Unmanned aerial systems (UASs) that are soft enough that they will not cause damage when crashed have the potential to revolutionize aeronautics by allowing a large number of UASs to safely enter the national airspace. Unfortunately designing an aircraft that is soft enough to be safe, yet rigid enough to be controllable is difficult. This project seeks to design a UAS based on an active tensegrity structure that can dynamically change its rigidity so that it can fly with high performance, yet… Show more Unmanned aerial systems (UASs) that are soft enough that they will not cause damage when crashed have the potential to revolutionize aeronautics by allowing a large number of UASs to safely enter the national airspace. Unfortunately designing an aircraft that is soft enough to be safe, yet rigid enough to be controllable is difficult. This project seeks to design a UAS based on an active tensegrity structure that can dynamically change its rigidity so that it can fly with high performance, yet crash safely in the event of a mishap. Prospective interns should have experience in materials sciences, physics, and finite element analysis (via SolidWorks and ABAQUS). Show less