Abstract

Over the last 15 years or so, personal drones and civilian low-earth-orbit satellites have substantially changed our activities both individually and collectively. Their emergence was supported by the rapid advancement of mechanical-electronics technologies, improved energy technologies, new and lighter materials, miniaturized and modularized components and design, and lower-cost manufacturing. With the rapid development and adoption of new generational vehicles including eVTOLs for un-crewed delivery flight vehicles as well as passenger-carrying missions in low altitude flight space, and an impressively fast-growing number of low-earth-orbit satellites for a wide range of operations, we are entering a new world. The future of planetary sustainability, environmental monitoring, human connectivity, accelerated commerce, AI deployment and national dominance is interconnected. Such vehicles require exceptional capabilities in design and precision manufacturing as well as system-wise management, which only few countries possess. The implications of national rivalry versus equal access by all countries need to be balanced. The equity and accessibility of the international community in the heretofore unclaimed space territory are key issues. In this sharing, we will trace these developments and discuss implications in a global context.

About the Speaker

Wei Shyy was the President of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) from 2018 to 2022.  He first joined HKUST in August 2010 as Provost and Chair Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.  Prior to this, he was Clarence L. “Kelly” Johnson Collegiate Professor and Chairman of the Department of Aerospace Engineering of the University of Michigan.  He was the Principal Investigator of several multi-institutional research projects on future space transport, bio-inspired flight, and computational science.He is General Editor of the Cambridge Aerospace Book Series published by the Cambridge University Press; and Co-Editor-in-Chief of Encyclopedia of Aerospace Engineering, a major reference work published by Wiley-Blackwell. Professor Shyy is an agenda contributor of the World Economic Forum and has received awards for his research and professional contributions, including the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) 2003 Pendray Aerospace Literature Award, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) 2005 Heat Transfer Memorial Award, and The Engineers’ Council (Sherman Oaks, CA) 2009 Distinguished Educator Award.  In 2021, the French Government made him an Officer of the Legion of Honor. In 2023, the International Conference on Computational & Experimental Engineering and Sciences (ICCES) honored him with the Satya N. Atluri Award. In 2024, he received The Meir Hanin International Aerospace Prize.  He is an elected member of Academia Sinica and serves as a member of the board or advisor of several foundations and companies.