Tag: Engineering

Game-changing Shocker Fly Lab project kicks off with $1 million lead gift

Lynn and Sherry Nichols have given a lead gift of $1 million to Wichita State University to kick off the fundraising campaign for the new, state-of-the-art Shocker Fly Lab, an enclosed flight space to research, design and test unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that will position the university at the forefront of unmanned aerial system (UAS) education and development.

“This project is something Sherry and I were interested in supporting from the moment we heard about it,” said Lynn Nichols, retired chairman and CEO of Yingling Aviation, a full-service aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul company based in Wichita. “We have watched first-hand as the aerospace industry has grown and shifted with new technologies, and this project will ensure Wichita State students are receiving a future-focused aerospace education.”

This $12.75 million project will be completed in two phases, the first of which will consist of a net-enclosed open-air facility measuring approximately 100 feet by 200 feet with a steel structure 30-35 feet high. This $4.3 million phase will incorporate a small, covered entry canopy for shelter from the elements, as well as outdoor landscaping for spectators to observe testing and competition.

“The Shocker Fly Lab will be a game-changer for Wichita State, providing a dynamic space where students, faculty and industry partners can come together to push the boundaries of drone technology,” said Wichita State President Rick Muma. “This facility will fuel cutting-edge research and applied learning and drive real-world innovation in aerospace and autonomous systems. Thanks to the generosity of Lynn and Sherry Nichols, we’re creating a hub where ideas can quite literally take flight.”

Strategically positioned on the Innovation Campus near the Hub for Advanced Materials Research and the John Bardo Center, the lab will foster collaboration and innovation between students, faculty and Innovation Campus partners, along with the National Institute for Aviation Research, to develop, test and refine advanced drone systems in a real-world environment. This will complement the cutting-edge work happening in the Project Innovation Hub at the John Bardo Center to leverage the capabilities of a new supercomputer under construction.

“Lynn and Sherry had the vision to recognize the impact this facility will have, and I deeply appreciate their leadership and collaboration in designing a space that will expand opportunities for academics, research and hands-on learning,” said Dr. Anthony Muscat, dean of the College of Engineering at Wichita State. “This enclosed flight-testing facility will serve as a hub for innovation in fields such as aerospace engineering, computer science, robotics and environmental monitoring — supporting applications ranging from precision agriculture and infrastructure inspection to disaster response and autonomous navigation.”

Phase 2 of the Shocker Fly Lab has a projected cost of $8.45 million and will enclose the Phase 1 structure with curtain wall glass and a standing seam roof to provide a temperature-controlled environment for year-round usage. Restrooms, support rooms and a screened mechanical enclosure will also be added.

The project — which does not have a set timeline yet — will be fully funded through private gifts, and the $12.75 million projected cost includes funding for an endowed director position, maintenance and applied learning support for students.

“We are deeply grateful for Lynn and Sherry’s support in making the lead gift for this project,” said Telly McGaha, president and CEO of the WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement. “They have given generously of both their time and resources to advance Wichita State throughout the years, and their support of this project will create opportunities for students for generations to come.”

In addition to providing applied learning experiences for College of Engineering students and others, the Shocker Fly Lab will support industry-sponsored student competitions and faculty research in drone technology, including aerodynamics, control systems and sensor integration. The application of this research will go beyond improving UAVs and will advance development of autonomous systems used in real-world problem-solving, including satellites.

Collaboration with WSU Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech), which offers degree and certificate programs in UASs, will enhance the university’s ability to offer joint research and workforce development programs.

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WSU alumnae emphasize STEAM careers through children’s literature

Tech Tykes, a collaborative project between WSU Tech execs Mandy Fouse ’10 and Sheree Utash ’99, launched with their first book, Ella the Engineer and the Big Fix, back in November. And the duo is just getting started.

As with many great ventures, Tech Tykes started with a simple idea. “We asked ourselves, what if we could make STEAM careers exciting and accessible to kids at an early age?” said Fouse, executive director of public affairs and executive communications at WSU Tech. “We’ve seen firsthand how hands-on experiences can ignite curiosity, but there are limitations to how many students we could reach through in-person camps, classroom visits and events.”

Books, however, provided an opportunity to scale their mission to a wider audience.  “Through storytelling, we can plant the seed that STEAM careers are not only fun, but achievable,” the co-author said.

Representation in their books became an essential part of the Tech Tykes vision. “We wanted to ensure that our stories reflected kids from a range of backgrounds,” Fouse said. “The earlier we can expose kids to new possibilities and combat stereotypes about who belongs in these fields, the better.”

For adults reading along, Utash, president of WSU Tech, and Fouse want to showcase the power that early exposure to STEAM careers can have on young readers, who gain confidence in their own abilities by connecting with the protagonists of the story.

Their first book follows Ella who, through curiosity, problem-solving and teamwork, transforms a dull park playground into something far more exciting. “Ella” has been awarded by their publisher with two certifications – growth mindset and literacy-centered – reflecting the protagonist’s resilient mindset and reading comprehensibility for a wide audience of young readers. “We hope to receive these seals for all our books,” Fouse said. “They reinforce our commitment to creating stories that not only introduce children to STEAM careers, but also build critical thinking and literacy skills.”

Fouse attributes some of her own go-getter-ness to her days at WSU, when she was enrolled as a student and working full-time concurrently. She graduated in four years without student debt, an accomplishment today in equal measure to the challenge she faced at the time. “Looking back,” the marketing and entrepreneurship alum said, “I appreciate how my experience at WSU shaped my work ethic and prepared me for the fast-paced, goal-driven career I have today.”

The second installment in the Tech Tykes universe, titled “Beckham the Biologist and the Outdoor Adventure,” launched Feb. 12, 2025. Follow along with the Tech Tykes here.

Aerospace engineering grad’s startup targets electrifying private air travel

Akim Niyonzima ’22 has never been accused of thinking small, and he’s certainly not starting now with the launch of his and his business partner’s startup Nimbus Aerospace. As he explains, their long-term mission is nothing short of “reshaping business aviation with sustainable solutions.”

Niyonzima and Adrian Goos, a University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate, founded their Seattle, Washington-based Nimbus in March 2023. After operating in stealth mode for months, the founders went public with their company in December. “We started Nimbus to bring aircraft enthusiasts, pilots and engineers together to push the boundaries of aviation and aircraft technology,” Niyonzima says. “Private jets are 5 to 14 times more polluting per passenger than commercial airplanes, making them one of the single most polluting forms of transportation. As my business partner says, ‘This is an issue not even Taylor Swift can shake off.’”

Backed by investors Chisos Capital and Techstars, a global startup accelerator and venture capital firm, Niyonzima and Goos founded Nimbus on the idea of employing high-tech electrification, automation, and digital systems to help the aviation industry do its part to hit the international-consensus target of net-zero emissions by 2050. “Our hope, long-term,” Niyonzima says, “is for us to revolutionize sustainable aviation. By electrifying private air travel using today’s technology, we aim to make it cleaner, more efficient — and ultimately to reduce the carbon footprint of the industry.”

Specifically, Nimbus’ small team of professionals is working on the design and development of the N1000, a “zero emissions, high performance, low operating cost, and quiet aircraft,” as the company’s website describes the concept business jet. On December 4, the N1000-XSS1, a 10th-scale prototype of the jet, was flown successfully, demonstrating the soundness of the company’s initial proprietary airframe design. “As we grow,” Niyonzima says, “we hope to scale our technology, expand into new markets and set new standards for performance and sustainability.”

As a student at Wichita State, Niyonzima worked on no less than five engineering projects that dealt with a wide array of aeronautical and aerospace subjects, everything from the fundamentals of atmospheric flight (Aviation Accident Analysis) to space dynamics (CubeSat Digital Mission). “I believe I’m where I am now because I put myself out and participated in the various activities Wichita State offers,” he says. “Whether it was the Baha SAE racing team, the rocket club, hackathons — all of them helped me connect with like-minded people with innovative and inventive minds. That has put me in the position I am now.”

He adds, “I purely enjoyed the everlasting friendships I made with fellow Shocker colleagues, alumni and professors through the various projects I worked on at WSU.”

For more about Nimbus, visit nimbusaerospace.com.

Walser Auto drives fall 2024 GoBabyGo! event

Eight children from the Wichita area were off to the races in their customized toy cars following the College of Engineering’s biannual WSU GoBabyGo! event on Saturday, Nov. 23. 

This award-winning and multidisciplinary program has provided students across academic colleges at Wichita State – from engineering to physical and speech language therapy – with a unique, community-facing applied learning opportunity. Twice a year, these students work together to provide modified ride-on toy cars for children with disabilities. 

The 2024 event was made possible through many generous sponsors, including the Walser Foundation, which supported the modification of four customized vehicles: a Jaguar for Jagger, a Paw Patrol-themed build for Baylen, a Maybach Mercedes for Parker and an all-terrain vehicle for Hezekiah. Each build was suited to the needs and interests of each child and delivered at no cost to the family.  

“We believe every child deserves a bright future, and every person should have the opportunity to reach their full potential,” Nancy Warner, director of the Walser Foundation, said. “The products and equipment that the students in the GoBabyGo! program create enable people living with disabilities to live a fuller life and achieve their dreams.” 

WSU GoBabyGo! promotes creative problem-solving by encouraging students to approach every build with empathy, ensuring that each child receives a car with unique modifications suited to their needs. Since 2016, with the support of corporate partners like the Walser Foundation, students in the College of Engineering have customized more than 200 cars for children with disabilities.  

Samantha Corcoran, program co-founder and student organization advisor, says applied learning opportunities like WSU GoBabyGo! help students grasp human-centered design principles, while encouraging both troubleshooting and multidisciplinary collaboration. “Students learn to adapt, revise and improve their designs to ensure that each child receives a toy car suited just for them,” Corcoran said. “And that toy car will grant them a new level of mobility to explore and grow.”

This application of adaptability also made the program a natural fit for a partnership opportunity with the Walser Foundation. “One of Walser’s core values is to be open-minded,” Warner said. “The innovation that takes place at GoBabyGo! is only possible because students are open-minded as they create new products to improve daily living for children with disabilities.” 

Now, thanks to the generosity of our partners and a few custom toy cars, daily living means a new sense of independence and movement for eight more children with disabilities. 

Engineering alum uses thesis to bridge industry and academia

Wichita State’s applied learning opportunities set students up for success post-graduation, but the benefit of industry connections extends far beyond campus. Just ask Ridge Towner, two-time alum and reliability engineer at Spirit AeroSystems.

“In an ideal world, there would be no separation between industry and academia,” Towner ‘21/23, said. “Both fields do their most sound work when they work together.”

Ridge Towner
Ridge Towner

In 2021, Towner met engineering professor Wilfredo Moscoso-Kingsley on a faculty externship to Spirit. He pitched a research project testing on-machine coordinate measuring to improve quality control in aerospace manufacturing. Moscoso-Kingsley, who received his PhD in machine tool design and experimental mechanics from Purdue, had just the academic background needed to make Towner’s research proposal a reality.

Aerospace manufacturing, Towner explained, has outpaced existing academic research. The results from his work with Moscoso-Kingsley have the potential to restructure operating procedures for aerospace measurement into a more efficient and cost-effective in-situ technology.

“There is so much value in having the niche expertise of academics so close to the industries they contribute to,” Towner said. “It was working with Dr. Moscoso-Kingsley that helped me build the confidence to start on my thesis.”

The alum sees their research as just one example of the benefits of bridging the gap between industry and academia.

Towner strongly advocates for continued education across all disciplines. He was awarded his master’s degree in 2023 and will soon begin his doctoral studies.

“Completing my thesis resulted in intellectual property for the company, a publication with Dr. Moscoso-Kingsley and further research into a topic lacking academic insight,” he said. “A continuation of one’s education is an obvious mutual benefit to all parties.”

Explore Wichita State’s graduate programs here and see how you can advance your own education: https://www.wichita.edu/academics/majors/graduate.php.