Funding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) – University Leadership Initiative (ULI)
Partners: CCM, Joby, Spirit Aerospace
The NASA ULI Program at CCM advances composite manufacturing technologies for Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and eVTOL structures. The team develops high-performance materials and rapid manufacturing methods to achieve aerospace-quality performance at automotive production rates. A key innovation, the Tailored Universal Feedstock (TuFF), delivers superior fatigue resistance and strength with flexible material combinations. New forming and laser-assisted processing techniques have demonstrated up to 10–20× faster production. In collaboration with Joby Aviation, Spirit AeroSystems, and Southern University (HBCU), the program also supports workforce training and technology transition. Its impact spans research, education, and industry adoption of next-generation lightweight aerospace materials.