The Advanced Technologies Lab for Aerospace Systems (ATLAS) at the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR)/Wichita State University (WSU) has created an industry-scale manufacturing environment and educational program to prepare engineers and educators for the Factory of the Future. This facility, launched in 2019, serves as a makerspace for automated manufacturing research in the aerospace industry. ATLAS offers accessible industry-scale equipment for testing materials and developing prototypes, allowing companies to make informed investment decisions. The facility promotes collaboration among different companies working on proprietary manufacturing research. ATLAS also collaborates with industry partners to enhance efficiency, productivity, and quality. By providing access to advanced technologies, ATLAS eliminates the need for US industries to seek overseas resources for research, development, and future factory planning. Additionally, ATLAS is developing training programs to help companies quickly implement advanced manufacturing operations and aims to produce highly skilled engineers proficient in the hardware, software, and processes of future factories.

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Waruna Seneviratne
PhD Director – ATLAS Sr. Research Scientist
Composites & Structures
National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR)

Waruna is currently the Director of Advanced Technologies Lab for Aerospace Systems (ATLAS) at WSU/NIAR and manages a research portfolio that includes projects from the FAA, DoD, DHS, NASA, and aircraft industry in the areas of advanced manufacturing and inspections, durability and damage tolerance, certification, and aging of composite aircraft structures. He is an active member of Composite Materials Handbook (CMH-17) and his previous research findings have contributed to damage tolerance, disbond delamination, data review, and statistics working groups, and supported world-wide composite damage tolerance and maintenance workshops sponsored by FAA, USN, and EASA. Prior to joining Wichita State, he worked as a stress analyst for Airbus-Wichita and was responsible for performing detailed stress analysis on AIRBUS A380 passenger aircraft wings per FAA and EASA regulations and preparation of certification documents.