Digital Commons Network^™

Pilot Age And Accident Rates In General Aviation: Analysis And Recommendations, Jackson E. Jolley

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

General aviation accounts for approximately 94% of all civil aviation accidents in the United States, highlighting the need to examine how pilot characteristics and operational factors influence accident risk. With the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) projecting continued growth in the general aviation pilot population, this study examines the relationship between pilot age, flight experience, and accident risk to inform training and safety interventions. Using the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) accident records from 2008–2024, along with FAA pilot registration data, we analyze age-related trends in accident likelihood, risk, and phase-of-flight distributions in general aviation operations.

Results show an approximately exponential …

Tribological Evaluation Of A Graphite Coating Using A Custom Miniature Conveyor, Shae Threlfall

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Reducing friction in conveyor systems has significant economic and environmental implications, as a substantial portion of energy losses originates at the belt-bed interface. This thesis outlines the design, construction, and validation of a miniature conveyor tribological test system. Unlike conventional tribometers, which impose concentrated point contacts, the miniature conveyor replicates the distributed load consistent with industrial conveyor systems. It can measure real-time mechanical responses of steel samples coated in a low friction coating.

The mini conveyor was validated by evaluating three materials: uncoated mild steel, PDA/graphite coated steel, and Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Electrical power, temperature, sound, and acceleration were recorded. Electrical …

Porous Hydrophobic Adsorbent Coatings For Carbon Dioxide Capture, Samuel Babatunde Olushola

Theses and Dissertations

This work presents the development of a porous, hydrophobic zeolite 13X coating for the separation of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from flue gas or natural gas. Zeolite 13X was combined with yeast, glucose, and sodium alginate as pore-forming agents, and with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as hydrophobicity-inducing agents to enhance water resistance while maintaining CO₂ access to the adsorbent. The study explored PTFE/13X mass ratios ranging from 0 to 2.33 to investigate the interplay between hydrophobicity and CO₂ uptake. The wettability of the coating was characterized by using a temporal water contact angle (WCA) measurement. Increasing …

An Experimental Study On Turbine-Based Energy Harvesters For Thermal Underwater Gliders, Stephen Edward Coster

Theses and Dissertations

Buoyancy-driven underwater gliders have been optimized for long-duration missions primarily for continual monitoring of the ocean’s water column. However, longer missions and higher-powered sensors have increased the energy requirements of gliders. While current solutions aim to increase battery capacity, the development of energy-harvesting systems (EHMs) could greatly improve mission capabilities in both ability and duration. This thesis discusses the experimental testing of an underwater glider with an EHM as detailed in the theoretical study, “Development of a Turbine-Based Ocean Thermal Energy Harvesting Mechanism Applied to the Underwater Glider” by Hongbo Hou, PhD. The rear-mounted turbine captures energy using the kinetic …

Aircraft Fault Detection Via Weight And Bias Analysis Of A Custom First Neural Network Layer, George Harrison Chen

Theses and Dissertations

Fault detection in aircraft is traditionally handled through redundant hardware and comparison algorithms to detect failures. Alternatives like model-based residual generation and data-driven approaches such as supervised fault classification and unsupervised anomaly detection have been explored, but they suffer from practical limitations; model-based methods require accurate system models, and data-driven methods have large constraints on the data limiting scalability and adaptability. This work presents a purely data-driven neural network architecture featuring a custom first layer designed for real-time fault detection where the weights and biases of this layer are used to detect faults. The network requires zero supervision and complements …

Range Extension Of Electric Propulsion General Aviation Aircraft Using Solar Technology, Mary Kathryn Shultz

Theses and Dissertations

Alternative propulsion technologies in aviation have been a long-time topic of interest as operators aim to bypass growing fuel prices and meet environmental sustainability requirements set globally. Research regarding alternative propulsion technologies is primarily centered around marginally improving efficiency of combustion systems or large-scale implementation of novel technologies. This research evaluates the feasibility of implementing solar-integrated propulsion for general aviation aircraft to extend range through a comparison of full-electric, hybrid solar, and internal combustion engine propulsion systems. This evaluation of existing technology by range analysis indicates that hybrid solar‑electric propulsion is viable primarily for short‑range training and recreational aircraft, rather …

Manned Exploration Of Satellites Of The Outer Planets: An Analysis Of Current Technologies And A Discussion Of Advancements Required, Joshua Carson Meador

Theses and Dissertations

The Solar System’s outer planets have many satellites, some of which are known to be the most likely places to find extraterrestrial life in our celestial backyard. Multiple scientific missions have been sent to glean information from these satellites, yet the possibility of a manned expedition has long been exclusive to science fiction stories. This paper intends to collect and analyze the current state of space travel technology to explore the feasibility of such a mission with modern technology and to discuss which future advancements should be the focal point for making such missions a reality. To begin, data on …

Moodify: A Mood-Based Music Recommendation System, Meghana Kagitha

Theses and Dissertations

Music has long been recognised as a powerful tool for emotional regulation, yet existing music streaming platforms often fail to align song recommendations with a user's current emotional state. Moodify is a mood-based music recommendation system designed to bridge this gap by delivering personalised playlists that reflect how a user feels in real time.

This project presents the design, development, and evaluation of Moodify, a mobile application that leverages the Circumplex Model of Emotion to capture user mood through an intuitive two-dimensional valence-arousal interface. Rather than relying on text input or manual search, users plot their emotional state directly onto …

Adaptive Artificial Potential Field Guidance And Control For Autonomous Docking With Uncooperative And Unknown Spacecraft, Steven Holmberg

Theses and Dissertations

The increasing demand for on-orbit servicing (OOS), active debris removal (ADR), and space domain awareness (SDA) missions has increased the need for autonomous spacecraft rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) with uncooperative and unknown targets. Traditional guidance and control methods are typically designed for cooperative systems with known geometry and state information. This work builds on previous research to develop and evaluate an artificial potential field (APF)-based control framework capable of autonomous operation with minimal prior target knowledge and applicability to both relatively static and tumbling spacecraft.

The proposed APF formulation incorporates established safety constructs from cooperative docking systems, including an …

Moon Adaptive Technology For Extraterrestrial Architectural Robotics (Matear), Candela Noemi Solis Zampini

Theses and Dissertations

The Moon Adaptive Technology for Extraterrestrial Architectural Robotics (MATEAR) focuses on the development of an autonomous robotic system capable of providing structural building blocks directly from lunar regolith. As a sustained human presence on the Moon becomes a necessity, the costly and limited payload capacity associated with transporting construction goods from Earth creates a critical challenge. MATEAR addresses this problem through in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), integrating a regolith processing system onto a remote operated vehicle. The proposed system is designed to collect lunar dust, mechanically compact the material, and apply thermal treatment to enhance cohesion through sintering. These regolith-made bricks …

Development Of A Metal-Based Catalyst For The Ammonia Dehydrogenation Reaction, Othman Mohammed Abdullah Al-Amodi

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Developing cost-effective and active catalysts that would replace noble metals is desirable for the ammonia decomposition reaction. Hence, this thesis focuses on the development and evaluation of a 10Ni/0.75TiO2-0.25CeO2 catalyst for ammonia decomposition, a promising route to carbon-free hydrogen production. The system parameters investigated include the effect of reaction temperature (550, 650, and 750°C) and the catalyst mass (100, 200, and 300 mg) on the performance of the ammonia decomposition process. The primary objective of this work is to investigate how catalyst composition and metal-support interactions influence activity, hydrogen production, and ammonia conversion. Catalysts were prepared by the incipient wetness …

A Low-Cost Motion Classification System For A Stuffed Animal Using An Imu And Machine Learning, Rachel N. Guynes

Honors Theses

One of the many fields that has seen the integration of robots is therapy. Zoomorphic robots (ZR) are designed to look and behave like animals to assist in Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) practices. Studies show that ZRs can provide benefits similar to working with an actual animal; however, their high cost limits their accessibility. This thesis documents the process of building a real-time, low-cost motion classification system that can be attached to a stuffed animal to make it more interactive. Using a Random Forest (RF) classifier, the system identifies movements with approximately 81.67% accuracy.

Analysis Of Automatic Control Of The Channels And Ditches Cleaning Mechanism Based On Dynamic Indicators, Nasiba Siraj Amirbayova

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

The article deals with the automated design and experimental investigation of reinforced concrete irrigation channels and ditches, their interrelated channel-cleaning mechanisms, which are complex mechatronic systems integrating hydraulic, mechanical, and electronic components. A thorough methodology is suggested, hydrodynamic modeling, combining parametric analysis, and information-based design support to enhance channel concrete cover thickness, geometry, and cleaning system performance. Main structural parameters—involving channel depth, slope, bottom width, and concrete cover—are systematically defined and shown in matrix form to facilitate automated calculation and decision-making. Experimental prototypes and Solid Edge-based digital models are employed to verify the methodology, revealing vital interdependencies between structural parameters, …

Regular Synthesis Algorithms Of Control Devices In Nonlinear Control Systems, Husan Zakirovich Igamberdiyev, Iskandar Yusupovich Abdurakhmanov, Uktam Farkhodovich Mamirov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

This paper examines the development of regularized algorithms for synthesizing control devices in control systems for polynomial objects, described by multidimensional Volterra functional series. The synthesis problem is solved using a two-stage procedure. In the first stage, the optimization problem is initially solved for an open-loop system. The second stage involves determining the parameters of the control device, i.e., its impulse response functions, by using the relationship between the characteristics of the open-loop and closed-loop systems. Regular algorithms are presented for finding the impulse response functions of the control device based on methods for regularizing the solution of operator equations …

Intelligent Manufacturing Of Edible Oil: From Smart Sensing To Big Data Platform, Ru Jiang, Nadirbek Yusupbekov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

With the rapid advancement of Industry 4.0 technologies, intelligent manufacturing and big data platforms are profoundly transforming the production models of the traditional edible oil industry. The edible oil production process involves multiple complex unit operations such as refining, decolorization, and deodorization, which impose high requirements on process control and product quality monitoring. This paper presents a systematic review of key technological advances in the field of intelligent manufacturing of edible oil, establishing a comprehensive technical framework encompassing four dimensions: smart sensing, artificial intelligence applications, IoT communication, and big data platforms. The review begins by analyzing the global background and …

Using Ali-4 Z-Implication In Controller Design, Shamil Azer Ahmadov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

One of the widely used theories in the information processing is Professor Zadeh's fuzzy logic theory. Fuzzy implications form the basis of this theory. When processing information using fuzzy implication, the chosen judgment method and the type of implication affect the result. Referring to the review of the relevant literature on fuzzy implications, it can be noted that there are still unresolved problems and issues. For example, fuzzy implications cannot be used in processing imperfect information or information based on probabilistic and fuzzy uncertainty. Existing fuzzy implications face limitations in practical applications. Fuzzy implications only take into account inaccuracy, but …

Quantitative Fluorescence Imaging Using A Paired Agent Approach For Improving Surgical Decision Making, Sanjana Pannem

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Surgical resection remains to be the cornerstone of treatment for most solid tumors, where the primary objective is to remove all visible and microscopic disease. However, the extent of tumor resection is inherently limited by the surgeon’s ability to distinguish tumor from normal tissue, intraoperatively. As a result, positive surgical margins (PSM), where residual tumor remains after surgery, are a common occurrence and are associated with increased recurrence, need for adjuvant therapies, dismal patient outcomes, and high healthcare costs.

Fluorescence guided surgery (FGS) has emerged as a promising technique to enhance intraoperative visualization of tumors and may help reduce the …

Creating Open Educational Resources With Artificial Intelligence, Serena Scalzi

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

The adoption of artificial intelligence is becoming widespread in higher education. AI-driven technology has the ability to support academic and administrative faculty in designing and delivering course content. As a Part-Time Instructor in the College of Education, I used AI to enhance my teaching practice by creating course resources for my class, CIT 647 Creating Online Learning Environments. These open educational resources, developed through a reflective teaching practice facilitated by the UNLV Teaching and Learning Commons, promote equitable, inclusive education.

Uncertainty Handling In Stock Market Prediction: A Fuzzy Markov Chain Approach, Alpa Singh Rajput, Arpan Singh Rajput

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

Predicting the stock market is never easy because it is influenced by many uncertain and constantly changing factors such as economic conditions, investor behaviour, and global events. Traditional models like the Crisp Markov Chain (CMC) try to predict market movements by using fixed probabilities for different states like bullish, bearish, or stagnant. However, real markets do not behave in such a strict way—they often move gradually between states, which these models fail to capture. To overcome this limitation, this study introduces a Fuzzy Markov Chain (FMC) model, where fuzzy logic is used to handle uncertainty and allow smoother transitions between …

Modeling Agentic Artificial Intelligence Uncertainty In Agriculture Based 6generation: A Hybrid Q-Rung Orthopair Fuzzy Mcdm Methodology, Zekra Sakr, Mona Mohamed

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

In era of advanced intelligent revolutions, the collaboration between intelligent technologies became imperative. For instance, integrating 6G communications with agentic artificial intelligence considered a catalyst to shift agriculture sector into optimized and intelligence sector. This integration resulted in transitioning the sector from static automation to autonomous, agent-based ecosystems. Accordingly, the efficiency roles for artificial intelligence agents (AIAs), deploying and selecting optimal AIA is important. Yet, selection process is still difficult because agricultural criteria are multifaceted and there are inherent environmental uncertainties. To address these challenges and bolster the selection process, this paper suggests a hybrid multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) that bolstered …

An Improved Logarithmic Ratio-Product Type Estimator For Mean Modeling And Estimation Under Neutrosophic Uncertainty, Anchal Yadav, Mukesh Kumar

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

In classical statistics, population mean estimation generally assumes precise and determinate data along with known auxiliary information. However, in real-world situations where observations are imprecise or expressed in interval form, such as temperature variations or financial market data, classical approaches become less effective. To address this limitation, neutrosophic statistics provide a more flexible framework for handling uncertainty and indeterminacy. This study proposes a neutrosophic logarithmic ratio-product type estimator for estimating the finite population mean using auxiliary information. The bias and mean squared error (MSE) of the proposed estimator are derived using a first-order approximation. Furthermore, performance evaluation is carried out …

Enhanced Parametric Approach For Solving Interval-Valued Trapezoidal Neutrosophic Linear Fractional Programming Problems, Hamiden Abd El- Wahed Khalifa H.A.Khalifa, Moodi Abdulrahman Abdullah Al-Rajeh, Sultan S. Alodhaibi

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

Neutrosophic sets (NSs) generalize the classical versions, by providing a flexible framework capable of representing incomplete, inconsistent, and unclassified data that frequently arises in practical decision frameworks. In this study, a linear fractional programming (LFP) problem with uncertain parameters is investigated. All coefficients in the objective function (OF) as well as the left- and right-hand sides of the constraints are represented using fully trapezoidal neutrosophic numbers (NNs). By employing a suitable score function, the proposed neutrosophic LFP model is transformed into an equivalent scalar LFP problem. Subsequently, a parametric solution procedure is established to regulate the neutrosophic optimum solution. This …

Gauss Elimination Method For Solving The System Of Neutrosophic Linear Equations, Elsayed Badr, Shokry Nada, Saeed Ali, Aya Rabie

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

This paper proposes a unified computational framework for solving linear systems under trapezoidal Neutrosophic uncertainty. The system is formulated as A( I )x = b( I ), where both the coefficient matrix and the right-hand side vector incorporate an indeterminacy parameter I, expressed as A( I ) = A₀ + IA₁ and b( I ) = b₀ + Ib₁. A decomposition strategy is developed to separate the model into deterministic and indeterminacy components, yielding a solution of the form x( I ) = x₀ + Ix₁. The deterministic component is obtained via …

Implementation Of Kansei Engineering Method In Designing Spreadable Cheese Packaging, Novi Purnama Sari, Mega Analisa, Suci Puji Lestari, Khofifah Nur Amalia

Makara Journal of Technology

Some spreadable cheese packaging uses flexible plastic without additional features and easily damaged boxes. This packaging causes several problems, such as difficulty in re-storage, loss of product information due to damaged box packaging, wasteful use of packaging materials, and making the product less hygienic. The purpose of this study is to develop packaging that focuses on consumer emotions. The packaging was developed using the Kansei Engineering method, supported by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) as a determinant of the design concept, and Quantification Theory Type 1 (QTT1) to identify design elements. This study produced 46 packaging samples and 40 Kansei words. …

Picc-Pal: A Support Band For Independent Picc Line Use, Kylie Luker

Honors Theses

This project presents the design and evaluation of PICC-PAL, a wearable assistive device intended to improve independence and usability for patients managing peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC lines) at home. Current at-home PICC line management often requires help due to the fine motor skills needed to connect and secure tubing. This increases reliance on caregivers and introduces potential risks such as infection and dislodgement. Through stakeholder analysis, prior art evaluation, and iterative prototyping, a device was developed to stabilize the PICC line lumen and enable one-handed connection of medical tubing. Throughout the project, multiple design concepts were explored, with the …

Cylindrical Versus Spherical Self-Similar Capillary Cavity Collapse, Karl Cardin, Christophe Josserand, Raul Bayoan Cal

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Drop tower experiments have been performed to study the capillary collapse of large high-aspect-ratio cavities. Cavities are formed by momentarily impinging the free surface of a liquid bath with a jet of air in the microgravity environment of a drop tower. The collapse may give rise to a jet and three distinct jetting regimes are identified. Simulations are performed to further investigate the phenomena. The abrupt emergence of a thin high velocity jet is observed experimentally and numerically at a specific initial cavity aspect ratio. Different power laws are identified in different regions of the cavity during the collapse providing …

Reliability Analysis Of Separator Control Systems, D.P. Muxitdinov, O.U. Sattarov, M.Sh. Nematov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

This article aims to enhance the reliability, efficiency, and diagnostic capabilities of gas-liquid separators operating in hazardous technological processes. In the study, the separator is considered as a critical functional unit of an industrial system and is analyzed through structural and functional decomposition. The main operating parameters of the separator, including pressure drop (ΔP), separation efficiency and operational state are described on the basis of a mathematical model. In addition, a state model is developed for normal operation, foaming, liquid droplet carryover with the gas flow, and failure conditions. Emphasis is placed on diagnostic and monitoring issues, …

Data-Driven Neuro-Fuzzy Modeling And Rule Optimization For Intelligent Prediction Of Bioreactor Dynamics, Kamala Najaf Mammadzada

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

Modeling wastewater bioreactors is a challenging problem in environmental engineering because the processes are constantly changing and the microorganisms do not behave in a linear or predictable way. This makes it difficult to predict and control the system behavior. This research investigates three artificial intelligence approaches for modeling wastewater bioreactors: the Mamdani Fuzzy Inference System (FIS), the Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS), and clustering-based fuzzy models. These models help us predict what is happening in the bioreactors. For instance they help us predict how the amount of substances in the water is changing over time like dS₀/dt dSs/dt …

Optimization Of Renewable Energy-Based Alkaline Electrolysis Systems For Sustainable Hydrogen Production, Shokhrukhbek Kozimjon Ugli Bakhramov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

This paper presents a comprehensive optimization study of hydrogen production systems through alkaline water electrolysis powered by photovoltaic energy sources, with a specific focus on Central Asian applications. The research systematically investigates critical operating parameters including KOH electrolyte concentration (25-30 wt%), temperature effects (25-80°C), current density optimization (100-500 mA/cm²), and electrode material performance using cost-effective 316L stainless steel. Experimental results demonstrate that optimized systems achieve solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 13-15%, with hydrogen production costs ranging from $2-8/kg depending on system scale. The study reveals that maximum performance occurs at 30 wt% KOH concentration, 60-80°C operating temperature, and 200-400 mA/cm² current density. …

Consistency-Based Computing Of Fuzzy Eigenvalues And Fuzzy Eigenvectors: Method And Application, Kamala. R. Aliyeva Prof., Nihad Mehdiyev, Shamil Mehdi

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

The computation of eigenvalues and eigenvectors under uncertainty is a fundamental problem in fuzzy linear algebra and decision analysis. When matrix elements are represented by fuzzy numbers, classical spectral methods cannot be directly applied due to nonlinearity, ambiguity in ordering, and the propagation of uncertainty. Moreover, in many practical applications, particularly those involving pairwise comparison matrices, the reliability of eigenvalue-based results strongly depends on the consistency of the underlying data. This paper proposes a consistency-based framework for computing fuzzy eigenvalues and fuzzy eigenvectors that explicitly integrates consistency analysis into the spectral derivation process. The proposed method preserves the fuzzy structure …