Researcher Kareen Ahmed, of UCF’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, has been selected by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory to lead a project on developing a morphing hypersonic engine for ultra-fast travel. Hypersonic propulsion would allow for air travel at speeds of up to 13,000 mph.

“Most hypersonic engines are structurally fixed due to the challenging flight environment,” says Ahmed. “Our research will show the performance gains from an adaptable engine configuration that would self-optimize its surfaces to maximize performance power, thrust and travel distance which is the first of its kind for hypersonic engines.”

• Kareem Ahmed