28. January 2025.

Five PhD candidates from the IMM Institute presented their research at the renowned AIAA SciTech Conference 2025. The conference, organized by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), is one of the most important events in the aerospace industry and took place from January 6-10, 2025, in Orlando, Florida.

Insights into the Diversity of AIAA SciTech 2025

With over 3,000 presentations from researchers and more than 6,000 participants from 45 countries, the conference offered a diverse program. The PhD candidates from IMM – Tobias Augustin, Michael Kurz, Markus Schumann, Sabine Wisbacher, as well as Maximilian Dauner – were among the speakers. In addition to their technical presentations, they had the opportunity to explore the exhibition area, where over 80 exhibitors showcased the latest technological developments.

Sabine Wisbacher emphasized the variety of the topics covered: “AIAA SciTech covers all areas of aviation and aerospace - from engine and propulsion technology to aerospace control strategies and autonomous flight.”

New Perspectives Through Conversations and Discussions

The conference offered not only technical talks and panel discussions but also a platform for interdisciplinary exchange. Markus Schumann shared:

“I had exciting discussions on wind estimation with two researchers from Canada and the USA. They had completely different approaches, which I found very interesting.”

From Wind Forecasting to Firefighting: The Research Contributions of IMM PhD Candidates

The doctoral students from the IMM Institute presented the following aerospace engineering topics from their research groups:

• Tobias Augustin: „Multi-Mode Control enabling optimized Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Firefighting Performance“
• Michael Kurz und Maximilian Dauner: „Local Wind Vector Measurements Using Multirotor Urban Air Vehicle for the Simulation of Wind Fields in Urban Areas via Factorized Fourier Neural Operator“
• Markus Schumann: „Model Predictive Gust Load Alleviation Control for Flexible Aircraft“
• Sabine Wisbacher: „Wind Tunnel Based System Identification of a Small Unmanned Aircraft System“

Concluding with a memorable experience in Cape Canaveral

In addition to the scientific sessions, IMM Institute members had the opportunity to experience a rocket launch live at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral over the weekend – an experience that further fueled their passion for spaceflight.

Participation in AIAA SciTech 2025 was a valuable opportunity for the IMM researchers to present their work to an international audience, make new contacts, and get inspired by groundbreaking innovations.