Eric Bird
Eric Bird is the Aviation Systems Engineer for the Autonomy Research Institute (ARI), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. He is responsible for the technical success of the organizations's Federal Aviation Administration-mandated mission to safely integrate Unmanned Aerial Systems into the National Airspace System. He has been with ARI since 2018. Eric leads the technical team for ARI. In this position, he helped lead the development and integration of numerous sensors in support of the NASA TCL4 effort and is currently working on developing a Live, Virtual, and Constructive capability at ARI.
Prior to working at ARI, Eric worked for Bell Helicopter where he was a Principal Simulation Engineer in the Simulation and Modeling Group. In this position, he was responsible for the development and release of the V-22 Osprey simulation math model.
Before moving to the V-22 program, Eric was the Principal Simulation Modeling Lead for the Bell 525 program helping to develop the 525 from concept to flight testing. Initial work for this included integrating real-time Simulink control laws into the Nation Research Center of Canada’s Advanced System Research Aircraft (ASRA) enabling full fly-by-wire control of the ASRA.
Eric began his career as a co-op student working at LTV Missiles and Electronics (now Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control) and worked as a Trajectory Analyst for 4 years after college graduation on numerous programs such as the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) and the Line of Sight Anti-Tank (LOSAT) program.
Eric attended Texas A&M University, graduating in 1991 with a BS in Aerospace Engineering. He currently holds 4 patents from work done at Bell Helicopter.
Eric now resides on North Padre Island, Corpus Christi TX with his fiancé, Kelly. They have 10 children that have now all grown up and moved out on their own.
Prior to working at ARI, Eric worked for Bell Helicopter where he was a Principal Simulation Engineer in the Simulation and Modeling Group. In this position, he was responsible for the development and release of the V-22 Osprey simulation math model.
Before moving to the V-22 program, Eric was the Principal Simulation Modeling Lead for the Bell 525 program helping to develop the 525 from concept to flight testing. Initial work for this included integrating real-time Simulink control laws into the Nation Research Center of Canada’s Advanced System Research Aircraft (ASRA) enabling full fly-by-wire control of the ASRA.
Eric began his career as a co-op student working at LTV Missiles and Electronics (now Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control) and worked as a Trajectory Analyst for 4 years after college graduation on numerous programs such as the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) and the Line of Sight Anti-Tank (LOSAT) program.
Eric attended Texas A&M University, graduating in 1991 with a BS in Aerospace Engineering. He currently holds 4 patents from work done at Bell Helicopter.
Eric now resides on North Padre Island, Corpus Christi TX with his fiancé, Kelly. They have 10 children that have now all grown up and moved out on their own.