CEAT’s S2FAR Lab leads the way in next-generation flight research

CEAT's S2FAR Lab leads the way in next-generation flight research

Monday, September 22, 2025

Media Contact: Desa James | Communications Coordinator | 405-744-2669 | [email protected]

At Oklahoma State University's Tulsa campus, the Simulation to Flight Applied Research (S2FAR) Laboratory is working to reimagine the future of flight.

Located in the Helmerich Research Center, the lab specializes in taking aerial vehicle concepts from simulation to flight. It gives researchers and students the opportunity to rapidly design, build and test unmanned systems that push the boundaries of aerospace technology.

The lab is directed by Dr. Anthony Comer, an assistant professor for the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology's School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. His team consists of five students: doctoral students Zachary Miller and Pratibha Bhandari, master's student Zachary Atkinson, all pursuing degrees in aerospace engineering, and undergraduate students Elijah Harp and Daniela Durango-Cueva, pursuing degrees in mechanical engineering.

The lab's overarching mission is to shift perceptions of small-scale unmanned aerial vehicles.

"Our goal is to change the way people view subscale vehicles," Comer said. "Many still see small UAVs as 'toys,' but scaled prototypes are powerful research tools."

The S2FAR Lab specializes in using subscale unmanned aerial vehicles to tackle prominent research challenges, including the development of novel flight control systems, digital twin modeling, aero-propulsive interactions and human factors studies with next-generation vertical takeoff and landing vehicles.

Current research includes developing a low-cost 3D-printed multipurpose response lift + cruise VTOL, advancing aerodynamic stability in tiltwing vehicles with active flow control and validating conventional takeoff and landing control schemes through subscale flight testing. Each effort combines simulation, rapid prototyping and hands-on testing - offering students a front-row seat to the next era of aerospace innovation.

These projects are strengthened by CEAT's collaboration with The Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education, which creates a broad ecosystem for aerospace research. OAIRE facilities include the LaunchPad Center for Advanced Air Mobility, the Counter-UAS Center of Excellence and the Skyway Range, a 114-nautical-mile flight corridor that enables testing across diverse terrains. The lab performs its flight testing at the Skyway36 Drone Port, one of the four nodes of theSkyway Range corridor.

"S2FAR gives students the chance to design, model, build, and fly their own concepts," Comer said. "They can focus on any step of the process and get hands-on flight-testing experience. Our Tulsa location is ideal - just 5 miles from the Skyway36 Drone Port and WindShape facilities - so students can easily work on simulations, experiments and flight tests."

A major component of S2FAR Lab's research is ongoing collaboration, particularly in materials science, wireless communications and agriculture. Comer's lab, along with associate professor Dr. Jay Hanan of MAE, recently received $25,000 from CEAT's Engineering Research and Seed Funding program for their project titled "Multi-Disciplinary Development of Lightweight, Recyclable 3D-Printed Airframe Materials," which aims to develop a novel 3D printer filament for Group 1-2 UAS vehicles.

"Collaborations are at the heart of S2FAR's mission," Comer said. "We bring the knowledge and skill set to model, build, and test complex vehicles, and we see these as platforms that other researchers and businesses can use to solve their problems."

The development of an agricultural drone, designed in collaboration with OAIRE's Jeremy Fernandez, Dr. Mingying Xiang, assistant professor for the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, and MAE Associate Professor Dr. Khaled Sallam, is another collaborative project. This drone could be used in multiple cases, including research and actual application for Oklahoma farmers.

Beyond research, the S2FAR Lab also supports OSU in the GoAero competition, a global challenge to design the world's first compact, autonomy-enabled rescue aircraft. With support from industry leaders like NASA, Boeing and RTX, the competition focuses on life-saving technologies that can deliver rapid emergency response in areas where helicopters and drones fall short.

Last year, CEAT's team won Stage 1 of the U.S. University Innovation Award for GoAero. S2FAR is working with members of last year's team and looks forward to continued success in a competition with both a technical challenge and a powerful mission.

Comer noted that meeting with first responders while planning to develop these aircraft had a large impact.

"Hearing how every second counts makes each design choice, simulation run, and flight test more meaningful, knowing who could one day rely on this technology," Comer said.

Comer is also the faculty advisor for the newly founded OSU Vertical Flight Society Student Chapter, the first in Oklahoma. The chapter's purpose is threefold: (1) bring together students interested in vertical flights and unmanned aerial systems, (2) connect students with professional development opportunities through invited speakers and networking, and (3) provide pathways for participation in national competitions, including the annual Vertical Flight Society Design-Build-Vertical Flight competition and the VFS Student Design Competition. Currently, the chapter has 12 members, and three of S2FAR's students hold leadership positions.

The chapter has a PhilanthroPete donation project to support the chapter and its future teams in these competitions. The first meeting is planned to be held in Stillwater, the first week of October 2025.

Looking ahead, Comer said he envisions S2FAR Lab growing to five graduate students and a similar number of undergraduate students, expanding collaborations and creating a wider fleet of research vehicles.

"I'd love to see one of our drone concepts evolve into a product that solves real-world problems," he said.

He also emphasized OSU-Tulsa's role in positioning Oklahoma as a national center for UAS research and development.