Like many aviation friends and colleagues, I got hooked on Star Trek — the original version — at an early age. So perhaps you can understand why I was recently inspired to read Ethan Siegel’s Treknology: The Science of Star Trek from Tricorders to Warp Drive. A PhD astrophysicist, science writer, and author, Dr. Siegel takes his readers on a fascinating and well-written tour of the best-known technologies from the various series in the Star Trek franchise.

With apologies for Dr. Siegel for possible over­simplification, my first takeaway was that the cool toys, tools, and technologies in the Star Trek universe fall into three broad categories. First is Trek tech that we have already invented (e.g., smartphones and tablets). Second is Trek tech in development (e.g., artificial intelli­gence driving interactive computers). Third is Trek tech that remains beyond our reach (e.g., Warp speed and transporters).

My second big takeaway was the revelation that in several cases, Treknology has provided the inspiration for the inventers of gadgets we now take for granted. Even in cases where Treknological tech­nologies seem unattainable — transporters come to mind — the Trek creators’ ability to imagine such things has sometimes prompted valuable research and led to other useful discoveries.

Though not inspired by Star Trek, the kinds of research projects under the PEGASAS umbrella make me smile with anticipation and excitement. I sometimes marvel to realize how many technologies have come to fruition — and to market — just in the time I have held a pilot certificate. Today’s technolo­gies and techniques are possible because at some point in the past, some person or group of people had an inspiration and, through the alchemy of rigorous research, transformed the nuggets of their imagination into tangible technological reality.

Speaking of people: as other articles in this issue of FAA Safety Briefing have explained, one of the goals Congress established for the “Center of Excel­lence” framework was to provide another means of educating and training a new generation of aviation scientists and professionals. As noted in its annual report, each year the PEGASAS team nominates someone from its recognized group of Outstanding Student Researchers for the prestigious Department of Transportation Student of the Year award. I think the GA community can be proud to know that for several years in a row, the PEGASAS candidate has won this honor and been recognized at the Council of University Transportation Centers award ceremony.

The Next Frontier

Let me close this issue with a nod to a forward-looking PEGASAS project called “GA 2030 Explor­atory Analyses.” Led by the Georgia Institute of Technology and Purdue University, this effort — the 25^th effort under the aegis of PEGASAS — will look at GA trends and developments for the 15-20 year timeframe. The goal is to identify research topics that will ultimately lead to the advancements tomorrow’s pilots will take for granted. In addition to bench­marking and data/text mining, this project expects to use workshops to gather creative ideas about the future of GA airframes, avionics, operators, and “non-traditional GA entrants” (think drones). It will be fun to see the final report — and even more fun to watch what happens next. (FAA Safety Briefing – MayJun 2018)