Six Texas A&M students are spending the summer break  studying nanomaterials to improve the execution of unmanned aerial vehicles via advanced 3-D replicas, composite materials and cost-efficient fabrication items.

Nate Miller, junior aerospace engineering major, is one participant in the 10-week program called Research Experiences for Undergraduates, founded by the National Science Foundation. The program allows students to earn one credit hour of independent study.

“I am working to build a quad rotor helicopter,” Miller said. “These are used frequently by the Air Force for surveillance missions, and I would like to see if they have practical use in the civilian world.”

In addition to lab work, participating students attend workshops that teach presentation skills, and work on a formal poster presentation of research. The program brings in students who might never have had the opportunity to perform academic research.

“Conducting valid research is a universal skill,” Miller said. “Giving undergrads the opportunity to perform research is like jump-starting their careers.”

More than half of students involved in the program in the past four years pursue graduate degrees, and nine professional publications have been produced with the research of  students from the program.

“Once or twice a week, a group will come in wanting to see the quad rotor,” Miller said. “Two weeks ago a visitor from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research flew in to review our entire program.”