Digital Commons Network^™

Diode-Pumped Solid-State (Dpss) Laser, Ryan Farrar, Kiahna Taylor, Jules Stone, Finn Mcmanus, Zoe Kreisler, Reis Knowles

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Student Publications

The objective of this project is to create a working Nd:YAG laser design using an 808nm laser instead of a traditional flashlamp. The reason for the 808nm laser is to enable controlled lasing, and furthering accuracy & efficiency relative to a flashlamp.

Rapid Reach, Rishi Ammanabrolu, Alex Dumbell, Peyton Hay, Ashley Hurtado, Ryan Matthews, Mac Mchale, Sean Miller, Dan Zschau

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Student Publications

Survival of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest depends on rapid heart defibrillation, yet automated external defibrillator (AED) retrieval, high acquisition costs, and maintenance requirements often limit unit availability. Consequently, the delay inherent in traditional manual retrieval and EMS arrival frequently prevents aid from reaching victims in time.

Chess Observation Based Operable Technology (Cobot), Brandon Goerz, Jeremy Hay, Luke Jacobsen, Sean Kalkiewicz, Logan Steele

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Student Publications

This project aims to develop an autonomous robotic chess system capable of interpreting board state and physically executing moves. With a focus in real time against a human opponent. Utilizing integrating computer vision, game logic, user friendly GUI, and a robotic arm.

Srcis: Human-Robot Collaboration In Urban Search And Rescue Operations, Younghoon Cho, Yavanni Ensley, Jaylin Ollivierre

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Student Publications

Search and Rescue Coordinated Intelligence System (SRCIS) is a human-agent system designed to:

• Improve the effectiveness of real-time search and rescue operations.
• Integrate human judgement with robotic autonomy and capabilities
• Enable coordinated action and adaptive response in dynamic environments.

Nocap: Article Fact-Checking With Ai, Thomas Chamberlain, Anthony Ciero, Varun Doddapaneni, Joshua Pechan

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Student Publications

Fact checking media is important for properly obtaining information

Create a website that uses AI knowledge to allow users to fact check an article

Give these articles an authenticity score and report on what is fact or fiction

Aggregate scores of articles by the same publisher in a database allowing users to view their scores and article authenticity reports

Comparison Of Faa Forecasted And Actual Annual Enplanements At U.S. Airports In 2007, 2011, And 2023, Jordan Alexander Kattner, Ninthushan Nithiyanandan, Yunjae Son, Vivek Sharma, Brooke Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

Accurate forecasting of passenger demand is essential for effective airport planning, infrastructure, and policy decision-making particularly from a risk management perspective (Mandel, 2014). However, making long-term forecasts is extremely difficult with many different factors at play leading airport planners to make misinformed investments. This study used publicly available data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) forecast and Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) actual annual enplanements to examine the difference between forecasted and actual observed annual enplanements at 30 large hub airports in the United States to improve passenger demand forecasts. The result showed a statistically significant difference but small effect …

Aircraft Violations Related To Temporary Flight Restrictions & Operations​ From 2017 To 2021, Mark Lipp, Tea Yankova, Hudson Schnier, Vivek Sharm, Brooke Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) are temporary airspace limitations issued to protect sensitive operations, events, and public safety within the United States and Territories National Airspace System (NAS). Despite widespread dissemination of TFR information, violations continue to occur. This study examined the relationship between the monthly number of active TFRs, total aircraft operations, and TFR violations from 2017 to 2021. A quantitative, non-experimental correlational design was used to analyze publicly available Federal Aviation Administration datasets, including TFR records and incident reports from the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS). Descriptive statistics and Pearson product–moment correlations were calculated using 59 monthly observations. Results …

Effects Of Pilot Seeking Mental Health Treatment On Passenger Willingness To Fly Before And After An Educational Intervention, Angela Thompson, Emily Mongeon, Elizabeth Brewer, Vivek Sharma, Brooke Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

Willingness to fly before and after an intervention showed no significant difference, but there was a significant difference in willingness to fly with a pilot who is versus is not seeking mental health treatment.

Human Error-Related Aviation Accidents And Incidents Scheduled Vs. Non-Scheduled Operations, Aidan J. Cosgrove, Christopher K. Budiman, Julia Palma Gil, Vivek Sharma, Brooke Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

Scheduled operations had higher monthly human error (HE) related aviation accidents and incidents than nonscheduled operations; however, the effect size is small.

Student Perceived Stress Correlated With Study Approaches In A Collegiate Part 141 Flight School, Jonathan Doherty, Nate Petrie, Jonathan Vroman, Brooke Wheeler, Vivek Sharma

Aeronautics Student Publications

Collegiate flight students experience unique academic and technical challenges that may contribute to stress levels. Although previous research has examined stress in aviation students, limited research has investigated how students’ approaches to studying relate to perceived stress within this population. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between perceived stress and two study approaches, Surface and Deep Approach, among collegiate flight students enrolled in their university’s Part 141 flight training program. A correlational research design was used. Participants completed an online questionnaire comprising the Revised Two-Factor Study Process Questionnaire (R-SPQ-2F) to measure Deep and Surface study approaches …

Traffic Alert:​ Correlation Between Near Midair Collision Reports And Takeoffs And Landings At U.S. Class Bravo Airports: 2010 To 2025, Nash Slettom, Brooklyn Stellato, Taylor Jackson, Vivek Sharma, Brooke Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

A significant, positive correlation was identified between airport operations and near midair collision(NMAC) reports.

Annual Wildlife Strikes Per Operation By Runway Configuration In The Southern U.S. From 2015 To 2024, Cam Mann, Arie Ebanks, Vivek Sharm, Brooke Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

Research on wildlife strikes is vital to the understanding of wildlife behavior at airports. This study focused on reported wildlife strikes per operation by differing runway configurations, parallel and intersecting, in 16 southern states from 2015 to 2024. Parallel runway configurations experienced more reported wildlife strikes per operation than intersecting runway configurations, consistent with previous research. Wildlife strikes that occur at critical phases of flight bring detrimental effects to aviation economies and wildlife habitats. Wildlife Hazard Management Programs (WHMP) in effect at airports do show success, but with limited range. The study used an ex post facto design due to …

Difference In Weather Delays At U.S. Large Hub Airports By Season, Momoka Okabe, Mitchell Riordan Rivers, Julian Waller, Vivek Sharma, Brooke E. Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

At 31 large hub airports in the United States, there was a statistically significant difference in weather delays between Fall and both Winter and Summer, and Summer and Spring.

Hybrid Aerospace Winged Kit (Hawk), Michael Brannock, Diego Robles Cortes, Aidan Harrison, Kale Bronder, Dillon Nobles, Cameron Monast, Nathan Panek, Joseph Ficorilli

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Student Publications

The HAWK project is focused on creating a compact unmanned aerial system that can perform both vertical takeoff and forward flight. HAWK uses a blade-tip-mounted propulsion system allowing the craft to maintain vertical and horizontal flight.

Radm-S (Rocket Assisted Drone Mission Start), Connor Fitzpatrick, Jacob Minsky, Karl Leonard, Anthony De Sapio, Samuel Johnston, Andrew Smith, Mateo Tolosa, Reuben Kohn, Aaron Conley, Charles Amoury, Matteo Romeo

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Student Publications

Design a system capable of delivering a fixed-wing drone into the air via a solidpropellent rocket. Manufacture both a drone and a rocket, each optimized for their mission objectives. Execute qualitative and quantitative tests to verify the performance of the integrated system. Analyze overall system performance to validate design requirements.

Rapid Ascent Payload Integrated Drone (Rapid), M. Babe, B. Degraw, E. Green, K. Lucas, K. Mobley, S. Ribeiro, I. Shah, G. Thierry, K. Walker, S. Zimmerman

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Student Publications

The Rapid Ascent Payload Integrated Drone (RAPID) Project is an unmanned aerial vehicle that can be launched from a compressed air launch system. This project demonstrates a quick, theoretical payload delivery without the need for a large takeoff area or for total flight time during ascent to support disaster response efforts.

Aeris - Autonomous Experimental Rendezvous And Inspection System, Delaney Ahr, Ashton Clark, Sandro Gardella, Ava Nieburg, Keoni Power, Lindsey Reilly, Joshua Sundet, Ryan Wehe

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Student Publications

Project AERIS is focused on developing a realistic test environment and an autonomous platform to support and validate advanced satellite inspection technologies, rendezvous, and proximity operations (RPO). The system integrates four main elements: - A drone-based chaser vehicle - A visually-accurate satellite model mounted on a one-degree-of-freedom (1 DOF) test stand - A space-like ground environment

Vitasense: Noninvasive Physiological Signal Measurement From Video Data, Ava Dorow, Justin Mcparland, Ashley Schindler

Biomedical Engineering and Sciences Student Publications

• Heart rate monitoring enables proactive patient care
• Imaging Photoplethysmography (iPPG) enables noncontact measurement 
• Improves access to remote and virtual care

Biopulse: Split Hopkinson (Kolsky) Bar, Andrew Carr, Sebastian Deniz, Rachel Hizon, Stefan Paton

Biomedical Engineering and Sciences Student Publications

A Split Hopkinson (Kolsky) Bar is a device used to find a material’s mechanical response under high strain rate loading scenarios (10² – 10⁴ s⁻¹) [1]. It is commonly used to simulate vehicle crashes or ballistic impacts. The novelty of the device is its size and cost of its components compared to other SPHBs on the market. The motivation is to further the capabilities on campus by providing the first dynamic material testing device.

Biostress: An Engineered Platform For Detecting Cellular Damage Upon Mechanical Impact, Lindsay Avila, Nina Fiordaliso, Mai Tran

Biomedical Engineering and Sciences Student Publications

Mechanical impact stimuli are commonly associated with cellular damage and lower cell survival rates. However, mild impacts can promote responses that are adaptive. The heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) is a stressinducible protein that serves as an early biomarker for cellular stress. The relationship between impact severity and cellular response remains unclear.

Clear Aligner Overcorrection To Reduce Incisor Tipping | In Vitro, Benjamin Losch, Eddie Wawrzycki-Stein, Kylie Stong, Niko Burger

Biomedical Engineering and Sciences Student Publications

Quantify the biomechanical effects of overcorrection angles on tipping angle and periodontal moment during incisior retractions using both in vitro experiments and finite element analysis (FEA).

Program And Proceedings, The Nebraska Academy Of Sciences 1880–2026: 146th Anniversary Year, One Hundred-Thirty-Sixth Annual Meeting

Nebraska Academy of Sciences: Programs and Proceedings

Program and abstracts of the proceedings for the Nebraska Academy of Sciences 136th annual meeting, 2025

Sessions

Aeronautics and Space Science

Anthropology

Biological and Medical Sciences

Earth Sciences

Ecology, Sustainability, and Environmental Science

Physics and Engineering

General Poster Session

2026 Maiben Lecture: Shifting Extremes: Understanding Nebraska’s Changing Climate and Preparing for What Lies Ahead, Deborah Bathke

2026 Friends of Science Awards: Julie Shaffer and Irina Filina

2026 C. Bertrand and Marian Othmer Schultz Colleaguate Schoalrship Award: Piper Ryschon and Bryce Reeson

In Memoriam: Paul Royster

The Danger Zone: Uas Sightings By Distance From Airports, Jalee Noel Boucher, Omkar Aaditya Sahoo, Brian Winston Anthony Williams, Vivek Sharma, Brooke Wheeler

Aeronautics Student Publications

The increased usage of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) has called for an increase in pilot awareness as they approach or depart airports. Given the increase in UAS usage and the growing academic and industry relevance of UAS, encounters between manned aircraft and UAS are to be expected. The purpose of this study is to examine differences in the number of monthly reported UAS sightings across distance categories from the airport in the contiguous United States between January 2021 and December 2025 (FAA, 2025). An ex post facto design was used and distance categories were established. Data that lacked distance information …

Analysis Toolkit For Potential Lunar Landing Zones, Jacobo Matallana

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Science and Engineering Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree Master of Science by Jacobo Matallana on April 24, 2026.

Florida Tech Botanical Gardens Improvement: Raised Bridged Walkway Design, Peter Abdou, Logan Allen, Severiano Cartagena, Brennan Lackey, Miranda Schwartz

Mechanical and Civil Engineering Student Publications

Design a flood-resilient pedestrian system using hydrologic and hydraulic modeling to improve safety, accessibility, and environmental performance within the Botanical Gardens.

Lockheed Martin & U.S. Navy Air Pallet For Materials Handling, Samantha Ryan, Ryan Zerneke, Joshua Bible, Justin Conner, Brycen Haner, Nevan Juteram, Alexander Lacy, Gavin Lanka, Henry Lewis

Mechanical and Civil Engineering Student Publications

The purpose of this project is to design, manufacture, and deliver an Air Pallet capable of lifting heavy loads and positively engaging with the Drive Tractor for movement. This project was developed to address current maintenance hazards and difficulty, structural integrity concerns, and increase system reliability for our customers Lockheed Martin and the United States Navy.

3d Filament Recycler, Connor Easley, Stephan Jean-Baptiste, Armando Loynaz, Brody Paulk, Meagan Prouty, Tai Roberts, Jack Salcedo, Vanessa Tohorton, Alex Tremblay, Ruhaan Zaveri

Mechanical and Civil Engineering Student Publications

The purpose of the project is to design and manufacture an integrated system for the L3HSDC that can recycle 3D filament waste by shredding, heating, extruding, and spooling it.

Psi Epsilon Station, Ember Clark, Zac Hardin, Jasper Stevens, Cole Capawana, Carter Tomasky

Mechanical and Civil Engineering Student Publications

Thermodynamics is one of the first classes an engineer will take, where you no longer learn practical ideas; instead, the concepts become theoretical. All of thermodynamics culminates in one of the most important cycles, the Rankine Cycle. This can be very overwhelming for students as everything they've learned throughout the semester is now being put into one cycle. The primary goal is to design and build an operational Rankine cycle to demonstrate to students how it works and what each component does.

Variable Arm Reach Extender (Vare), Matthew Gorton, Adam Johnson, Kaleem Bocus, Quin Fredrickson, Vaughn Havins, James Koethe, Leira Maynard, David Mierzejewski, James Moore, Joonhyung Si

Mechanical and Civil Engineering Student Publications

Approximately 6.7% of the US population suffer from physical disabilities, producing the need for assistive devices. Amongst assistive equipment, reach-extenders have a 64% dissatisfaction rate..

The Matear System, Kylie Strong, Adel Siraeva, Julianna Bartus, Lilly Davies, Cameron Deen, Rayna Doty, Amiana Mata, Jack Minners, Matthew Skwiot

Mechanical and Civil Engineering Student Publications

The MATEAR attachment collects regolith simulant and uses compression and heat to form brick-like building blocks for sustainable infrastructure. It mounts to the Clearpath Robotics Husky A200 rover provided by the team’s faculty advisor.