Investigation Of Biofilm Formation And Osmotic Stress Tolerance Of Nonmotile Escherichia Coli In Simulated Microgravity,
2026
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Investigation Of Biofilm Formation And Osmotic Stress Tolerance Of Nonmotile Escherichia Coli In Simulated Microgravity, Tyler Jenkins
Discovery Day - Daytona Beach
Simulated microgravity presents multiple physiological stressors for astronauts, including bone demineralization, muscle loss, and weakening of the immune system. Bacteria serve as viable model organisms to study physiological changes because of their abundance in the human digestive system and skin. Motility in bacteria plays a significant role in cell survival, but few studies have been conducted on microgravity’s effect on motility phenotypes. While motile strains like Escherichia coli K12 have been studied extensively under microgravity conditions, the effects of simulated microgravity on non-motile strains are largely unknown. To better understand this relationship, the nonmotile E. coli MG1655 strain was inoculated …
String-Of-Pearls Measurements Of Supersonic Plasma Jets Using Magnetospheric Multiscale Satellites,
2026
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
String-Of-Pearls Measurements Of Supersonic Plasma Jets Using Magnetospheric Multiscale Satellites, Amelia Koth
Discovery Day - Daytona Beach
High-energy supersonic plasma jets form when the solar wind, which is a flow of charged particles from the Sun, slows down as it encounters Earth’s magnetic shield. Occasionally, the solar wind remains at supersonic speeds as it enters this region. This forms plasma jets that propagate toward Earth; these jets can carry strong magnetic fields, drive magnetic reconnection, and potentially initiate substorms that lead to auroral activity. Previously studied plasma jets occurred when the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) points southward. In contrast, this study focuses on northward IMF conditions, which are less understood, yet still capable of producing supersonic jets. …
Evaluation Of Antimicrobial Resistance In Pathogens Relevant To Long-Duration Space Missions,
2026
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Evaluation Of Antimicrobial Resistance In Pathogens Relevant To Long-Duration Space Missions, Natalie Brattain, Yegor Bushnev, Mikayla M. Dutkiewicz
Discovery Day - Daytona Beach
Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global concern that necessitates the development of effective strategies for selecting appropriate antibiotics, especially in the context of future long-duration space missions, where infection control and treatment options are limited. This study employs the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion assay to evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other clinically and spaceflight-relevant bacterial pathogens such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. These pathogens will be tested with commonly used antibiotics and potential natural compounds. The pathogens will be cultured and isolated onto Mueller–Hinton agar plates. Antibiotic disks, along with various flavonoids disks, such as …
Helio: Heliophysics Enhanced Learning For Intelligent Orbits,
2026
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Helio: Heliophysics Enhanced Learning For Intelligent Orbits, Kylie Nager, James Kirk
Discovery Day - Daytona Beach
HELIO: Heliophysics Enhanced Learning for Intelligent Orbits Satellite constellations operating in near-Earth space are increasingly vulnerable to space weather disturbances, such as solar flares, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and high-speed solar wind streams, which degrade communications, destabilize attitude control, and accelerate orbital decay. These disturbances directly threaten mission continuity, constellation availability, and space asset survivability. Current protective approaches rely primarily on ground-based alerts and lack integration with broader space domain awareness, which results in programmed reactive protocols that are often initiated too late to prevent performance degradation and asset loss. The HELIO project addresses this gap by turning space-weather forecasts …
Interplanetary Trajectory Optimization With Reinforcement Learning,
2026
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Interplanetary Trajectory Optimization With Reinforcement Learning, Shiloh Cuffe
Discovery Day - Daytona Beach
This project investigates the application of reinforcement learning (RL) to optimize low-thrust interplanetary trajectory design, focusing on the Earth-Venus transfer leg of the BepiColombo mission. Traditional trajectory optimization methods, such as patched conics and genetic algorithms, often require simplifying assumptions or complex optimization schemes. This work formulates the trajectory design problem as an optimal control problem (OCP) within a Markov Decision Process (MDP) framework, enabling an RL agent to learn efficient transfer strategies under realistic spacecraft constraints. The objective is to develop an autonomous guidance approach capable of replicating or improving upon established mission designs. The spacecraft is modeled as …
Generalized Cloud-Based Compressible Aerodynamics Calculator And Simulation Web App,
2026
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Generalized Cloud-Based Compressible Aerodynamics Calculator And Simulation Web App, Massimo Mansueto, Liam Griesacker, Andres Torres-Figueroa
Discovery Day - Daytona Beach
The Generalized Cloud-Based Compressible Aerodynamics Calculator and Simulation Web App focuses on the development of a tool to support the analysis, visualization, and teaching of compressible aerodynamics. In the case of most undergraduate aerospace engineering courses, students rely on static equations, charts, and manual calculations, which can make it difficult to conceptualize complex flow phenomena such as shock waves, expansion fans, and nozzle flow. The purpose of this project is to create an accessible platform that integrates a compressible flow calculator, nozzle sizing tool, and interactive simulations into a single educational resource. The application is implemented using modern web development …
Terramechanics-Based Comparison Of Dem And Crm For Lunar Surface Applications,
2026
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Terramechanics-Based Comparison Of Dem And Crm For Lunar Surface Applications, Nicolas Bonasoro
Discovery Day - Daytona Beach
Understanding how lunar regolith interacts with robotic systems is important for safe surface operations because uncertain terrain conditions can affect rover traversability and lunar lander stability. This work applies terramechanics to two space robotics applications: in-situ cone penetration testing (CPT) for terrain assessment and lunar lander touchdown analysis for evaluating sinkage, force response, and stability. The study compares the Discrete Element Method (DEM), which resolves particle-scale interactions and captures detailed regolith behavior, with the Continuum Representation Method (CRM), which models soil response more efficiently and supports rigid CAD components such as lander footpads, legs, and body geometries. Current CPT results …
Robotic Arm Development For Cone Penetration Testing On The Lunar Surface,
2026
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Robotic Arm Development For Cone Penetration Testing On The Lunar Surface, Jonah Graff, Derek Zhang
Discovery Day - Daytona Beach
Just as on Earth, future lunar operations will require accurate characterization of surface conditions. On Earth, a proven method for this is Cone Penetration Testing (CPT), which evaluates soil bearing capacity and stratification. This information is vital for lunar operations, including habitat construction, resource extraction, and safe pathfinding. However, traditional CPT systems are designed for human operation and lack autonomy. This project addresses that limitation by developing an autonomous, in-situ terrain characterization system for lunar surfaces. The device is driven by ball-screw actuators powered by stepper motors and controlled through an Arduino Mega, using a combination of metal and 3D-printed …
Extending The Essentially Entropic Lattice Boltzmann Method To Three-Dimensional Turbulent Flows,
2026
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Extending The Essentially Entropic Lattice Boltzmann Method To Three-Dimensional Turbulent Flows, Michael Derderian
Discovery Day - Daytona Beach
The Entropic Lattice Boltzmann Method (EELBM) has demonstrated strong numerical stability and accuracy for two-dimensional simulations, particularly at higher resolutions where the entropic formulation introduces only minimal stabilizing turbulent viscosity and eventually converges to the Lattice Bhatnagar–Gross–Krook (LBGK) formulation. This built-in stabilization can be interpreted as an implicit large-eddy simulation (LES) model, allowing EELBM to capture complex turbulent behavior without requiring explicit subgrid-scale closures. While these advantages have been thoroughly validated in 2D, understanding how the entropic constraint regulates dissipation in three dimensions is essential for assessing EELBM’s suitability for practical, turbulence-dominated applications. This work focuses on the development and …
Feasibility Of High-Throughput Onboard Ai For Mars Rovers Under Solar Constraints,
2026
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Feasibility Of High-Throughput Onboard Ai For Mars Rovers Under Solar Constraints, Aashman Gupta
Discovery Day - Daytona Beach
This project evaluates the feasibility of sustained onboard AI autonomy for a solar-powered Mars rover by directly linking solar energy availability to achievable compute performance. While Mars solar irradiance and edge computing performance have been studied independently, no unified framework currently couples surface power generation to autonomy throughput in an experimentally validated manner. The project will begin with a simulation of solar power generation for a 1 m² rover-mounted array across a Martian sol, accounting for seasonal variation, dust opacity, and array configuration (fixed versus sun-tracking). The resulting power profile will then be coupled to representative compute platforms running autonomy …
Metabolic Regulation And Immunity In The Spaceflight Environment,
2026
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Metabolic Regulation And Immunity In The Spaceflight Environment, Graeme Grainger, Riley Dienna, Astrid Senko, Angela Cebula, Arden Rodriguez Arden Rodriguez
Discovery Day - Daytona Beach
Long-duration spaceflight exposes astronauts to chronic ionizing radiation and microgravity that disrupts homeostasis in the immune system and cellular metabolism. While simulated spaceflight models demonstrate altered T-cell polarization and sex-dependent shifts toward regulatory phenotypes, the metabolic mechanisms driving these immune changes remain unclear. Immune cell function is tightly linked to metabolic programming, with effector T cells relying on glycolysis and regulatory T cells favoring oxidative metabolism, making them highly sensitive to shifts in nutrient availability and redox balance. Emerging research further suggests that neutrophils act as metabolic regulators capable of reshaping the immune microenvironment through oxidative stress, cytokine production, and …
Magnesium-Enhanced Methane: A Novel Metalized Fuel For Mars Return Missions And Next-Generation Propulsion Systems,
2026
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Magnesium-Enhanced Methane: A Novel Metalized Fuel For Mars Return Missions And Next-Generation Propulsion Systems, Kinga Wysocka
Discovery Day - Daytona Beach
This research investigates magnesium-enhanced methane as a novel metalized fuel concept for high-performance, in-situ resource utilization (ISRU)-compatible rocket propulsion. While methane is a leading candidate for Mars missions due to its producibility via the Sabatier process, its combustion performance is limited by the high activation energy of the initial C–H bond (~4 eV). To address this limitation, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to analyze methane and hydrogen interactions with a Mg(0001) surface. A converged slab model (3×3×4 and 3×3×5) was validated with energy differences below 1 meV per atom for k-point sampling and ~13.99 meV per atom for …
From Dust To Growth: Microbial Pathways To Extraterrestrial Farming,
2026
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
From Dust To Growth: Microbial Pathways To Extraterrestrial Farming, Stefani Capasso Villanueva, Nupur Kulkarni
Discovery Day - Daytona Beach
From Dust to Growth: Microbial Pathways to Extraterrestrial Farming addresses the fundamental challenge of sustaining long-term human habitation on other planets. In the era of the Artemis missions, establishing a cost-effective, bioregenerative food source is critical to reducing logistical dependency on Earth, and mitigating the physiological stressors faced by spacecrew through improved nutrition. This study initially investigated the viability of cultivating Mizuna, a proven ISS model organism, in a substrate of Martian regolith simulant amended with organic compost. Following iterative trials, it was found that the plant survival rate was extremely low, even after varying percentages of compost and simulant. …
Fault-Aware Flight Path Assessment For Evtols Using An Integrated Air Traffic Management Environment,
2026
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Fault-Aware Flight Path Assessment For Evtols Using An Integrated Air Traffic Management Environment, John Clardy, Edison Alberto Martinez Samaniego
Discovery Day - Daytona Beach
This study introduces a simulation framework to evaluate Fault-Aware Flight Paths for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft within an integrated air traffic management environment. By combining an air traffic management system with intelligent trajectory generation frameworks, the approach assesses the development of safe, adaptive, and fault-aware flight paths that account for traffic interactions, airspace features, and specific operational constraints. Real-world historical airspace traffic data was used to accurately simulate complex and congested operational conditions. The main goal is to evaluate the operational impact of integrating eVTOL operations into the National Airspace System, with a focus on conflict detection, …
Experimental Design And Comparative Analysis Of Cubesat-Based Reflector Concepts For Future Solar Energy Redirection On Mars,
2026
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Experimental Design And Comparative Analysis Of Cubesat-Based Reflector Concepts For Future Solar Energy Redirection On Mars, Tatyana Vladislavova Ivanova
Discovery Day - Daytona Beach
Previous research shows that redirecting sunlight with large orbital mirrors could support warming specific regions of Mars by targeting ice deposits and releasing greenhouse gases. Although the concept has strong theoretical support, deploying and adjusting massive rigid reflectors in orbit remains a major technical challenge. This study aims to investigate the impact of using a swarm of small, adjustable CubeSats equipped with different reflector types on the effectiveness of solar energy redirection for Martian surface heating. Through comparison of multiple designs in controlled conditions, this work addresses whether smaller, flexible systems could offer a practical alternative to traditional large mirrors. …
Se(3) Touchdown Dynamics With Multi-Joint Landing Legs And Regolith-Dependent Contact For Autonomous Tip-Over Risk Prediction,
2026
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Se(3) Touchdown Dynamics With Multi-Joint Landing Legs And Regolith-Dependent Contact For Autonomous Tip-Over Risk Prediction, Rithika Nagarajan
Discovery Day - Daytona Beach
This project develops an SE(3)-based touchdown dynamics framework to study how lunar landers can remain stable during landing on sloped and uncertain terrain. Safe lunar landing is challenging because uneven load redistribution, slip, and asymmetric sinkage can push the vehicle’s center of mass outside its support polygon, increasing tip-over risk. The purpose of this work is to extend a fixed-leg touchdown model to a multi-joint landing leg system while also examining how varying regolith properties affect landing stability. The method combines coupled rigid-body translation and rotation with per-foot unilateral contact, compliant normal force response, and Coulomb-limited friction to simulate touchdown …
An Energy-Aware Meta-Learning Framework For Real-Time Lunar Rover Localization Via Adaptive Algorithm Selection,
2026
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
An Energy-Aware Meta-Learning Framework For Real-Time Lunar Rover Localization Via Adaptive Algorithm Selection, Jose Demedeiros, Garrett Seyler
Discovery Day - Daytona Beach
This work proposes an energy-aware meta-learning framework that selects the single most suitable localization algorithm for a lunar rover, per scene, using only monocular imagery and orbital maps. The goal is to achieve sub-meter accuracy while minimizing onboard compute and energy consumption. We assemble a suite of seven lunar-relevant algorithms spanning relative and absolute localization, including monocular ORB-SLAM3, LuVo homography-based visual odometry, Censible cross-view matching with orbital imagery, crater-based methods (LunarNav and ShadowNav), monocular horizon navigation with a DEM, and DROID-SLAM. Relative methods provide incremental motion updates, while absolute methods deliver global pose fixes; an Extended Kalman Filter fuses these …
Experimental Manufacturing Optimization Of 3d-Printed Ducted Fans,
2026
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Experimental Manufacturing Optimization Of 3d-Printed Ducted Fans, Stanlie Cerda-Cruz
Discovery Day - Daytona Beach
This study aims to assess the efficiency gains, feasibility, and practicality of 3D printing fan and ducts with pre and post processing techniques. With the rapid expansion of MAV use; labs, students, hobbyists, can benefit from manufacturing Electric Ducted Fans (EDFs), both fans and ducts, in-house rather than purchasing traditional propellers. There are several advantages of utilizing EDFs, as they can minimize wing tip vortices, reduce wake contraction, and induce a duct lip Coanda effect which all lead to an increased system efficiency. However, EDF implementation in MAV's remain largely unexplored due to the difficulty of development and the production …
Design And Implementation Of A Synchronized Data Acquisition System For An Ihlp Cessna 182 Testbed,
2026
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Design And Implementation Of A Synchronized Data Acquisition System For An Ihlp Cessna 182 Testbed, Celso Ferreira De Moura, Mariano Chavez Rangel
Discovery Day - Daytona Beach
This work presents the design and implementation of a fully integrated data acquisition system for a full scale Integrated High Lift Propulsion testbed based on a Cessna 182Q, with emphasis on hardware integration, sensor reliability, and time synchronization. A centralized architecture was developed in LabVIEW to acquire, process, and store data from both analog and digital sensors, including air data systems, inertial measurement units, control positions, and propulsion instrumentation. Analog sensors were carefully calibrated to ensure accurate conversion to engineering units, while digital sensors were incorporated into a unified framework to maintain consistency across all measurements. All ADC, GPS, INS, …
Cars Imass - Comparing Llm Vs Human Operator Effectiveness In Multi-Agent Swarm Coordination,
2026
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Cars Imass - Comparing Llm Vs Human Operator Effectiveness In Multi-Agent Swarm Coordination, Gatlin Nelson
Discovery Day - Daytona Beach
Title: Dual-Perspective Risk Analysis for Human-LLM Decision Comparison in UAV Swarm Navigation Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) swarms operating in low-altitude wireless network environments encounter localized disruptions that degrade positioning and navigation metrics. These disruptions are modeled as geographic failure zones with defined boundaries. A UAV discovers a zone by entering it and observing degraded performance on its onboard systems. This work assumes that affected UAVs can autonomously retreat to safety using onboard sensors and focuses on the subsequent rerouting decision. Once recovered, the system generates candidate repositioning points surrounding the vehicle, each scored using Conditional Value-at-Risk (CVaR). A human operator …
