The micro pulsed-jet as a micro-electro-mechanical systems combustion engine and miniaturization technologies for aerospace engineering

The field of Aerospace Engineering is now considered by some to be a fully developed field with incremental and evolutionary, rather than revolutionary, advances. However, in recent years the emergence of precision, micro-, and nano-engineering will bring about a comprehensive set of enabling miniaturization technologies for aerospace applications. In this dissertation, three separate research efforts with relevance to the advancement of aerospace engineering are detailed: the preliminary development of the micro pulse jet, the application of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) toward the control of a delta wing aircraft, and the microfabrication of soft polymers for sensors and actuators.; The main focus on the preliminary development of the micro pulse jet is to demonstrate the feasibility of using microfabrication and microelectronics toward a miniaturized pulse jet engine. Since a pulse jet utilizes minimal moving parts, this has been demonstrated in this dissertation to be suitable candidate with the common miniaturization technology, MEMS. The application of MEMS toward the control of a delta wing focus on the usage of MEMS shear stress sensors and bubble actuators to affect an order of 1 control on a delta wing aircraft. Both wind tunnel models and Remote Piloted Vehicles (RPVs) have been used to demonstrate the concept. The microfabrication of soft polymers section focuses on the development of a fabrication technology that can pattern traditionally hard to pattern materials such as silicone elastomers. The ability to pattern soft polymers has huge implications in aerospace applications due to the ubiquitous usage of elastomers as sealants and joints besides the unique chemical, mechanical, and electrical properties that are applicable toward aerodynamic sensors and actuators.