Design & Systems
- Aircraft Design
- Airship Technology
- Engineering Design Optimization
- UAV Design
- Aircraft Systems Engineering
- Space Mission Analysis and Design
AEROSPACE ENGINEERING • ACADEMIA • RESEARCH
Dr. Manikandan M.
Associate Professor | Aerospace Engineering
Ramaiah Institute of Science and Management (Greenfield Deemed-to-be University) · Bengaluru, India
Aerospace educator and researcher working across lighter-than-air systems, drones and UAVs, computational fluid dynamics, surrogate modelling, multi-disciplinary design optimization, and AI & ML.
TeachingResearchInnovation
Research
Teaching
Academic Resources
ABOUT
Academic Profile
I am an Associate Professor in the School of Aerospace Engineering at Ramaiah Institute of Science and Management (RISM), Bengaluru. My academic work brings together aerospace systems, computational methods, data-driven modelling and engineering education.
My research focuses on aircraft design, lighter-than-air systems, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), multidisciplinary design optimization, computational fluid dynamics, and artificial intelligence for aerospace applications. I am particularly interested in using multidisciplinary design and computational approaches to address complex aerospace engineering problems.
I completed my Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay in 2022. My doctoral research focused on the design optimization of tri-lobed lifting-body Dynastat airships. I also hold a Master's degree in Astronomy and Space Engineering from Manipal Institute of Technology and a Bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Engineering from MLR Institute of Technology, JNTU.
Over more than 16 years in engineering education, I have taught and mentored students across aircraft design, airship technology, aerodynamics, flight dynamics, UAV design, aircraft performance, spaceflight mechanics, computational methods and related aerospace subjects.
Research Interests
Education
Ph.D. in Aerospace EngineeringIndian Institute of Technology Bombay · 2022
M.Tech. in Astronomy & Space EngineeringManipal Institute of Technology, Manipal University · 2013
B.Tech. in Aeronautical EngineeringMLR Institute of Technology, JNTU · 2009
Academic Leadership & Service
- Active Member of Academic Council, RISM
- Contributor to curriculum development and academic initiatives
Recognition
Recipient of the 2024 Best Written Paper Award from the Royal Aeronautical Society for the paper A Parametric Design Approach for Multi-lobed Hybrid Airships.
Active member of the AIAA Technical Committee on Lighter-than-Air systems.
TEACHING
Teaching & Mentoring
My teaching spans aircraft and aerospace system design, aerodynamics, flight mechanics, computational methods and multidisciplinary engineering. I aim to connect fundamental theory with modelling, simulation, design and project-based learning.
TEACHING APPROACH
From fundamentals to engineering application
Courses are approached through analytical foundations, computational tools, design exercises and engineering applications, helping students progress from understanding physical principles to analysing and designing aerospace systems.
52Undergraduate students supervised
9Postgraduate students mentored
2Ph.D. students co-supervised
Aerodynamics & Fluid Mechanics
- Aerodynamics
- Unsteady Aerodynamics
- Fluid Dynamics
- Gas Dynamics
- Aircraft Performance
Flight & Space
- Flight Dynamics
- Spaceflight Mechanics
- Rotorcraft Aeromechanics
- Introduction to Aerospace Engineering
Computation & Modelling
- Numerical Computation Using MATLAB
- Systems Modeling Using SIMULINK
Structures & Propulsion
- Aircraft Structures
- Aircraft Propulsion
LEARNING RESOURCES
Lecture Materials & Tutorials
This website will provide organized access to selected lecture notes, presentations, tutorials, computational examples and other learning resources for aerospace engineering courses.
RESEARCH
Research & Innovation
My research integrates aircraft design, lighter-than-air systems and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with multidisciplinary design optimization, computational fluid dynamics and artificial intelligence for aerospace applications.
Aircraft Design
Conceptual and preliminary design of aerospace vehicles with emphasis on aerodynamic performance, configuration development and engineering trade-offs.
Lighter-than-Air Systems
Design, analysis and optimization of stratospheric, hybrid and multi-lobed airships and other lighter-than-air configurations.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
UAV configuration development, aerodynamic analysis, long-endurance platforms and emerging aerospace applications.
Multidisciplinary Design Optimization
Integrated optimization of aerospace systems by considering interacting disciplines, design variables, constraints and performance objectives.
Computational Fluid Dynamics
Numerical investigation of aerodynamic flows and computational methods for aerospace vehicle analysis and design.
Artificial Intelligence for Aerospace Applications
Application of artificial intelligence and machine learning methods to aerospace design, analysis, prediction and optimization.
SELECTED RESEARCH
Integrated aerospace design, analysis and optimization
My research brings together aircraft and UAV design, lighter-than-air systems, multidisciplinary design optimization and computational fluid dynamics, with artificial intelligence applied to aerospace engineering problems.
20+Journal publications
18+Conference papers
2Funded projects
3Patents / copyrights
Selected Research Outputs
- Design optimization of a tri-lobed solar-powered stratospheric airshipAerospace Science and Technology · 2019
- Research and advancements in hybrid airships — A reviewProgress in Aerospace Sciences · 2021
- Surrogate Based Aerodynamic Shape Optimization of Tri-lobed Hybrid Airship EnvelopeAIAA Aviation Forum · 2021
- Prediction of Volumetric Drag Coefficient of Tri-lobed Airship Envelopes Using ML ToolsIEEE CSDE · 2021
- A Parametric Design Approach for Multi-lobed Hybrid AirshipsThe Aeronautical Journal · 2024
- On the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Aerospace EngineeringThe Aeronautical Journal · 2025
Patents & Copyrights
- Support-Free, Lightweight, Cost-Effective 3D-Printed Drone Propellor FenderFiled · Application No. 202541042491
- Smartphone-Compatible Custom Ground Control Station for UAVsPublished · Application No. 202541052170
- FALCON — Framework for Airfoil CFD and anaLysis OptimizatioNRegistered · Diary No. SW-47114/2025-CO
SCHOLARLY WORK
Publications & Scholarly Work
A selection of journal articles, conference presentations, book chapters and intellectual-property contributions. Journal article PDFs that are available for sharing can be accessed through the linked Google Drive archive.
19Journal records
15Conference presentations
5Books / chapters
2Patents
JOURNALS
Journal Publications
Hybrid Electric Powered Multi-Lobed Airship for Sustainable Aviation
Manikandan, M., Darpan F. Theng, Tabrej Khan, Tamer A. Sebaey & Balbir Singh · Aerospace, 9(12), 769.
Publication →Dynamic Stability Control Using Active Aerodynamic Surfaces for Improved Traction and Performance Optimization in Motorsport Applications
Arjun Nair & Manikandan M. · Journal of The Institution of Engineers (India): Series C · Under Review.
A Surrogate-Assisted Evolutionary Framework for Low-Reynolds-Number Airfoil Optimization
Bharath Udupa, Vedant Vijaykrishnan & Manikandan, M. · Under Revision.
FALCON: An Open-Source Multi-Fidelity Framework for Automated Airfoil Analysis, CFD Workflow Management and Dataset Generation
SoftwareX Journal · Under Revision.
CONFERENCES
Conference Presentations
Conceptual Design Approach for Sub-Orbital Launch Vehicle
National Symposium on Astronomy and Space Engineering (NSASE 2011), MIT Manipal.
Conceptual Design of Solar-Wind Powered HALE Autonomous System with Pressurized Structure
ICCIEMI 2012, Jagadhri.
Sizing and Sensitivity Analysis of Aerobot for Planetary Exploration
National Conference on Frontiers in Aeronautical, Aerospace, and Automotive Engineering.
Computational Analysis of Hypersonic Flow Field Over Re-Entry Bodies
International Conference on Applied Science and Engineering (ICASE 2012), Hyderabad.
Multi-disciplinary Design Optimization of a Solar Powered Tri-lobed Stratospheric Airship Configuration
SAROD 2018, Bengaluru.
Conceptual Design Optimization of High-Altitude Airships Having a Tri-lobed Envelope
2nd National Conference on Multidisciplinary Design, Analysis, and Optimization, Bengaluru.
Conceptual Design Optimization of High-Altitude Airship Having a Tri-Lobed Envelope
Advances in Multidisciplinary Analysis and Optimization · Springer.
DOI →Surrogate Based Aerodynamic Shape Optimization of Tri-lobed Hybrid Airship Envelope
AIAA Aviation Forum and Exposition.
DOI →Prediction of Volumetric Drag Coefficient of Tri-lobed Airship Envelopes Using ML Tools
8th IEEE CSDE 2021, Brisbane.
DOI →Numerical Investigation of LOTTE Airship in Subsonic Flow using SimScale
34th National Convention of Aerospace Engineers, Kanpur.
Conceptual Design of a Solar-Powered Winged Hybrid Airship for Agricultural Purposes
AIAA Aviation 2023 Forum, San Diego.
DOI →Effect of Multi-lobed Envelope Geometries on Added Mass Computation
AIAA Aviation 2023 Forum, San Diego.
DOI →Numerical Prediction of Generation of Axisymmetric Mode Jet Screech Tones
AIAA Aviation 2023 Forum, San Diego.
DOI →A MATLAB GUI-Based Approach to Wing Design and Aerodynamic Performance Evaluation
ICFAMEAD-2024, Symbiosis Institute of Technology, Pune.
BOOKS
Books & Chapters
Green Hybrid Composites in Engineering and Non-Engineering Applications
Springer Nature, 2023 · Chapters 5 and 6.
Chapter 5 DOI → Chapter 6 DOI →Nanomaterials: The Building Blocks of Modern Technology – Synthesis, Properties and Applications
Springer Nature, 2023 · Chapters 1 and 2.
Chapter 1 DOI → Chapter 2 DOI →High-Performance Computing for Biomimetics – Architecture, Modeling and Applications
Springer Nature, 2024 · Chapters III and XI.
Chapter III DOI → Chapter XI DOI →Bio-Inspired Optimization Techniques in Blockchain Systems
IGI Global, 2024.
DOI →Design and Engineering of Lighter Than Air Systems
Rajkumar S. Pant and Manikandan M. · Taylor & Francis (CRC Press) · In progress.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Patents
Support-Free, Lightweight, Cost-Effective 3D-Printed Drone Propellor Fender
Status: Filed · Application No. 202541042491
Smartphone-Compatible Custom Ground Control Station for UAVs
Status: Published · Application No. 202541052170
Source: Publications record supplied for this academic website. Items marked “Under Review” or “In progress” retain the status stated in the source document.
PROJECTS & SOFTWARE
Selected Projects & Open-Source Software
Selected aerospace research initiatives and open-source computational tools spanning UAV systems, lighter-than-air vehicles, aerodynamic analysis and digital manufacturing.
OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWAREAirfoil Analysis & CFD
FALCON
Open-source multi-fidelity framework for automated airfoil analysis, CFD workflow management and dataset generation.
FALCON supports computational workflows for airfoil analysis and aerodynamic dataset generation, providing a platform for research involving low-Reynolds-number aerodynamics, CFD and design optimization.
OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARELighter-than-Air Systems
STRATOS
Software-based Tool for Rapid Airship Transformation & Optimized Shaping.
STRATOS provides a computational environment for rapid airship geometry generation and analysis, supporting research and educational applications in lighter-than-air vehicle design.
Research & Academic Initiatives
Long-Endurance Indigenous UAV Systems
Research and development of long-endurance UAV concepts and associated technologies.
Digital Manufacturing Laboratory
Development of a hands-on learning environment covering CAD/CAM, CNC and additive manufacturing.
RESOURCES
Lecture Materials & Downloads
Selected teaching materials, lecture notes, tutorials and computational resources are organized here by course. Incompressible Aerodynamics materials are now available for viewing and download.
Introduction to Aerospace Engineering
Foundations of aerospace engineering, aircraft and spacecraft systems, atmospheric flight and introductory aerospace concepts.
Materials to be addedIncompressible Aerodynamics
Flow fundamentals, potential flow, airfoil theory, panel methods, boundary layers and finite-wing aerodynamics.
Course materials available on Google Drive Browse Materials →Aircraft Performance
Atmosphere and airspeed, level flight, climb and glide, range and endurance, take-off, turning and accelerated performance.
Course materials available on Google Drive Browse Materials →Flight Dynamics and Control
Aircraft equations of motion, static and dynamic stability, flight dynamics, response characteristics, state-space modelling and flight control.
Course materials available on Google Drive Browse Materials →Spaceflight Mechanics and Attitude Dynamics
Orbital mechanics, spacecraft trajectories, attitude representation, rotational dynamics and spacecraft attitude motion.
Course materials available on Google Drive Browse Materials →Airship Technology
Fundamentals, design, aerodynamics, performance and engineering considerations of lighter-than-air systems and airships.
Materials to be addedModeling, Simulation and Control
Mathematical modelling, numerical simulation, system representation and control-oriented analysis of engineering systems.
Materials to be addedRotorcraft Aeromechanics
Helicopter configurations, rotor aerodynamics, momentum theory, blade element analysis, vertical and forward flight, rotor dynamics and helicopter performance.
Course materials available on Google Drive Browse Materials →
Resource library in development.
Each course can later contain separate links for lecture notes, presentations, tutorials, assignments, MATLAB/SIMULINK files and supplementary materials.
CONTACT
Connect & Collaborate
For academic collaboration, research discussions, student mentoring, invited talks and professional enquiries, you can connect with me through the channels below.
PROFESSIONAL CONTACT
Dr. Manikandan M.
Associate Professor
School of Aerospace Engineering
Ramaiah Institute of Science and Management (RISM)
Bengaluru, India
ACADEMIC PROFILES
Research & Professional Links
Collaboration interests
Aircraft design · Lighter-than-air systems · UAVs · Multidisciplinary design optimization · CFD · Artificial intelligence for aerospace applications