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Mapping Inundation Extent In Middle St. Johns Lakes Floodplains Using Sar Data: Investigating Stage-Area Hysteresis In Flood Dynamics, Keenan Hubbard May 2026

Mapping Inundation Extent In Middle St. Johns Lakes Floodplains Using Sar Data: Investigating Stage-Area Hysteresis In Flood Dynamics, Keenan Hubbard

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Flooding dynamics in floodplains can be complex, with hysteresis potentially influencing the temporal relationship between river gage readings and the extent of floodwaters. This study uses Sentinel-1 SAR imagery to map floods in the Lake floodplains in the Middle St. John's River and investigates the potential presence of hysteresis during flood events. SAR scenes, each corresponding to analogous river gage readings, are analyzed—from a receding flood and from a rising flood. By comparing the resulting flood maps, we evaluate how the flooded area differs at each stage of the flood event. This research aims to contribute to flood monitoring systems …


Effect Of Vehicular Electrification On Air Quality In Florida, Shreya Sapkota Dhakal May 2026

Effect Of Vehicular Electrification On Air Quality In Florida, Shreya Sapkota Dhakal

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Vehicular emissions from fuel-based passenger cars emit an array of gases and particles that are detrimental for human health and the environment. In that regard, electric vehicles (EVs) present a viable, sustainable solution. This study investigates the impact of electrification of passenger cars on air quality in Florida, in five major urban counties namely Miami-Dade, Duval, Hillsborough, Orange, and Leon. Between 2018 and 2022, these counties experienced a significant increase of 217.68% ± 52.11% in EV adoption, coupled with a 11.56% ± 6.23% decrease in fuel-based vehicle usage. Herein, we characterize five pollutants primarily generated from fuel-based passenger vehicles- carbon …


Analyzing Safety Performance In Distracted Driving Behavior, Paulo Carreon, Nolan J. Metz May 2026

Analyzing Safety Performance In Distracted Driving Behavior, Paulo Carreon, Nolan J. Metz

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

With advances in technology throughout the course of time, distracted driving is at an all-time high in the United States. Even with high numbers, distraction is likely under reported because the behavior is difficult to detect during crash investigation, and police reports likely understate its incidents. Transportation safety is facing new challenges on the roadways. According to NHTSA’s newest analysis of 2021 fatal crash data, fatalities in distraction-affected crashes increased by 12% from 2020 to 2021, a total of 8.2% of all fatalities reported. Driving safely is always the priority and requires a wide range of skills. Drivers’ performances can …


Examining The Implications Of Incorporating Ai As A Teammate In Aviation: Trends, Challenges, And Future Directions, Aarohi Srivastava, Hunter Ackermann May 2026

Examining The Implications Of Incorporating Ai As A Teammate In Aviation: Trends, Challenges, And Future Directions, Aarohi Srivastava, Hunter Ackermann

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

In the aviation industry, the incorporation of automation has caused a shift in humans’ roles from operators to observers. The increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in this field marks another significant shift from simply using it as an informative tool to using it as an active partner in flight operations. To increase safety and efficiency, studying human-AI interaction provides critical insight on how to optimize the relationship between dynamic team members. This paper discusses the current literature on incorporating AI as a teammate in aviation. A literature review of relevant topics was conducted and analyzed for common themes. Results …


Project S-Tax - Creation Of A System Taxonomy For Space Vehicles And Operations, Christine Portanova, Jarod Knauer May 2026

Project S-Tax - Creation Of A System Taxonomy For Space Vehicles And Operations, Christine Portanova, Jarod Knauer

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Due to the rapidly changing space vehicle industry and the explosive growth in technology, access to space has been made more prevalent than ever. Currently, collaborative efforts exist to organize information about space systems, instruments, and technologies. Coupled with the quick pace from industry stakeholders, this innovative period has created a gap in knowledge of the classifications of space vehicles. This project aims to develop a comprehensive overview of space vehicles, organized in a taxonomy style. We seek to fill these knowledge gaps through subject matter expert consultation, the development of a systematic literature review, and the integration and consolidation …


Using Discrete Event Simulation To Optimize Flight Dispatch Routes, Joshua B. Mcgurn May 2026

Using Discrete Event Simulation To Optimize Flight Dispatch Routes, Joshua B. Mcgurn

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

While flight is among the most important methods of travel over long distances, it is also among the most subject to delays; thus, much effort has been put into ensuring airport operations run smoothly. Though there have been many attempts to streamline operations within the airport itself, less attention has been given to optimizing aircraft movement and dispatching on ramps, taxiways, and runways. Part of the reason for this is the randomness and complexity of aircraft movement, making standard modeling techniques difficult and ineffective. This research has utilized discrete event simulation software (SIMIO) to model the ramp and runway operations …


Uncrewed Aerial Applications Of Precision Agriculture, Sriram Rajamani May 2026

Uncrewed Aerial Applications Of Precision Agriculture, Sriram Rajamani

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This capstone project will encompass the use of uncrewed aerial vehicles to detect pathogens and diseases at an early stage and taking corrective measures avoiding losses. Precision agriculture integrates technology to promote sustainable farming, with crop monitoring providing agricultural researchers and engineers reliable insights into crop health and damage. The purpose of this research is to show efficient crop health monitoring with the use of autonomous technology, in this case an uncrewed aircraft with an RGB (red-green-blue) camera as the payload. To tell whether plants are infected with such diseases, physical discrepancies like holes can be shown easily from the …


Learning Rock Pushability On Rough Planetary Terrain, Gulsum Tuba Cibuk Girgin, Emre Girgin May 2026

Learning Rock Pushability On Rough Planetary Terrain, Gulsum Tuba Cibuk Girgin, Emre Girgin

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Obstacle avoidance is a critical aspect of autonomous mobile robot navigation, particularly in dynamic and static environments. However, traditional avoidance strategies often increase travel time or render traversal impossible, which is problematic in scenarios requiring repeated navigation, such as planetary sample return missions, post-disaster search and rescue, or hazardous environments like nuclear power plants. A more efficient alternative is to manipulate and remove easily displaceable obstacles. Manual intervention, such as astronaut-led operations, is time-consuming, diverts focus from primary tasks, and can be hazardous. Autonomous robotic manipulation offers a solution but introduces challenges in determining whether an obstacle is relocatable based …


Meta-Learned Keypoint Recovery For Vio In Space Robotics, Emre Girgin May 2026

Meta-Learned Keypoint Recovery For Vio In Space Robotics, Emre Girgin

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This project proposes a robust framework for enhancing visual-inertial odometry (VIO) in autonomous space surface robots operating in challenging conditions, such as the Moon's dimly lit terrain or Martian dust storms. In such environments, traditional vision-based systems encounter difficulties due to the presence of poor visual features. The proposed system integrates few-shot meta-learning with keypoint detection, enabling real-time adaptation to sparse or obscured visual inputs. This approach leverages minimal training data to identify geometrically consistent landmarks and restore missing keypoints when sensor performance is compromised. The approach is integrated within a tightly coupled inertial-vision framework, which combines probabilistic IMU pre-integration …


Requirements Elicitation For Machine Learning Applications: A Research Preview, Timothy Elvira May 2026

Requirements Elicitation For Machine Learning Applications: A Research Preview, Timothy Elvira

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The development of software systems is preceded by an important first phase, requirements elicitation, wherein developers establish the intended functionality of a system to be developed in a series of interviews with a customer. These requirements can often be raw, requiring refinement in an iterative process. Traditional software requirements are of the form ‘The system shall…’, where each requirement is written to be clear, concise, consistent, complete, testable, and traceable through development. Because ML is stochastic, or uncertain, in the face of unseen data, ML behavior cannot be precisely defined. As such, it is posited that software requirements specific to …


Quadcopter Uav Control Systems Using A Robust Nonlinear Framework, E.O. Ijoga May 2026

Quadcopter Uav Control Systems Using A Robust Nonlinear Framework, E.O. Ijoga

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This work presents a robust nonlinear control framework for a Tilt - Rotor Quadcopter (TRQ) system, addressing challenges associated with model uncertainties and external disturbances. The proposed nonlinear control strategy is shown to achieve reliable trajectory tracking performance in the presence of external disturbances. The control method is based on the robust integral of the sign of the error (RISE) control method, which is modified to address the control challenges inherent in TRQ dynamic model. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first result that applies a RISE-based nonlinear control method to a TRQ system. A challenge …


Hypersonic Propulsion System Design, Gus Gatti, Nico Guido May 2026

Hypersonic Propulsion System Design, Gus Gatti, Nico Guido

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

A propulsion system featuring two mixed-flow low-bypass turbofan engines (LBTF) and one ramjet engine was designed to satisfy a specified mission, which included a supersonic cruise at Mach 2.5 and a hypersonic dash at Mach 5 under ramjet power. A preliminary constraint and mission analysis was performed to determine each of the engine's performance characteristics and define the thermal cycle. Subsonic and supersonic inlets were designed, and the diffuser flow health was validated using Sovran and Klomp plots for both engines. Nozzles were designed for both engines, and viscous, angularity, and pressure losses were considered. Compressor and turbine stages were …


China Airlines Flight 006, A Case Study Using The Hfacs Framework, Gavin Weinheimer, Brain Zhou May 2026

China Airlines Flight 006, A Case Study Using The Hfacs Framework, Gavin Weinheimer, Brain Zhou

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) is an accident analysis framework that helps accident investigators to systematically process information. The HFACS framework focuses on human errors both on the frontline IE pilots, flight attendants and maintenance personnel; and higher up in the organizational chain with management all the way up to the chief pilot and CEO. Using this framework the China Airlines flight 006 incident will be analyzed to better understand not just what happened but why the flight crew was unprepared for the engine failure and how to avoid possible future incidents of this nature. Findings of …


Internal Fluid Dynamics Of Oil And Gas Reservoirs, Christopher Miller May 2026

Internal Fluid Dynamics Of Oil And Gas Reservoirs, Christopher Miller

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This project aims to explore the mathematical principles governing the fluid dynamics of underground oil and gas reservoirs. Within the field of petroleum engineering there are many different variables and factors that change the way fluid within petroleum reservoirs behaves. Mathematical models can be developed using what we know about fluid dynamics and other areas of study to predict how fluids within reservoirs behave, making research like this very important to industry applications.


The Risks Of Working As A Delivery Driver: A Case Study, Mackenzie Seaman May 2026

The Risks Of Working As A Delivery Driver: A Case Study, Mackenzie Seaman

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Sometimes, the workplace has demanding tasks that may not fit the person working on them. This case study follows S., a retired veteran, during his work as a delivery driver for Keurig Dr. Pepper, where he faces significant physical demands. He was meant to deliver 21,000 pounds of soda to many different stores per day, often by himself. Additionally, his job required long hours, repetitive movements, and high exertion despite his lean build. Using anthropometric analysis, a Body Discomfort Survey, and workload assessments, it was found that most of the tasks S. was required to perform were too anthropometrically challenging …


Variable Geometry Turbochargers (Vgt) In High Performance Vehicle Engines, Kate T. Nealon May 2026

Variable Geometry Turbochargers (Vgt) In High Performance Vehicle Engines, Kate T. Nealon

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This research explores the functionality and advantages of Variable Geometry Turbochargers (VGT) in optimizing turbine efficiency across different engine RPMs, with a focus on their applications in Formula 1, endurance racing, and performance road cars. VGTs utilize adjustable vanes within the turbine housing, allowing real-time adaptation to varying exhaust gas flow conditions. By adjusting the vane angle, VGTs minimize turbo lag at low RPMs by increasing exhaust gas velocity and maximize turbine efficiency at higher RPMs by widening the vane angle for greater exhaust flow. This dynamic adjustment provides significant improvements in engine responsiveness, power delivery, and fuel efficiency. The …


Enhanced Water Safety Device, Lucia Westgate May 2026

Enhanced Water Safety Device, Lucia Westgate

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Watercraft-related accidents, particularly kayaking incidents, contribute significantly to injuries and fatalities worldwide. Capsizing poses a critical risk, often leaving individuals unable to call for help due to isolation or disorientation. This research presents the development of an Enhanced Water Safety Device (EWSD), a compact, autonomous distress detection and alert system designed to improve kayaker safety. Utilizing an embedded accelerometer, the device detects sudden, unplanned motion indicative of a capsize event and triggers an immediate emergency response. The system activates an audible and visual alarm, releases the mounting system, and transmits real-time GPS location data to nearby volunteers via radio transmission. …


Wind Turbines And There Effects On The Energy Industry, Jonathan Gildersleeve May 2026

Wind Turbines And There Effects On The Energy Industry, Jonathan Gildersleeve

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Wind energy is a key component of the renewable energy transition, with different turbine designs offering unique advantages and challenges. This report examines the strengths and weaknesses of horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWTs) and vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs) in terms of efficiency, cost, durability, and suitability for various environments. HAWTs are widely used due to their high efficiency and scalability, but they require strong, consistent winds and complex maintenance. VAWTs, on the other hand, operate efficiently in turbulent wind conditions and require less maintenance but typically produce lower power outputs. The type of wind turbine used in a given project has …


The Rankine Cycle In Energy Production, Kalani Hayden May 2026

The Rankine Cycle In Energy Production, Kalani Hayden

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The Rankine cycle serves as the fundamental thermodynamic cycle for steam power plants, which generate approximately 85% of the world's electricity. This closed-loop process converts thermal energy into mechanical work through four key stages: compression, heat addition, expansion, and heat rejection. Water is pressurized by a pump, heated to create superheated steam in a boiler, expanded through a turbine to generate electricity, and finally condensed back to liquid state to restart the cycle. Modern implementations have evolved to include modifications such as reheat cycles, regenerative cycles, and supercritical operations, all designed to improve thermal efficiency beyond the base cycle's typical …


Preliminary Design Of Hybrid-Electric Stol Aircraft With Multi-Mission Capabilities, Nnamdi Adi, Luke Behringer, Gabriel De Oliveria, Dylan Nagowski, Paul Koffi May 2026

Preliminary Design Of Hybrid-Electric Stol Aircraft With Multi-Mission Capabilities, Nnamdi Adi, Luke Behringer, Gabriel De Oliveria, Dylan Nagowski, Paul Koffi

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This project focuses on the preliminary design of a hybrid-electric aircraft with short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities tailored for the rapidly expanding hybrid-electric market. This aircraft distinguishes itself from its competition through multi-mission capabilities, distributed electric propulsion (DEP) for quiet takeoff and landing, and advanced safety systems. The geometric design was developed using computer-aided design (CAD). The development of weight, lift, drag, and thrust models dictated the aircraft's performance characteristics while stability and control models were derived from the geometric design. Iterative refinement of the performance, stability, and geometric design were conducted to meet design requirements set by federal, …


Comparative Analysis And Integration Of Sustainable Fire-Resistant Building Materials For Homes, Aubrey Fixen, Zachary Santiso, Toriahna Thomas May 2026

Comparative Analysis And Integration Of Sustainable Fire-Resistant Building Materials For Homes, Aubrey Fixen, Zachary Santiso, Toriahna Thomas

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The intensity of wildfires in California has increased and led to deterioration of the environment, loss of life and property, and economic concerns due to reconstruction costs and disaster relief efforts. Hence, further study into sustainable fire-resistant building materials for homes is becoming necessary. This research aims to develop a strategy for incorporating sustainable fire resistant materials into building practices in wildfire-prone areas in Los Angeles County, California, as this community has been greatly impacted by the wildfire. To explore this issue, the “Courthouse" sustainability model is used as a framework to analyze and understand the problem, providing insight into …


Addressing Light Pollution On The Embry-Riddle Campus, Ahnika Gee, Maya Curtis, Marcus Flesher, Axon Deadrick, Conner Callahan, Desiree Robinson, Jarrett Usui, Josef Kaelin, Douglas Griswold, Raiden Keefer, Harrison A. Zimmermann, Cole Gresham May 2026

Addressing Light Pollution On The Embry-Riddle Campus, Ahnika Gee, Maya Curtis, Marcus Flesher, Axon Deadrick, Conner Callahan, Desiree Robinson, Jarrett Usui, Josef Kaelin, Douglas Griswold, Raiden Keefer, Harrison A. Zimmermann, Cole Gresham

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is home to the largest university telescope in Florida. The 1-meter telescope on top of the College of Arts and Sciences (COAS) has the ability to observe more faint and distant objects than any other university in the state. However, these abilities are greatly hindered by light pollution created by the lighting conditions on campus. For several semesters our team has worked to identify the greatest contributors to this light pollution to develop solutions for reduction so that the 1-meter telescope and the data it collects may be best utilized. We use a Unihedron sky quality meter …


Feasibility Of Mylar As A Replacement For A Primary Mirror In A Reflecting Telescope, Ahnika Gee, Robert Thibodeau, Mario Gutierrez, Emma Show, Quinisha Huggins, Desiree Robinson May 2026

Feasibility Of Mylar As A Replacement For A Primary Mirror In A Reflecting Telescope, Ahnika Gee, Robert Thibodeau, Mario Gutierrez, Emma Show, Quinisha Huggins, Desiree Robinson

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

High-quality parabolic mirrors, essential for reflecting telescopes, are traditionally bulky, expensive, and extremely fragile. This experiment investigates the feasibility of using unconventional mirrors, specifically specular Class B Mylar, as a lightweight and cost-effective alternative. This approach could lead to new methods for telescope design by significantly reducing weight and manufacturing costs while maintaining optical performance. The Mylar sheet is shaped to the necessary curvature by applying a negative pressure, allowing for an adjustable focal length, which is unachievable with conventional glass-aluminum mirrors. This adaptability could enable real-time adjustments directly from the primary mirror, potentially improving telescope versatility. To evaluate the …


Effects Of Asymmetry On Flow Separation In Overexpanded Nozzles, Grayson Hayes May 2026

Effects Of Asymmetry On Flow Separation In Overexpanded Nozzles, Grayson Hayes

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This project aims to gauge the effects which asymmetry plays on the aerodynamics of an overexpanded nozzle following separation. Individual nozzles are designed for their ideal conditions, under which a uniform supersonic flow will be produced. One of the main conditions for a nozzle is its design Nozzle Pressure Ratio (NPR). As nozzles stray from their ideal NPR, either above or below, the nozzle flow will become either under- or overexpanded, respectively. Each of these conditions behaves differently. An overexpanded nozzle flow will compress itself to reach equilibrium, resulting in a series of shocks and expansions. An underexpanded nozzle will …


Application Of 3d Printing For Rapid Prototyping In Composite Material Manufacturing, Giovanni Taurozzi, Grace Barnes, David Smith, John Meyer, Allayne Mckenzie, Taylor Varr May 2026

Application Of 3d Printing For Rapid Prototyping In Composite Material Manufacturing, Giovanni Taurozzi, Grace Barnes, David Smith, John Meyer, Allayne Mckenzie, Taylor Varr

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Rapid prototyping is used by various industries to create a part that is used as a basis from which further models and the final product will be derived. 3D printing has become a popular method to create prototypes due to the simplicity of additive manufacturing and can significantly shorten development time and costs. Past research has analyzed the use of rapid prototyping for metal parts; however, few have investigated the use for composite materials. The purpose of this research is to explore the effectiveness of using 3D printing for manufacturing complex geometries with composite materials. This research utilized a FDM …


Bio-Inspired Cybersecurity: Adapting Immune System Strategies For Threat Detection In Autonomous Aerospace Navigation, Leia Spaniak May 2026

Bio-Inspired Cybersecurity: Adapting Immune System Strategies For Threat Detection In Autonomous Aerospace Navigation, Leia Spaniak

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this research is to investigate how a biological immune-based response can be employed to create a self-evolving cybersecurity framework for aerospace navigation systems. Specifically, as part of Project SENTINEL, this research identifies key members of dendritic cells (DCs) to understand their mechanisms for detecting diverse varieties of foreign invaders, from malignant bacteria to viral infections. The multi-layered approach of Pathogen Recognition Receptors (PRRs) in threat detection contributes to the innate immune system by employing a diverse array of generalized and specialized receptors, such as varieties of Toll-Like Receptors (TLRs) and Nod-Like Receptors (NLRs), which can trigger inflammatory …


Cooperative Aerial And Ground Vehicles Experimental Testbed, Javier Robinson, Harrison A. Zimmermann May 2026

Cooperative Aerial And Ground Vehicles Experimental Testbed, Javier Robinson, Harrison A. Zimmermann

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Heterogeneous multi-agent systems is an emerging area of research in autonomous vehicles due to the unique potential of vehicles with distinct roles to improve efficiency and adaptability. While significant theoretical work exists, most experimental research focuses on cooperation among identical vehicles. The Cooperative Aerial and Ground Vehicle Experimental Testbed (CAGE) seeks to address this gap by developing a platform for testing cooperation between two distinct vehicle models: Bitcraze’s Crazyflie 2.1 quadcopters and K-Team’s Khepera IV ground robots. CAGE includes an enclosed physical environment for safe experimentation with the vehicles, and will grow to include a software library for managing coordination …


Advanced Manufacturing And Materials Of A Bio-Mimetic Hoof For Space Robotics Applications, Benjamin Heckel May 2026

Advanced Manufacturing And Materials Of A Bio-Mimetic Hoof For Space Robotics Applications, Benjamin Heckel

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Exploring planetary surfaces presents a major challenge for robotic systems, as traditional wheels and legs often struggle with uneven, unpredictable, and steep terrain. Nature offers a potential solution: mountain goats navigate rough landscapes with ease due to the unique structure and materials of their hooves. This project seeks to develop a robotic hoof that mimics these natural advantages, improving traction, durability, and adaptability for extraterrestrial exploration. To achieve this, the project will focus on selecting materials that closely replicate the composition of an organic hoof. The early prototypes will be printed in 3-D using cost-effective materials, while the final design …


Robotic Pushing Solutions Based On Surface Type And Object Characteristics, Deanna Paladino May 2026

Robotic Pushing Solutions Based On Surface Type And Object Characteristics, Deanna Paladino

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The pushability of a robot is useful for manipulating and maneuvering objects that are too large or heavy to grasp. This research presents an analytical and conceptual based study comparing different robotic pushing mechanisms for varying environments and object types. We focus on non-prehensile pushing on an inclined surface, assuming that the robot's base remains stable (no slipping) and the object experiences purely translational motion (no tipping). This research examines the robots ability to effectively move an object through non-prehensile pushing. Many factors are considered when determining which robotic pushing solution works best for a given environment, such as efficiency, …


Advancing Ferroelectric Self-Healing Composites For Enhanced Energy Storage Efficiency, Cameron Winkel, Cole Walker May 2026

Advancing Ferroelectric Self-Healing Composites For Enhanced Energy Storage Efficiency, Cameron Winkel, Cole Walker

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

As the demand for high-performance materials in energy storage and electronic applications continues to grow, the need for durable, self-healing systems with enhanced energy storage capabilities becomes increasingly important. This project investigates the development of a self healing polymer matrix, reinforced with ferroelectric fillers such as BNT, to create a composite material that combines efficient energy storage with self-repairing functionality. The polymer matrix enables recovery from mechanical damage, while the fillers enhance its ferroelectric properties. By optimizing the interaction between these components, this research aims to develop a material that offers high energy density, long-term reliability, and reduced maintenance needs. …