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Analyzing The Performance Of A Solar-Assisted Grain Dryer, Daniel Parenden, Frederik H. Sumbung, Peter Sahupala

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

This study evaluates the drying performance and energy efficiency of a solar-powered rice cabinet dryer equipped with two distinct airflow mechanisms: free convection (chimney-assisted) and forced convection (fan-assisted). Field experiments were conducted under tropical conditions in Merauke, Indonesia, comparing drying efficiency, moisture reduction, and air mass flow across three rice grain loads: 1 kg, 3 kg, and 5 kg. The experimental design incorporated both thermal analysis and statistical evaluation (ANOVA and t-tests) to assess the effects of airflow method and grain weight on drying outcomes. Results indicate that the chimney system demonstrated more stable and efficient performance at lower grain …

Effect Of Thickness Of Nanofiber Separator Membrane Pan/Pvdf On Supercapacitor’S Performance, Silvia Nurlaili Agustina, Markus Diantoro, Hartatiek Hartatiek, Nasikhudin Nasikhudin

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Separators in supercapacitors have an important role as intermediaries for ions that pass during the chargedischarge process and affect the performance of supercapacitors. Therefore, a comprehensive study is needed related to separator characteristics, including morphology, pore size, diameter, functional group, and electrochemical performance of separator membranes from PAN/PVDF composites. The separator membrane was synthesized using the electrospinning method with thickness variation (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 layers), followed by supercapacitor fabrication with coin cell device. The resulting membrane was then characterized by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR). For the result of supercapacitor fabrication with coin …

Finite Element Analysis Of The Construction Strength Of Semi-Submarine Glass-Bottom Catamaran, Berliana Ayarent Puteri, Aldias Bahatmaka, Widya Aryadi, Musdika Bagas Satria Putrananda, Christian Imanuel Hutagalung

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Indonesia's extraordinary marine tourism potential requires innovation in how to enjoy it. This study discusses the innovative design of a semi-submarine glass-bottom ship for the development of marine tourism in Indonesia, which allows tourists to enjoy the beauty of the underwater world safely and comfortably. This catamaran is designed with two hulls that provide high stability and optimal deck area for tourism needs. The study focuses on analyzing the ship's frame structure using the finite element analysis method, especially on using sandwich panels that combine wood and carbon fiber materials to achieve the optimal combination of structural strength, weight, and …

Simulation Of Magnet Thickness And Angle Of Attack On Magnetic Force For Magnetic Turbine Design, Eka Pratama, Wirawan Wirawan

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Electric motors play a vital role across various industries. As their electricity demand grows, improving efficiency has become a priority. One area of innovation involves the use of magnetic strips for improving performance. This study aims to determine the magnet thickness and the angle of attack position in producing the strongest repulsive force in the magnetic turbine. The study used a simulation using SOLIDWORKS and EMS software, applying neodymium N52 magnets with varying sizes and angles of attack. The results indicate that the most efficient magnetic turbine configuration utilizes rotor and stator magnets with dimensions of Ø10 × 20 mm …

Harnessing The Role Of Carbon Black: A New Frontier For Energy-Density Supercapacitor Electrodes, Ana Yuli Komariyah, Ishmah Luthfiyah, Ida Vaeruza Albadi’Ah, Nasikhudin Nasikhudin, Worawat Meevasana, Markus Diantoro

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

The performance of activated carbon (AC)-based supercapacitor electrodes is often limited by poor electrical conductivity, prompting interest in conductive additives such as carbon black (CB). This study explores the transformative potential of CB as a conductive additive in AC-based supercapacitor electrodes and systematically investigates CB mass loadings of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%, using styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) as the binder. The findings in this study demonstrate that 10% CB is the optimal loading, offering a balanced performance in terms of structure, morphology, and capacitance. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis reveals a distinct structural evolution at 10% CB, characterized by the …

Surface Analysis Of Bacterial Cellulose Membrane Made From Biowaste Added With Zno Nanopowder, Naufal Rizky Amasda, Heru Suryanto, Uun Yanuhar, Aminnudin Aminnudin, Fajar Nusantara, Quota Alief Sias

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Utilization of pineapple biowaste is important to increase the value added to biowaste and solve the environmental problem. So, the study objective is to synthesize membranes of bacterial cellulose made from pineapple biowaste and characterize the surface morphology and porosity of the membrane after being added with ZnO nanopowder. The study starts with extracting biowaste as a bacterial cellulose culture medium for the fermentation process. The obtained pellicle was crushed and homogenized with the added ZnO nanopowder in the presence of ultrasonic waves. The membrane is dried in the oven. The membrane morphology was monitored using scanning electron microscope and …

Optimizing Aluminium 6061 Turning Using Kesambi Oil-Based Cutting Fluid And Response Surface Methodology To Reduce Surface Roughness, Ari Wahjudi, Raihan Baihaki, Khairul Anam

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

This study investigates the viability of Kesambi oil (Schleichera oleosa) as an environmentally sustainable, bio-based cutting fluid to reduce surface roughness during the turning of Aluminium 6061. The study employs Response Surface Methodology in conjunction with a Central Composite Design to identify the optimal parameter combination. These methods were used to optimize two primary variables, including the composition of Kesambi oil and the depth of cut during machining. Surface roughness was measured using a surface roughness tester, and a comprehensive quadratic regression equation was analyzed to elucidate its characteristics. The best configuration, comprising 19.57% Kesambi oil and a cutting depth …

Utilization Of Biomass From Kerai Payung Trees And Waste Paper Through Pyrolysis Technology To Support The Zero-Waste Concept, Anggita Putri Indadari, Nurfa Anisa, Asih Budi Santoso

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Wisnuwardhana University is a private institution with a green campus environment surrounded by Kerai Payung trees. This environment produces organic waste from trees and inorganic waste such as used paper from campus activities. This study aims to achieve zero-waste processing by using pyrolysis technology to process campus waste, ensuring minimal residue. The experimental method involves comparing waste processing outcomes between conventional combustion and pyrolysis, the data was analyzed by comparing the results of pyrolysis with conventional combustion. The results of biochar from the pyrolysis process of used paper, Kerai Payung leaves, and nagging Kerai Payung tree are 76 g, 250 …

Effect Of Various Canopy Shapes On The Drag Coefficient Of Pickup Trucks, Khairil Anwar, Muhammad Syaiful Fadly, Muhammad Wahyu Hermanto

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

The aerodynamic performance of light commercial vehicles, such as the Suzuki Carry, plays a crucial role in their fuel economy and road stability. One typical add-on, a canopy, often changes that airflow and, as a result, alters the drag acting on the vehicle. In this study, three different canopy shapes, flat, curved, and triangular, were examined to understand how each one affects the drag coefficient (Cd). To investigate this, both wind tunnel trials and CFD runs were conducted to track the airflow and measure any changes in drag with greater detail. For reference, the exact vehicle without a canopy was …

Influence Of Different Nanoparticles On Thermophysical Properties And Wear Resistance Of Corn Oil-Based Cutting Fluid In Mql-Cnc Milling Machining, M Nuril Anwar Habiby, Poppy Puspitasari, Aminnudin Aminnudin, Diki Dwi Pramono, Ahmad Atif Fikri, Mariyam Jameelah Ghazali

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

Vegetable oil-based cutting fluids have emerged as a promising innovation in machining operations, supporting the advancement of sustainable and eco-friendly manufacturing practices. This study delves into the development of a biolubricant derived from corn oil, enriched with 0.15% mass fractions of various nanoparticles, including calcium carbonate (CaCO3), copper oxide (CuO), and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). These nano-cutting fluids were applied through the Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL) method during CNC milling of AISI 1045 steel. The investigation focused on evaluating thermophysical properties, including density, thermal conductivity, and dynamic viscosity, as well as tool wear performance. The results demonstrated that CuO nanoparticles …

Steam Supply Evaluation For Carbon Capture And Storage In A Subcritical Coal-Fired Power Plant, Veri Hendrayawan, Anggit Raksajati, Sanggono Adisasmito, Firman Bagja Juangsa

Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST)

The aim of this study is to analyze the implementation of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in coal-fired power plants (CFPP) in Indonesia by determining the reboiler energy demand through steam source analysis. The study uses a representative 3×330 MW subcritical coal-fired power plant (CFPP), with an emission intensity of 1.02 tCO₂/MWh and flue gas CO₂ concentration of 13.8%. CCS modeling shows the reboiler requires about 2.9×10⁹ kJ/h energy, supplied by steam extracted from the plant’s steam cycle. A steam cycle model was developed to evaluate the impact of steam extraction. Potential tapping points analyzed include main steam, cold reheat, …

Multiscale And Multi-Model Studies Of Metal Plasticity, Luo Li

Mechanical Engineering ETDs

Plastic deformation is the process in which the material deforms permanently due to external effects. Twinning and slip are two main mechanisms of plastic deformation in metallic materials. The prominent mechanism of plastic deformation in metals that have FCC crystal structures is slip or gliding movement of dislocations, which is mainly focused on here. In the current study, frameworks for investigating plasticity phenomena of metals at different scales ranging from microscale to macroscale are demonstrated. Specifically, the macroscale modeling of plastic response of metallic materials induced by indentations are emulated by nonlinear FEA simulations. Simulation results of macroscale modeling are …

Understanding The Metallic And Oxide Phases In Platinum-Based Bimetallic Heterogeneous Catalysts After High-Temperature Oxidation, Stephen John Porter Jr

Nanoscience and Microsystems ETDs

Platinum (Pt) and palladium (Pd) are critical components in diesel emission control systems, enabling the conversion of harmful pollutants under demanding conditions. However, Pt’s effectiveness is hindered by sintering under high-temperature oxidizing environments. This dissertation investigates how Pt and Pd evolve under oxidizing conditions at 800°C, highlighting their distinct thermodynamic behaviors and interactions. Using TEM, EDS, EELS, XRF, XRD, and EXAFS, we show that Pd suppresses Pt sintering by reducing the volatility of PtO₂, leading to the formation of stable particles. Both Pt and Pd are present in metallic and oxide states, forming biphasic 'Janus' particles with conjoined metal and …

Numerical Simulation Of The Pitting Corrosion Behavior Of Stainless Steel Bellows Influenced By Varying Liquid Film Thicknesses, Lu-Jun Ren, Guo-Min Li, Zhen-Xiao Zhu, Hai-Yan Xiong, Bing Li

Journal of Electrochemistry

To advance the understanding of the corrosion behavior of stainless steel bellows in marine atmospheric environments and enhance the precision of service life predictions, this study employs finite element simulations to investigate the pitting corrosion rates and pit morphologies of bellows peaks and troughs under varying electrolyte film thicknesses. The model incorporates localized electrochemical reactions, oxygen concentration, and homogeneous solution reactions. For improved computational accuracy, the fitted polarization curve data were directly applied as nonlinear boundary conditions on the electrode surface via interpolation functions. Simulation results reveal that the peak regions exhibit faster corrosion rates than the trough regions. With …

Photocatalytic Self-Pumping Membranes, Lily D. Farmer, David Warsinger, Sudharshan Anandan

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

The physics of nanofiltration is not well understood, as many types of membranes and filters exist, but they all interact very differently with the substance they are filtering. This research investigates membranes that can autonomously pump fluid through catalytic reactions. The first set of experiments was to collect zeta potential measurements as zeta potential is a critical property that directly affects fluid transport. Zeta potential was measured using the Anton Parr SURPASS 3, which measures the sample by streaming a given solution through a channel of membranes and uses the Smoluchowski equation to return the zeta potential value. Measurements were …

Research Progress On Thermal Management Of Lithium-Ion Batteries, Hong-Da Li, Qiu-Wan Shen, Zhao-Yang Zhang, Xin-Yue Zhao, Yuan Wei, Shi-An Li

Journal of Electrochemistry

Nowadays, new energy technologies are developing rapidly, energy storage systems are widely used, and lithium-ion batteries occupy a dominant position among them. Therefore, it is also very important to ensure their performance, safety and service life through thermal management technology. In this paper, the causes of thermal runaway of lithium batteries are reviewed firstly, and three commonly used thermal management technologies, namely, air cooling, liquid cooling and phase change material cooling, are compared according to relevant literature in recent years. Air cooling technology has been widely studied because of its simple structure and low cost, but its temperature control effect …

Regulating The Amount Of Graphene Oxide For Enhanced Capacitive Energy Storage Of Mof Derived Materials, Yong-Ji Qin, Jing-Quan Yang, Hao Wang, Mei-Ling Lian, Pei-Pei Jia, Jun Luo, Xi-Jun Liu, Jun-Feng Liu

Journal of Electrochemistry

In pursuit of more efficient and stable electrochemical energy storage materials, composite materials consisting of metal oxides and graphene oxide have garnered significant attention due to their unique structures and exceptional properties. Graphene oxide (GO), a two-dimensional material with an extremely high specific surface area and excellent conductivity, offers new possibilities for enhancing the electrochemical performance of metal oxides. In this work, we synthesized metal- organic framework (MOF) and GO composites by regulating the amount of GO, and successfully prepared composites of metal oxides supported by nitrogen-doped carbon frameworks and GO through a simple one-step calcination process. Based on the …

Preparation And Characterization Of Electrospun Pvdf-Based Nanocomposite Fibers For Energy Harvesting And Storage Applications, Ahmed Ramzy, Electrochemistry And Corrosion Laboratory, Physical Chemistry Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, 12622, Egypt, Ahmed M. El-Mahalawy

Nanotechnology Research Centre

This study introduces the development of multifunctional electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) composite films doped with potassium octatitanate (KTO) for advanced energy applications. The research tackles key challenges in energy generation and storage through innovative material design and detailed characterization. Adding 0.2 wt% KTO to PVDF electrospun fibers resulted in a notable increase in crystallinity to 78.51 %, marking a significant enhancement in material properties. Structural analysis using X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed optimal phase composition, while morphological features were verified through field emission scanning electron microscopy. The composite films showed exceptional electrochemical performance, with bulk electrolyte resistance …

Mechanical Properties And Temperature Resistance Of Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer Concrete, Hala Emad Elden Fouad, Mohamed I. Serag, Ahmed Ragab, Abdelrahman Hussein

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Global warming is pressing issue, primarily driven by increasing in greenhouse gas emissions with CO2 accounting for 64% of total emissions. It was founded that produce one ton of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) producing one ton of CO2. To address these issues, geopolymers derived from fly ash (FA) have been proposed as a superior alternative to cement. This research presents a comparative review of OPC and FA-based geopolymers in the context of CO2 sequestration. The research investigates the behavior of FA-based geopolymer cement, focusing on the influence of preparation conditions on its mechanical performance, bond strength, and the effect of …

Single-Step Conversion Of Metal Impurities In Cnts To Electroactive Metallic Nitride Nanoclusters For Electrochemical Co2 Reduction, Ahmed Badreldin, John Pellessier, Francisco Alejandro Ospina Acevedo, Siyuan Fang, Carter Racine, Jin Feng, Alvin Chang, Yulu Ge, Yang Gang, Shengyao Wang, Xiaokun Yang, Sergei Ivanov, Zhenxing Feng, Yun Hang Hu, Perla B. Balbuena, Ying Li

Michigan Tech Publications

A novel single-step low-temperature pyrolysis method is developed to efficiently remove encapsulated Ni nanoparticles (NPs, 10–50 nm) from both regular-grade (< 5 wt.% metal impurities) and industrial-grade (< 10 wt.% metal impurities) carbon nanotubes (CNTs). This approach eliminates the need for conventional multi-step purification processes, which often involve high-temperature corrosive gas oxidation and acid washing. The new strategy transforms and redistributes encapsulated Ni-NPs into homogeneously sized nanoclusters (NCs, ≈1 nm) that are evenly dispersed on the surface of CNTs. Surface and bulk sensitive spectroscopic analyses reveal the predominant formation of Ni3N-NCs, along with some metallic Ni-NCs. The treated materials demonstrate exceptional electroactivity toward CO2 reduction to CO, with the best-performing CNT-PTFE-Mel-650 sample achieving an ultra-low onset overpotential of −19 mV and 98% CO selectivity in a current density range of 100–700 mA cm⁻². This NC catalyst demonstrates 25% lower voltage at 700 mA cm⁻² compared to the single atom catalyst (SAC) control. Experimentally verified ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) models are simulated, and subsequent density functional theory (DFT) calculations further support the thermodynamic stability of Ni3N-NCs and their favorability for CO2 reduction. This work establishes a new method for creating ligand-free electroactive NCs for efficient electrochemical reactions.

Magnetically Impelled Arc Butt Welding And Straight Tube Butt Welding Analysis Of Boiler Grade Tube Joints, Santhosh Kumar S

Theses and Dissertations

Boiler-graded tubes of T11, T12, T91, and T92 materials with a thickness of 4.5 mm thick and 44.5 mm outer diameter were selected for the Straight Tube Butt Welding process using Hot Wire (STBW-HW) and Cold Wire (STBW-CW) conditions. Moreover, the research investigates and compares the welding characteristics of dissimilar T11 and T91 boiler-graded tubes using STBW - HW & Magnetically Impelled Arc Butt (MIAB) welding techniques. Similar and dissimilar welding was performed in STBW – HW & CW conditions.

In dissimilar welding, the tensile strength was higher in the T11-T91 STBWHW joints of 663 MPa than in the T12-T92 …

Conceptualizing The Research Cycle For The Field Of Materials Science And Engineering, Jennifer L.W. Carter

Faculty Scholarship

Abstract: Early-career materials researchers often receive guidance from their individual advisors on best practices for conducting research, but the materials science community lacks an explicit model of the research process. As a result, the lived experience of an individual researcher can be quite different from their peers since they may be exposed to a different unique set of implicit research steps. In this article, we translate an existing research heuristic from other fields and make explicit the steps, methodologies, and strategies materials science engineering researchers utilize to advance our collective materials science knowledge. This newly proposed research cycle can improve …

Conceptualizing The Research Cycle For The Field Of Materials Science And Engineering, Jennifer Carter

Faculty Scholarship

Early-career materials researchers often receive guidance from their individual advisors on best practices for conducting research, but the materials science community lacks an explicit model of the research process. As a result, the lived experience of an individual researcher can be quite different from their peers since they may be exposed to a different unique set of implicit research steps. In this article, we translate an existing research heuristic from other fields and make explicit the steps, methodologies, and strategies materials science engineering researchers utilize to advance our collective materials science knowledge. This newly proposed research cycle can improve the …

Pd-Based Hydrogen Separation Membranes Synthesized Via A Liquid-Phase Route, Chase W. Thompson

Chemical and Biological Engineering ETDs

Palladium (Pd) membranes have gained significant attention for their ability to selectively separate hydrogen, a critical process for clean energy applications such as fuel cells and hydrogen storage. However, challenges such as grain growth, sintering, hydrogen embrittlement, and film uniformity limit their scalability and long-term stability. This thesis focuses on the controlled synthesis, deposition, and stability of Pd nanoparticles to optimize membrane performance for hydrogen separation. This work investigates solution-phase synthesis of Pd nanoparticles, focusing on temperature, precursor concentration, and solvent composition as key variables influencing particle growth and dispersion. Pd membranes were fabricated using nanoparticle deposition onto porous supports, …

Traditional Energy And Renewable Energy And Their Implications On Sustainable Development (Examples From Lebanon And The World), Radwan Ejel

Al Jinan الجنان

This study aims to introduce the types of fossil and renewable energies by presenting the various associated concepts. It shows their characteristics, in addition to the concept of sustainable development, to show the extent of traditional energy's repercussions on sustainable development and the role of renewable energies in promoting its concept through its three economic, social, and environmental dimensions. It also presents some statistical models on renewable energy, especially solar energy in Lebanon, the Arab world, and the world.

Previously, man used to invest in traditional fossil energy, such as oil, gas, and coal, to meet his economic and technological …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Temperature- And Ph-Responsive Pia-B-Pnipam@Fe3O4 Nanocomposites, Swati Kumari, Cayla Cook, Fatema Tarannum, Erick Salvador Vasquez-Guardado, Olufemi Ogunjimi, Keisha B. Walters

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Stimuli-responsive polymers (SRPs) have garnered significant attention in recent decades due to their immense potential in biomedical and environmental applications. When these SRPs are grafted onto magnetic nanoparticles, they form multifunctional nanocomposites capable of various complex applications, such as targeted drug delivery, advanced separations, and magnetic resonance imaging. In this study, we employed a one-step hydrothermal method using 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTES) to synthesize APTES-modified Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (APTES@Fe₃O₄) featuring reactive terminal amine groups. Subsequently, via two consecutive surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerizations (SI-ATRP), pH- and temperature-responsive polymer blocks were grown from the Fe₃O …

Creating Blood Analogs To Mimic Steady-State Non-Newtonian Shear-Thinning Characteristics Under Various Thermal Conditions, Hang Yi, Alexander Wang, Christopher Wang, Jared Chong, Chungyiu Ma, Luke Bramlage, Bryan Ludwig, Zifeng Yang

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Blood analogs are widely employed in in vitro experiments such as particle image velocity (PIV) to secure hemodynamics, assisting pathophysiological diagnoses of neurovascular and cardiovascular diseases, as well as pre-surgical planning and intraoperative orientation. To obtain accurate physical parameters, which are critical for diagnosis and treatment, blood analogs should exhibit realistic non-Newtonian shear-thinning features. In this study, two types of blood analogs working under room temperature (293.15 K) were created to mimic the steady-state shear-thinning features of blood over a temperature range of 295 to 312 K and a shear range of 1~250 s−1 at a hematocrit of ~40%. Type …

A Recycling Route For E-Waste And Aluminium Scrap To Produce A2xxx And A3xx Al Alloys, Iman El-Mahallawi, Shaza Raji, Mayar M. Ali, Mai Mahmoud, Sara Atef, Mahmoud Tash, Serag Salem, Tarek Elmeligy

Mechanical Engineering

Electronic waste (e-waste) generation is significantly escalating, while traditional recycling methods, failing to meet sustainability criteria, are still used. The implementation of sustainability requirements calling for recycling will not be achieved unless intensive research is conducted for mitigating and tolerating the presence of accumulating tramp elements in the recycled alloys and even revising the existing standard specifications. This study explores an innovative approach to recycling electronic waste (e-waste) by integrating it with aluminum scrap through conventional melting techniques to produce high-performance industrial alloys aiming to develop novel aluminum alloys with enhanced properties suitable for various industrial applications. The experimental process …

Ultra-Low Dosages Of Novel Graphene Types Enhance The Rheological Properties And Buildability Of 3d Printed Binders, Sahil Surehali, Akshay Venkatachalam, Ranjith Divigalpitiya, Aditya Kumar, Narayanan Neithalath

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The use of graphene as a high-performance concrete additive is attractive; but, its cost and concerns about production scalability and dispersion efficiency in concrete are impediments to widespread use. This study explores the impact of ultra-low dosages (≤0.02 % by mass of binder) of two novel graphene types—fractal graphene (FG) and reactive graphene (RG)—produced through a cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and scalable process, on the rheological properties of 3D-printable concrete. Both FG and RG significantly enhance the dynamic and static yield stresses and viscoelastic properties of the binder, with RG-modified mixtures exhibiting slightly more pronounced enhancements due to the presence of …

A Discrete-Time Adaptive Sliding Mode Controller For A Multicopter With A Suspended Payload, John Helzer

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This thesis presents a Discrete-time Adaptive Sliding Mode Controller (DASMC) for control of a multicopter with a suspended payload. DASMC is designed to stabilize the multicopter at a desired position while minimizing the load oscillations induced by a significant hanging payload. The proposed DASMC minimizes the need for system-specific parameters like tunable gains and improves robustness to both external disturbances and model uncertainties compared with existing controllers. The controller is designed for direct digital implementation on a variety of multicopter platforms with considerations like discrete-time design, adaptive gain shrinking, and saturation handling. When deployed on a real multicopter in an …