks to translate nature's optimized designs into advanced technologies that enhance aerodynamic efficiency, autonomy, and adaptability in aerial systems. This talk presents Dr. Hassanalian’s research on bioinspired aerodynamics and autonomous drone systems, highlighting how natural flight mechanisms observed in birds, insects, and seeds can inform the design of next-generation aerial platforms. His work integrates aerodynamic modeling, experimental validation, and system-level design to improve the performance and efficiency of drones operating in complex environments. Applications of this research include environmental monitoring, infrastructure inspection, underground exploration, wildlife observation, and planetary exploration. By combining principles from biology, aerospace engineering, and robotics, this work aims to advance the development of intelligent aerial systems capable of operating autonomously and efficiently in diverse real-world missions.
Biography: Dr. Mostafa Hassanalian is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at New Mexico Tech and a former Dean's Research Scholar. He earned his Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from New Mexico State University in 2018 and 2016, respectively. His research focuses on experimental aerodynamics, bioinspired engineering, autonomous aerial systems, and drone technology, integrating physics-based modeling, dynamics and control, and experimental testing to develop next-generation aerospace systems. Over the past seven years, Dr. Hassanalian has led an externally funded research program with more than $8 million in support from agencies and organizations including the National Science Foundation (NSF), NASA, NIOSH-CDC, the Alpha Foundation, and industry partners. His scholarly work includes more than 65 peer-reviewed journal articles and over 190 refereed conference papers, many presented at AIAA conferences, contributing significantly to research in drones, bioinspired aerodynamics, and autonomous exploration systems. Dr. Hassanalian has been continuously recognized since 2021 among the world's Top 2% most-cited scientists for both annual and career-long citation impact according to the Stanford University–Elsevier ranking. His contributions to research and academic service have been recognized with several honors, including the New Mexico Tech Faculty Distinguished Service Award (2024), Faculty Distinguished Research Award (2025), and the AIAA Faculty Advisor Award (2026). His research group develops bioinspired drones and autonomous aerial systems for applications such as environmental monitoring, underground exploration, wildlife observation, and planetary exploration. Several of his projects—particularly the taxidermy bird drone—have received international media attention through outlets including The New York Times, National Geographic, Reuters, and EuroNews. Dr. Hassanalian currently advises 22 graduate students (8 Ph.D. and 14 M.S.) and has graduated 4 Ph.D. and 20 M.S. students to date, in addition to mentoring over 100 undergraduate researchers. He is also actively involved in STEM outreach, leading K–12 drone programs and serving on the board of the Friends of Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.
Symposium 6 Invited Speaker
Vickie Webster-Wood
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Carnegie Mellon University
Presentation Title: Biology as Smart Materials for Biohybrid and Biodegradable Robots
Abstract: In the last century, it was common to envision robots of the future as shining metal structures with rigid and halting motion. This imagery is in sharp contrast to the fluid and organic motion of living organisms that inhabit our natural world. As robotics has advanced, animals are often turned to for inspiration. However, the adaptability, complex control, and advanced learning capabilities observed in animals are not yet fully understood and, therefore, have not been fully captured by current robotic systems. Furthermore, many of the mechanical properties and physical capabilities seen in animals have yet to be achieved in robotic platforms. In this talk, I will share my group's efforts to use biologically derived materials in robotic subsystems to make robots more adaptable and sustainable. Our research in biohybrid robotics is enabling new approaches toward the creation of autonomous biodegradable living robots. In parallel, by using farmable plant-based materials, we can now create robotic components that are fully degradable in natural environments. As we look to the future, we are bringing these capabilities together toward the creation of autonomous, adaptable robots built using sustainable biological materials. These robotic systems have future applications as sustainable platforms for medicine, search and rescue, and environmental monitoring of sensitive environments (e.g., coral reefs).
Biography: Vickie Webster-Wood is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University with courtesy appointments in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, the McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine, and the Robotics Institute. She is the director of the C.M.U. Biohybrid and Organic Robotics Group and has a long-term research goal to develop completely organic, biodegradable, autonomous robots. Research in the C.M.U. B.O.R.G. brings together bio-inspired robotics, tissue engineering, and computational neuroscience to study and model neuromuscular control and translate findings to the creation of renewable robotic devices. Dr. Webster-Wood completed her postdoc at Case Western Reserve University in the Tissue Fabrication and Mechanobiology Lab. She received her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the same institution as an N.S.F. Graduate Research Fellow in the Biologically Inspired Robotics Lab. She received the NSF CAREER Award in 2021 and leads the SSymBioTIC MURI. She is also a co-PI of the N.S.F. NeuroNex Network on Communication, Coordination, and Control in Neuromechanical Systems (C3NS) and has received numerous additional awards and grants, including recognition as one of MIT Technology Reviews 35 Innovators under 35 in 2023.