Digital Commons Network^™

Bridging The Gap: Women's Leadership Roles In Disaster Management, Kirsten Tse, Chelsea Tse

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Gender disparities significantly influence how people prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters. This poster investigates how gender gaps impact women's leadership roles in emergency management at local levels before, during, and after natural disasters. It seeks to assess the qualities of women in emergency management and how they contribute to efficacy and inclusivity throughout all phases of the disaster management cycle. By analyzing existing literature, including leadership, socio-cultural factors, gender roles and dynamics, and personality studies, this paper will identify key areas where women can provide meaningful contributions to emergency management. This study uses thematic analysis to …

Gpt-4 Assisted Categorization And Visualization Of Ntsb Uav Accident Reports, Eugene Z. Pik

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The 731% increase in the professional Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) fleet size, from 2016 to 2023, highlights the growing reliance on UAVs for commercial operations. This surge in usage has been accompanied by escalating safety concerns, highlighted by the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) investigations into UAV-related incidents. Addressing the gap in systematic categorization and visualization of UAV accident reports, this study leverages GPT-4's natural language processing capabilities and a suite of Python-based scripts and data analysis libraries. By analyzing 34 NTSB UAV accident reports, the research enhances the understanding of accident causality through the alignment of incidents with predefined …

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Detection Using Acoustics And Quantum Signal Processing, Lynette Ramirez

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This research aims to detect Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) through the implementation of innovative machine-learning techniques based on pattern recognition and quantum signal processing applied to acoustic data. The presence of UAV is detected in audio signals through spectral descriptors. Fourier transform-based frequency analysis is used to identify anomalies, and recognize patterns to train a Support Vector Machine algorithm enabling classification of the UAV from background noise. Quantum signal processing techniques are employed to improve the accuracy of UAV detection. The analysis demonstrates a 90 \% confidence in predicting drone presence. The proposed acoustic detection method is both cost-effective and …

Toolbox For Optimizing Spacecraft Ascent Trajectory From Launch To Lower Earth Orbit, Divyeshwari Vansadia, Anubhav Dasgupta, Ishan Dubey

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The target is to develop a toolbox for the ascent trajectory of a launch vehicle using an analytical/numerical approach. The mission profile would be optimized from Launch to payload delivery in the Lower Earth Orbit (LEO). Reduce launch delays due to inaccuracy in estimating atmospheric and wind profiles.

The toolbox includes trajectory optimization within the atmosphere to achieve LEO, Orbit transfer maneuvers, and Orbit maintenance to counter the effects the atmospheric drag and oblateness to ensure payload delivery to the intended orbit. Input factors are independent (e.g., orbital elements, satellite orientation) and dependent (e.g., engine staging, burn rate, atmospheric drag). …

Time And Cost To Complete Instrument Training Based On Flight Block Times, Rafael Dubena, Rafael Dubena

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The optimization of flight training operations at higher educational institutions can be helpful in increasing the efficiency at which student pilots attain their certification and help supply more pilots into the industry. Large training institutions usually offer students certain blocks of time to conduct their training, At these schools, the Instrument course is usually administered during daytime or nighttime flight blocks. The purpose of this research study was to analyze if there was a significant difference in cost and dual-given time it takes to complete the Instrument course during the day compared to at night.

Two independent samples t-tests were …

The Invisible Monster Returns: Further Investigations Of The Epsilon Aurigae Disk, Nathan D. Clark, Kian N. Greene

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Epsilon Aurigae is a long-period eclipsing binary consisting of an F0Ia primary star and a secondary object - likely a main-sequence B star - enshrouded by a circumstellar, dusty disk. This circumstellar material gets heated from both the interior and exterior stars. Further information about the system has long been marred due to high uncertainty in its parallax. In response to this uncertainty, we constructed models corresponding to parallaxes observed by Gaia Data Release 2 and 3, which produced two predicted distances of 415 pc and 1033 pc, respectively. We also built a test model distance of 794 pc in …

The Investigation Of Thermal Energy Storage - Heat Pump Integration For Residential Applications, Martin Rosales, Jared Williams, Spencer Marinac, John Bai, Gianluca Borgese

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Transitions to a majority renewable energy-based grid to enable decarbonization require a significant increase in energy storage to supplement the intermittent nature of renewables. Buildings consume a substantial portion of electricity on the grid for thermal loads related to Heating Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC). Due to the high cost of battery storage and the synergy with the primarily thermal loads of buildings, thermal energy storage (TES) is well suited to add additional energy storage to the grid at a low cost. This project investigated the implementation and feasibility of thermal storage with heat pumps in renewable energy-powered workspace. Integration was …

The Influence Of Gender On Personal Grooming Behaviors Among Erau Students, Austin Wood

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Preening behaviors are a type of self-grooming behavior that people engage in to maintain their desired appearance. It is well-established that preening behaviors are prevalent among both men and women, with research suggesting that women engage in more preening behaviors than men (Daly, 1983, p. 183). This observational study investigates whether the reported gender difference in preening behaviors persists among contemporary college students. A total of 200 observations were conducted for 30-minute intervals at randomized times for two weeks. The results suggest that there is no significant difference in the number of preening behaviors performed by each gender, supported by …

The Impact Of Light Pollution On Observational Resources, Ahnika Gee, Myles Curtis, Thomas Matney, Sean Smith, Cole Gresham, Raiden Keefer, Cassandra Mcginley, Viviana Loguercio, Harrison Zimmermann, Madison Costello

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The 1-meter telescope at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach campus is the largest university-based research telescope in Florida. In ideal conditions, it should have some of the best observational abilities in the state. However, the light pollution and lighting practices from facilities and outdoor light fixtures greatly interfere with these abilities. Our team works to identify the greatest contributors to light pollution on campus so that we can develop cost effective and accessible solutions to increase the quality of our data. The results of this project will be shared with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University leadership in hopes that improvements can …

The Gap Between Male And Female Enrollment In Aerospace Engineering: A Problem Solution Analysis For Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Lauren Augusto

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

To increase the number of women in the aerospace workforce, the number of women pursuing these degrees in college needs to increase. Increasing the number of women who enter the aerospace field begins in their adolescence. The goal of this problem-solution analysis is to analyze the current data about the gap between men and women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs and develop a solution that would mitigate this gap over time. Although there is ample research regarding gender gaps, gender issues, and workplace environments, most of the data is not quantitative. This poses an issue when developing …

Self-Balancing Wheeled Robot For Discontinuous Terrains, Kilian O. Olen

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Wheeled robots present an ideal platform for traversing even terrains, particularly due to their stable base and simple actuator design; however, many implementations are ill suited to handle abrupt changes in elevation. A common approach to this issue lies in the design of specialized members, either through a modified chassis, or in the geometry of the wheels. Unfortunately, such tactics either substantially increase the bulkiness of the robot or are too specialized to serve as a general solution. With the recent upsurge in interest for biologically inspired robots, the concept of a “hopping” robot could be pursued to answer this …

Sandpiper Food Search Algorithm: A New Optimization Approach For Agents With Limited Knowledge, Jessica Christa Wira, Spoorti Nanjamma

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Optimization problems in mechanical engineering drive advancements in system designs, performance enhancement, and maximizing efficiency across various applications. While conventional methods face limitations with increasingly complex problems, metaheuristic algorithms inspired by nature offer promising solutions. However, many existing algorithms such as the Firefly Algorithm, Particle Swarm Optimization, Generic Algorithm, Bath Algorithm, and Cuckoo Search lack realism in handling localized knowledge, crucial for certain real-world complex systems such as underground mining and spacecraft trajectory. To bridge this gap, we introduce the Sandpiper Food Search Algorithm, inspired by sandpipers' foraging behaviour at the beach where each agent (sandpiper) explores the problem space …

Quantitative Measurement Of Marine And Fungal Biofilm Dynamics: Insights Into Ecological And Biomedical Implications, Ryan F. Rednick, Mariposa C. Magee, Alba A. Chavez

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The formation of biofilms by marine and fungal organisms, including four marine Vibrio isolates and fungal isolates of Candida and Rhodotorula, represents complex ecosystems with significant implications for ecology and biomedicine. This study aimed to enhance the understanding of biofilm dynamics through accurate and comprehensive measurement techniques. Following inoculation and growth in liquid media, biofilms were developed in 96-well microplates and stained with crystal violet. The stained biofilms were then solubilized with isopropanol, and optical density measurements were used to quantify the absorbance relative to biofilm concentration. Notably, optical density readings indicated an increased amount of fungal biofilm formation …

Predicting Fatigue Impairment For Industry, Amanda Dhanpaul, Hannah Lyons, Dominic Sandell, Brianna Magdaleno, Savannah Burke, Inga Agustsdottir, Alice Eriksson, Rowan Knauf, Eva Zaragoza, John French Phd

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Human performance can be critically impacted by fatigue resulting from inadequate sleep. In a technological society, the consequences of fatigue related inattention or impaired response time are greater than ever. Industries such as aviation, rail, trucking, and medicine are mandated to have a Fatigue Management System (FMS) in place to ensure their personnel are ready for duty. We are testing the idea that a commercial, off the shelf (COTS) smart watch application using a new biomathematical model can provide continuous, obvious, real-time predictions about the wearer’s level of fatigue impairment. Our evidence shows that the correlation between a clinically approved …

Power System Testing And Verification For A Space Camera System With 18650 Batteries, Vikas A. Patel, Nicola Bella Ruiz

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

CubeSat functionality is often limited by not only volume but also power. As such, there have been multiple advances in devices to store energy with higher energy density. 18650 Lithium-Ion Cells are a common battery used for low current draw use cases, making them an economical and approachable candidate as primary batteries for powering this type of small spacecraft. However, it is known that the performance and efficiency will vary according to different environmental conditions, in particular, temperature–requiring thorough testing of the batteries at extreme conditions. This paper will explore environmental tests to verify a power system based on 18650 …

Post-Pandemic Recovery At Boeing, Gunnar Larsson

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Boeing is an American Aerospace firm operating in segments: commercial aircraft production, defense, and space as well as finance. In early 21st century Boeing saw new competition in single-row commercial airliners from Airbus, particularly the A320. With resources tied up in developing the 787 Dreamliner, Boeing's quickest path to producing an alternative to A320 was to continue iterating on the pre-2000 737 airframe. This research aims to investigate the long-term financial burden of this decision by utilizing its most recent financial statements. I use Microsoft Excel as a tool to analyze these statements. In particular, I study the financial ratios …

Persistent Stress During Pregnancy Influences Thymic Development In Murine Offspring, Alexander Schroeder, Cassandra M. Juran, Carol Mitchell, Amber M. Paul

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Persistent stress during pregnancy influences thymic development in murine offspring

Alex Schroeder^1*, Cassandra M. Juran^1,2, Carol Mitchell¹, and Amber M. Paul^1,2

¹Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Department of Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology, Daytona Beach, FL

²Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA

^*Presenting Author

Thriving in spaceflight presents a unique challenge for humans. Exposure to extreme socioenvironmental stressors, such as altered gravity, ionizing radiation, and social isolation all can affect human biology. It is understood that physiological and psychological stress can disrupt gestation and reproduction …

Optimizing Air & Water Cpu Cooling, Megan Parker

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Efficient computer cooling is crucial for maintaining hardware integrity and performance. This projects researches air and water cooling methods. Air cooling, employing fans and heat sinks, is cost-effective and easy to maintain but may lack in cooling capacity and generate noise. Conversely, water cooling systems use liquid coolant for superior thermal performance and quieter operation, albeit with higher complexity and cost. Key components like heat sinks and thermal compounds play vital roles in dissipating heat efficiently. Challenges such as fan reliability and environmental factors like temperature and humidity can affect cooling efficiency and hardware integrity. Regular monitoring and strategic airflow …

On The Mathematical Modeling Of An Antenna In The 5g Rf2 Range, Kian Greene, Samuel Quinutolo, Gianna Napoleon

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this research is to study the mathematical modeling of an antenna in the frequency range of 26-52 GHz (the 5G RF2 Band) to be tested in an Over-The-Air (OTA) chamber and explore modification of the model to investigate radiation pattern output. This work is motivated by a project given to our independent study course by our industry partner OCELOTT. By literature review, we found that one of the important factors of antenna design is the path loss model. In this project, we experiment with how different environments generate different path loss models and present some examples of …

No Name (Tentative) Senior Design Project, Phoebe Fleshman

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This project seeks to integrate the concept of semi-autonomy into the niche sport of Combat Robotics, aiming to elevate creativity and technical challenges within the field. With a background in building combat robots and proficiency in engineering tools like CAD software and 3D printing, the focus is on developing a 3-lb semi-autonomous flipper robot capable of firing its weapon based on sensor input. For a short history, combat robotics originated from events like 'Critter Crunch' and are evolving through shows like 'Robot Wars' and 'BattleBots', underscoring the sport's continuous growth and innovation. Despite this, semi-autonomous robots remain scarce, with notable …

Modeling Recent Asteroid Disruptions In The Solar System, Jarrett Dieterle, Kate Shenk, Rhiannon Hicks, Skylar G. Butler, Ian Donnelly, Ethan Fajardo

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

We study the dynamical evolutions of the byproducts of recent asteroid disruptions to understand the population of small particles in near-Earth and cislunar space, which can post threats to spacecraft, satellites, and long-term lunar missions like Artemis. To assess this population, we track the dynamical evolution of dust particles created in a catastrophic asteroid disruption. Particle sizes ranging from a few microns to a few cm are modeled using a code that accounts for both the gravitational and radiative forces to accurately predict the orbital elementals of the dust particles in the Datura and Emilkowalski asteroid clusters. The resulting models …

Modeling Predictions Of The Performance Of Tube Bank Heat Exchangers With Phase Change Materials, Jared C. Williams, Casey Troxler

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

As decarbonization of the power grid increases with renewable power generation sources, the intermittent nature of power generation also increases. With intermittent sources of power, there is a greater chance of excess power at specified parts of the day. To ensure that all power generated can be used rather than lost, ways to store excess energy need to be investigated. Currently the most prevalent form of energy storage is through electrochemical batteries. Electrochemical batteries however, are expensive and require added infrastructure for deployment. An alternative to electrochemical batteries is thermal energy storage (TES), that can aid in reducing buildings heating …

Leveraging Drug Repurposing: A Strategic Approach To Combat Bacterial Infections., Wesley Flewelling, Anderson Y. Jeon, Giovanni Benjamin

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Aerospace physiology

Leveraging Drug Repurposing: A Strategic Approach to Combat Bacterial Infections.

Author Information: Wesley A. Flewelling, Anderson Y. Jeon and Giovanni Benjamin

Faculty mentor: Dr. Alba Chavez

The emergence of antibiotic resistant bacterial strains poses a critical threat to global public health, necessitating innovative strategies to address this challenge. Drug repurposing, the process of identifying new therapeutic uses for existing drugs, has emerged as a promising approach to Accelerate the development of effective treatments for bacterial infections. This research aims to highlight the importance of drug repurposing in the context of bacterial infections in an effort to emphasize the …

International Students Sense Of Belongingness And Motivation On Academic And Flight Performance, Sophie Chanoux, Andrew Dattel

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

There are many factors that can affect international students’ success in flight training. Motivation, confidence, and internal achievement factors such as locus of control (LOC) and self-efficacy are important in successful learning. Moving to a new country, where language and customs may be quite different from one’s own, may adversely affect one’s confidence. A feeling of belongingness might affect students’ confidence, therefore affecting flight training performance. Belongingness can be measured by social and academic club membership, engagement in social activities, confidence in English, etc. This study explored the relationship between self-reports of social activities and confidence with academic performance and …

Gem3 Propellant Viability Test, Matthew Karten

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Since the inception of rocketry, there has been a clear tradeoff between efficiency and simplicity. The GEM3 Optimized Orbital-class Nozzle engine aims to provide operational efficiency comparable to traditional bipropellant engines while relying on infrastructure similar to monopropellant-based systems. This is achievable through GEM3’s electrical ignition properties and its ability to create a sustained combustion reaction when provided with only a supply of propellant. The main objective of this project is to conduct research and gather data on this propellant’s viability and application for launch vehicles intended to reach Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and beyond. This will be completed over …

Framework For A Case Study Based Course In Safety And Mission Assurance In Human Spaceflight, Liz Bosch, Joshua B. Mcgurn

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The feasibility of sending humans to space primarily relies on: is it safe enough? There are few to no courses offered in engineering curriculums that address Safety and Mission Assurance (S&MA) for space systems, and there is a lack of instruction of safety culture, where ethic plays a major role, in current engineering educational strategies, which produces an academic gap. This research proposes a learner-centered course framework to improve engineering teaching strategies and address conceptual understanding of systems engineering, while avoiding single-solution approaches. The framework is also tailored to be interdisciplinary with a macroscopic level overview. Research on ethics shows …

Finasteride Affects On Planaria Regeneration, Ja'hann M. Hannor

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Aerospace physiology observes Cell reproduction within humans and how different substances and different environments can affect cell reproduction among all species. The species that is being observed is known as planaria from the class known as turbellaria, the planarian is an excellent model system. Planaria has been used within the microbiology community to observe the regenerative properties they possess and how different environmental factors affect the rate of regeneration. In previous research, we have observed that microgravity and ultraviolet light significantly impair planaria regeneration. In the present study we aim to study the effect of Finasteride in cell regeneration. Finasteride …

Fiber-Reinforced Composites, Rebecca Macdonald

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Fiber-reinforced composites are an increasingly used material technology in industries such as aerospace, automotive, construction, and sports equipment, all in which are focusing on more new research. This research into literature was conducted to investigate both currently used and currently researched advancements of fiber-reinforced composites and their applications. A comparison of fiber-reinforced composites to traditional materials was completed, including investigating the key characteristics and properties that make these composites suitable for all types of engineering applications. Furthermore, how mechanical properties and performance of the composites are affected by different types of fibers used within them was evaluated. Performance in the …

Fe-Pinn Optimization, Christina Bocirnea

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This research enhances a novel finite element physics-informed neural network (FE-PINN) framework in order to optimize efficiency and results. The enhancements include tuning hyperparameters and considering new methodology in constructing the model architecture. This study achieved near convergence of model prediction to actual data and successfully incorporates finite element discretization into a neural network model.

Exploring The Potential Of Recyclable Pdms-Based Polymers For Self-Healing, Flexible Sensor Applications, Forrest Dohner

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Self-healing polymers have gained much attention in recent years for applications that range from coatings on aircraft to medical devices. The nanomaterials lab at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University has created a novel polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) based material that can intrinsically heal at room temperature. The mechanism that allows for intrinsic self-healing is attributed to urea moieties, a functional group that exhibits both strong and weak hydrogen bonding. The reported self-healing material allows for small holes and rips to be repaired in approximately 24 hours. This material also demonstrated excellent stretchability allowing for a high elastic limit, where the material can return …