Carnegie Mellon Innovations Laboratory (CMIL)

The Carnegie Mellon Innovations Lab (CMIL) has established itself as one of the world’s leading ground and aerospace technology research centers since its founding in 2003. Led by Dr. Khalid Al-Ali, CMIL focuses on identifying, researching, testing, and maturing forward-looking ground and aerospace technologies with applications to mobile vehicles. Leveraging its location at the NASA Ames Research Center, CMIL brings together the best and brightest aerospace research professionals from both Carnegie Mellon and NASA to explore new possibilities for micro vehicle platforms, aircraft, spacecraft, and associated technologies.

CMIL has a history of avionics and control systems R&D successfully applied towards high profile endeavors, several of which have been featured on The History Channel’s “Modern Marvels.” CMIL is also home to the groundbreaking MAX rover, a compact and low-cost mobile robotic chassis.  Outfitted with sensors and electronics, MAX is ideally suited for supporting research relevant to intelligent teleoperation and as a low-cost autonomous robotic test bed. MAX’s chassis is modular and reconfigurable with a wide variety of sensors to suit user’s needs. CMIL has successfully spun off Senseta, Inc., developer of MAX and a leader in compact mobile robotics and has won renown for its interconnected research in the areas of advanced aircraft and spacecraft control systems, intelligent avionics, novel power systems, planetary rovers and robots, and spacecraft and autonomous vehicles. Other cutting-edge research at CMIL includes developing algorithms for antenna systems and micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) devices, novel flight control technologies, and smart lunar landers.

Contact: Khalid Al-Ali