Research

Improving satellite cost and technology while lowering costs and raising efficiency.

The mission of the Advanced Space Technologies Research and Engineering Center (ASTREC) is to provide leading-edge research that is industry-driven to produce integrated, concurrent small satellite design including fabrication and validation with the objective of improvements in time to orbit, lower cost, maximum flexibility in design accommodation, and performance. Additionally, through its educational efforts, ASTREC will develop the next generation of "rocket scientists".

ASTREC aims to transform the culture of the space industry from risk-averse to smartly risk-tolerant. By distributing risk across multiple satellites, ASTREC will retain multi-sensor functionality while ensuring that overall capability remains robust.

Innovating the next generation of transportation fuel and technology.

The mission of the Advanced Transportation Energy Center (ATEC) is to develop fundamental and enabling technologies that will facilitate the electric power industry to actively manage and control large amount of plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) and plug-in electric vehicle (PEV). ATEC will also develop battery and power electronics technologies to help the automobile industry develop better and more efficient PHEVs and PEVs, hence allowing our nation to move away from gasoline based vehicles. ATEC will also educate the public about the advantages of PHEV and PEV through its outreach program in collaboration with industry sponsors.

NSF Center

Creating concepts, methods and tools for advanced computer and communication systems.

CACC is a membership-based industry/university cooperative research center co-located at North Carolina State University and Duke University. Expertise in the center is focused in the areas of information security, business intelligence, software engineering, extreme programming, networking, wireless technologies, autonomic computing, power visualization, business analytics, sensor-based systems, and display technologies. The CACC research goal is to create concepts, methods and tools for use in the analysis, design and implementation of advanced computer and communication systems. Our mission is to carry out basic and applied research on fundamental problems with both industrial and academic relevance, to transfer these results to our members, and to provide our students with a unique and challenging educational opportunity.

Developing efficient, scalable and reliable computers that benefit North Carolina, the Nation, and corporate affiliates.

The Mission of CESR is to research, design, and build computer systems that are Efficient, Scalable and Reliable. Increasingly, these are the key requirements for a wide range of computing systems --- from ASICs to cell phones to corporate servers: efficient in their use of energy, space, and memory; scalable in performance and cost; and reliable in the face of high transaction rates and adverse environments. We address these challenges through research in VLSI design, processor architecture, compilers, memory systems, system architecture, and application software.

Fostering increased interaction in the technologies of advanced robotics and intelligent machines research.

The Center for Robotics and Intelligent Machines (CRIM) was established in 1992 with the mission of fostering increased interaction in the interdiscplinary technologies of advance robotics and intelligent machines research. The CRIM focuses its research themes to meet its mission within the State as well as nationally and internationally. This is being achieved through various programs of evolution, integration, and collaboration. The changing face of the State's hi-tech industries motivates the CRIM to broaden its research base to include biotechnology and information technology themes, since these industries are expanding quickly within the State and the nation.

NSF Center

Developing the engineering, science and technology needed to create the 21st century renewable energy power grid

The Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management (FREEDM) Systems Center, headquartered on NC State University's Centennial Campus, is one of the latest Gen-III Engineering Research Center (ERC) established by National Science Foundation in 2008. The FREEDM Systems Center will partner with universities, industry and national laboratories in 28 states and nine countries to develop technology to revolutionize the nation's power grid and speed renewable electric-energy technologies into every home and business. The center will be supported by an initial five-year, $18.5 million grant from NSF with an additional $10 million in institutional support and industry membership fees. More than 65 utility companies, electrical equipment manufacturers, alternative energy start-ups and other established and emerging firms are part of this global partnership.

Committed to providing nanofabrication support to researchers from both academia and industry.

The NCSU Nanofabrication Facility provides users with a broad range of nanofabrication capabilities to support a diverse set of projects. The facility houses virtually all standard thin film processing tools including a state-of-the-art ASML laser scanner for high volume, 193 nm patterning. The facility serves as a melting pot for a community of top-notch researchers from academica, government labs and industry representing a variety of disciplines. The vast majority of users, many traveling from afar, prefer to come on-site for hands-on access to the facility. However, users with well-defined projects can also have their work performed by our experienced staff.

Leading cooperative research in network analysis and testing.

Part of NC State’s College of Engineering, Networking Technology Institute (NTI) is the umbrella organization for Centennial Networking Lab, a networking analysis and testing center, and Center for Advanced Computer and Communication, an NSF membership-based industry/university cooperative research center. Located on NC State University’s Centennial Campus, NTI is primarily situated in the Monteith Research Center (MRC) with additional facilities in Venture II and Venture III.

Serving as an international forum for the exploration of ideas that enable improvements in power semiconductor devices.

With the widespread use of power devices in consumer electronics, for transportation, and air-conditioning, power semiconductor technology plays an important role for improving the comfort and well being of people around the world. They are also key enabling devices for reduction of wasted power leading to reduction of usage of fossil fuels and the concomitant reduction in environmental pollution. The Power Semiconductor Research Center (PSRC) was established at North Carolina State University in 1991 to fill this gap.

Exploring more efficient and reliable means of producing and distributing power.

SPEC was established as an NC State center of excellence with vertically integrated research programs in several major areas that relate to energy and power. Programs include research on technologies to extend battery life and ways to power next generation microprocessors, as well as research on technologies to prevent the next major blackout. The center also studies new renewable energy sources including wind, wave, and solar power and their integration into the power grid as well as fundamental technologies that will enable faster power electronics systems based on new processes and materials. In addition, innovative methods to distribute power and protect power systems from damage and failure are being investigated.