Facilities
Check out the various laboratories and equipment run by our group.
Fan Array Wind Tunnels
We work in the Aerodrome as part of the Caltech Center for Autonomous Systems and Technologies (CAST). This is the tallest indoor drone arena of its kind, covering more than 1,500 square feet and 41 feet high.
It includes a custom-built 10-foot-by-10-foot wall of 1,296 fans capable of generating wind speeds of up to 35 mph, with a side wall of 324 fans to create a crosswind. The wall is capable of creating a nearly infinite variety of wind conditions for drones to learn to react to—everything from a light gust to a stormy vortex, simulating the real-world conditions that flying autonomous aircraft may encounter.
The entire wall can also be tilted 90 degrees to simulate vertical take-offs and landings. The space is monitored by 48 cameras that track the motion of drones with a resolution of 100 microns.
Heart Lab
The Heart Lab is at the center of the cardiovascular research done in our group. The laboratory is equipped with a Left Heart Pulsed Flow Simulator, designed to investigate systolic transaortic and mitral regurgitation flows via flow visualization and DPIV. The simulator makes use of a hydraulic analog model, consisting of a transparent aortic arch and a ventricle-shaped silicone sac, that is connected to a circulation simulator. We use this sophisticated model of the heart to evaluate heart valves, assess the effect of flow structures on mitral valve dynamics, and test the functionality of ventricular assist devices.
Lucas Wind Tunnel
The Lucas Wind Tunnel is a medium-sized, low-speed wind tunnel run by the GALCIT department at Caltech. It is available for hire (testing only) as well as both short and long term research projects. For more information, please consult http://www.galcit.caltech.edu/galcit-lucas-awwt/
Charyk Biomechanics Laboratory
The Charyk Biomechanics Laboratory is outfitted with several laboratory benches along with designated spaces for PIV or other projects involving laser optics. The laboratory is also equipped with optics and vibration tables.