Digital Commons Network^™

Preliminary Design: 9-Passenger Stol Aircraft, Rodrigo Dieguez Novo, Jason Tundidor, Alexander Hosein, Riley Turner, Jet Stevenson, David Corley

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

This poster analyzes the configuration selection process for the Cedar Island Aviation Company CIAC-1, a modern 9-passenger, twin-engine turboprop STOL aircraft developed to replace legacy commuter aircraft such as the Cessna 402C and Tecnam P2012 in Cape Air’s fleet. The main objective of this study us to identify a configuration that maximizes performance, safety, maintainability, while reducing acquisition and operating cost. Several configurations were evaluated using a decision matrix that considered short field performance, certification, aerodynamic efficiency, safety, etc. After trade studies and further analysis, a high wing, multi-engine with conventional tail layout and retractable gear was selected for its …

Nasa Microgravity Operations: S.E.A.M (Softgood Element Attachment Mechanism), Aidan Magann, Sena Nitta, Kamanakai Natividad, Alex Ptak, Nicholas Coy, Tyler Griscom

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Softgoods play an essential role in spaceflight, providing thermal protection for sensitive equipment and serving as a defense against debris encountered in space. During Extravehicular Activities (EVA), astronauts may be required to fasten softgoods and maintain the connections between existing components and newly installed ones. The 2025 NASA Micro-G NExT Challenge sought to develop a device to meet this need. SEAM (Softgoods Element Attachment Mechanism) provided NASA with an effective solution to this engineering challenge. Team SEAM developed a manually powered, astronaut-friendly fastening tool designed to simplify the installation of softgoods in a microgravity environment. After a nationwide call for …

Implementing And Evaluating Strategies For Student Success In An Nsf-Funded S-Stem Project, Sydney Cash

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

This poster is based on an NSF-funded S-STEM project that offers financial assistance to 25 high-achieving domestic students with demonstrated financial need at our institution. The project supports students to complete a four–year undergraduate program and a one year accelerated master's program in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) department. These students are supported through the project with many resources, most importantly, an assigned faculty mentor whom they meet regularly, as well as professional development workshops, and advising. We conduct an IRB approved study and collect both qualitative and quantitative data utilizing survey instruments to measure students' academic success. …

Interplanetary Trajectory Optimization With Artificial Intelligence, Shiloh Cuffe

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Trajectory optimization is an essential component of mission planning and space mission control. Mission planning involves developing a trajectory that allows a spacecraft to complete objectives, like performing orbital maneuvers, rendezvous missions, or planetary impacts, while also minimizing resource utilization and avoiding physical and functional violation of constraints. In interplanetary mission planning, a vehicle must travel to another planet using the same concepts. This task requires a reliable trajectory planning algorithm that could handle uncertainties in the environment. Traditional methods utilizing models and numerical methods have been used to solve these problems before. While these approaches are efficient in that …

Visualizing Swarm Behavior And Opinion Dynamics In Multi-Agent Systems Using Rgb Color Feedback, Ava Neubert

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Understanding how individual agents within a swarm form, share, and adapt their opinions is essential for developing robust and cooperative multi-agent systems (MAS). This research focuses on visualizing collective swarm behavior through a dynamic RGB color-coding system that represents each agent’s opinion state in real time. The study aims to provide an intuitive and interpretable method for observing how consensus forms and evolves across a distributed network. A simulation was developed in AnyLogic to model swarm interactions under conditions of limited communication and environmental uncertainty. Each agent’s color continuously changes based on its internal state and the influence of neighboring …

Seed-Induced Uniqueness In Transformers: Subspace-Aligned Latent Keys For Authentication, Ayse Okatan

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

We introduce Model-Bound Latent Exchange (MoBLE), a decoder-binding property in Transformer autoencoders that we formalize as Zero-Shot Decoder Non-Transferability (ZSDN). In a controlled character-level identity task with iso-architectural models trained on identical data but different random seeds, we observe that self-decoding achieves 86-92% exact sequence match and ≈98-99% token accuracy, while zero-shot cross-decoding collapses to chance (≈ 1/vocabulary size) with 0% exact matches. This sharp separation persists despite identical architectures and training recipes, and is corroborated by weight-space distances and attention-divergence diagnostics. We argue that ZSDN is best interpreted as model binding-an authentication and accesscontrol mechanism for latent representations-on identity …

Reduction Of Lunar Dust Adhesion Via Biomimetic Surfaces, Alyssa Vega

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Lunar regolith poses significant risks to exploration machinery and equipment due to its highly abrasive, fine, angular, and electrostatic nature, as observed during the Apollo missions. A promising approach to mitigate these effects is the use of bio-inspired, or biomimetic, surfaces. These surfaces replicate natural micro and nanoscale textures to achieve functional properties such as reduced adhesion and enhanced durability. This study aims to quantify the correlation between surface morphology, surface energy, and adhesion in engineered biomimetic samples. Additively manufactured samples were investigated using optical profilometry to quantify surface roughness and topography, enabling correlation of morphology with adhesion and wettability …

Intelligent Detection And Response System For Attacks On Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Based On Hybrid Ai Models, Mlp And Autoencoder, Kristiyan Stefanov

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

This paper presents an intelligent hybrid system for detecting and responding to cyberattacks targeting Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Existing UAV defense systems rely heavily on centralized processing and cannot effectively detect new or unknown attacks in real time. To address this gap, the proposed architecture integrates two artificial intelligence models: a supervised Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) for classifying known threats and an unsupervised Autoencoder (AE) for detecting behavioral anomalies. Both models operate onboard using edge AI hardware, allowing autonomous processing without ground connectivity. The system analyzes telemetry, GPS, IMU, and network control data to detect attacks such as GPS spoofing, RF …

Mob-Air: Mob Detection From A Uav, Ethan Thomas, Liam Abraham, Nikolaos Triantafilloy

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Man-overboard (MOB) events continue to pose a significant challenge to maritime safety, where rapid and reliable detection of a person in the water is critical to survival. Traditional search and rescue (SAR) operations rely on manual surveillance from ships or crewed aircraft. These operations can be slow to initiate, manpower-intensive, and limited by poor visibility, sea state, and weather. Autonomous systems, particularly uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), have the potential to drastically improve the effectiveness of SAR operations. Our team will investigate the use of a UAS to improve the support of SAR operations with a focus on developing an advanced …

In Fact: The Age Of The Expert, Lee Gutkind

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

Grasshopper Love, Matthew Gavin Frank

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

Beefless, Deborah Thompson

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

No abstract provided.

Tracker, Eva Miller

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

The Mechanical Engineering Department has faced ongoing challenges with tools being misplaced or removed from the Robotics Research Lab (LB-172). To address this, a retrofit automated inventory tracking system is being developed for the lab toolboxes. The system utilizes limit switches and leaf spring contacts to monitor tool presence, while Near Field Communication (NFC) cards track tool usage by different user groups. The system promotes accountability and allows faculty to procure missing or more commonly used tools. By improving organization and streamlining inventory management, the system aims to offer a cost-effective solution tailored to the lab’s needs. Its effectiveness will …

A Proposed Research Into Parameter Variation For Stability, Abigail Butcher, Rogelio Gracia Otalvaro

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

The Oregonator model can be used to analyze nonlinear changes in systems and can predict the stability of the system. It is an autocatalytic reaction model and a Multiple Input Multiple Output case study that provides a reduced mathematical description of the Belousov–Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction, a non-equilibrium oscillating chemical reaction. It captures the nonlinear chemical oscillations that arise from far-from-equilibrium kinetics. Bifurcation Analysis (BA) offers a mathematical approach to understanding how systems behave under changing conditions by examining nonlinear behaviors and transitional states, known as bifurcations. This poster demonstrates a novel framework that utilizes BA to assess stability, demonstrated through …

Microscopy Investigations Assessing The Dispersion Within Particle Composites Manufactured In An Acoustic Levitator, Matthew Smith

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Acoustic levitation offers a containerless environment for studying the ultraviolet (UV) curing of particle composites to support goals for in-space manufacturing. In this study, samples composed of a photopolymer resin mixed with alumina or regolith powders were prepared as slurries. Acoustic levitation was used to suspend the droplets during UV exposure, enabling curing without contact with a container or mold. Optical microscopy studies reveal the effect of the contactless manufacturing process on particle dispersion. The study demonstrates that acoustic levitation shows potential as a contactless environment for investigating the manufacturing of particle composites relevant to in-space and microgravity manufacturing environments.

Radaround: A Field-Expedient Direction Finder For Contested Iot Sensing & Em Situational Awareness, Owen Maute

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

This paper presents RadAround, a passive 2-D direction-finding system designed for adversarial IoT sensing in contested environments. Using mechanically steered narrow beamantennas and field-deployable SCADA software, it generates high-resolution electromagnetic (EM) heatmaps using low-cost COTSor3D-printed components. The microcontroller-deployable SCADA coordinates antenna positioning and SDR sampling in real time for resilient, on-site operation. Its modular design enables rapid adaptation for applications such as EMC testing in disaster-response deployments, battlefield spectrum monitoring, electronic intrusion detection, and tactical EM situational awareness (EMSA). Experiments show RadAround detecting computing machinery through walls, assessing utilization, and pinpointing EM interference (EMI) leakage sources from Faraday enclosures.

Building The Erau Solar Telescope: Advancing Heliophysics Research And Education Through Optical Innovation, Erin Abraham, Sarah Hoover, Skylar G. Butler, Margret Stanley, Gwynlyn Hannah

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

The new Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) Solar Telescope represents a campus-wide collaboration to design and install a high-resolution solar observatory. The ERAU solar telescope, aiming for first light by Summer 2026, will integrate research-grade instrumentation, student training opportunities, and expand public engagement with the ERAU observatory. The telescope is housed within a 2.3-meter refurbished dome structure whose electrical and structural systems are being upgraded to support automated dome rotation and environmental stabilization. The optical design features a multi-element lens and mirror assembly optimized for a 1° field of view. The optical assembly includes a downport centered in the dome that …

Development Of An Artificial Immune System Based Intruder Detection Algorithm For Comparison With A Novel Intruder Detection Strategy., Jaden Caradine

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

"This project aims to develop an Artificial Immune System inspired intruder detection system based on current state-of-the-art strategies. Traditional intruder detection systems are not equipped to handle the evolving landscape of cyber security. Signature based detection systems require a database of known signatures and traditional anomaly detection systems are plagued with false positives. By contrast, Artificial Immune Systems can respond to threats never encountered. They are adaptive, proactive, and resilient to interference. This makes them ideal for determining when a system is behaving abnormally. Researchers are developing a novel intruder detection system, but they need a baseline to compare it …

Polar Reconnaissance & Imagining Survey (Polaris), Max Brooks, Zion Carpenter, Isabel La Coss

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

In preparation for the permanent human presence on the lunar south pole as part of the ARTEMIS Accords, planned human excursions will conduct science on regions of interest to locate resources for sustained habitation. The objective of the Polar Reconnaissance & Imaging Survey simulation is to take a predetermined region sized image of a planned astronaut excursion site to identify terrain features and threats. This shall be a satellite mission control (MCC) simulation with four Earth-based satellite console operators, and one moon-based EVA encompassing.

Injuries And Accidents On Airport Ramps, Kavya Banarjee

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Media coverage of aircraft incidents/accidents often triggers public scrutiny and heightened anxiety. But behind that are injuries and fatalities caused on the airport ramps; incidents like these are rarely covered by the media but pose just as much of a safety concern as an aircraft incident. This paper aims to inform aviation industry professionals and airline executives about the causes of incidents and accidents on the airport ramp; it also covers the importance of finding and implementing solutions for safety. The methodology for this paper focuses on research and analysis of publicly available information. Relevant data and perspectives were gathered …

A Low-Complexity Generator Matrix-Influenced Algorithm To Globally Recover Algebraic Codes Over Finite Fields, Oshani Jayawardane

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Code Recovery using algebraic-geometric approaches becomes computationally expensive with the cardinality of the field and complex code structures. In response, we propose a low-complexity algorithm that utilizes structures in algebraic-geometric codes over finite fields. The low-complexity algorithm to locally recover algebraic codes over finite fields (i.e., 𝑙𝑟𝑐 algorithm) is defined based on a sparse matrix factorization that computes the inverse of an (r+1) x r generator matrix, whose elements are defined by the points on the surface in P³ over the finite field 𝔽q with locality r. We have shown that the (𝑙𝑟𝑐 algorithm) reduces the complexity from O(n³) to …

Project G.L.E.N. (Enhancing Tornado Research: A Foundation For Transistioning The Enhanced Fujita Scale), Alexis Peshehonoff, Makaylei Huggins, Bernard Muich, Nicholas Fazzolari, Liam John, Harris Meyer, Jakob Graudons, Nicholas Krasznavolgyi, Stephen Syvertson, Aditya Bhattacharya, Kai Hong, Augustine Balish, Zachary Ort, Erin Rhoden

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

"Project G.L.E.N., formally known as “Enhancing Tornado Research: A Case for Transitioning the Enhanced Fujita Scale,” is an ongoing initiative aimed at advancing tornado research through the development and deployment of an unmanned tornado probe. Through the Gale Level Environmental Navigator (G.L.E.N.) probe, a remote-controlled unit equipped with specialized meteorological sensors and innovative design features, we aim to collect real-time, onsite data from within tornadoes. This approach allows for direct measurement of internal atmospheric conditions such as wind speeds, pressure fluctuations, temperature, humidity, and other storm dynamics while removing human risk from tornado interception, significantly enhancing the safety of storm …

Emulating Camera Parameters For A Digital Twin Lunar Terrain Simulation, Samuil Nikolov

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Digital twin simulations play an integral role in the design, validation and implementation of a plethora of systems in any industry - including aerospace. EagleCam 2 presents a great technical challenge, where we need to evaluate how our systems will do data acquisition best - image capturing in particular. In order to assist with the design and validation of our systems, a digital twin that emulates the Lunar environment as we expect it to be during the lifecycle of the mission is a crucial component. Such digital twin system allows us to simulate all the parameters that are considered variable …

Testing Ant Inspired Faulted Agent Resilience Strategies Using The Georgia Tech Robotarium, James E. Hand

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

The translation between research and the real world can often be a daunting task, one typically left to dwell in the ‘future work’ section of a paper. This work presents the beginning of a transition from a custom-built AnyLogic multi-agent system simulation model to a physical robot platform hosted by the Georgia Institute of Technology. The Georgia Tech Robotarium is a globally accessible research support platform that enables the testing of multi-agent system control schemes. In addition, the Robotarium has a software simulator mimicking the hardware of the system in MatLab. Using this, the researcher tested insect inspired strategies for …

Democratizing Grid Simulation With Open Source Power System Tools, Rogelio Gracia Otalvaro

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Modern infrastructure systems are becoming increasingly complex due to their nonlinear behaviors and dense interconnections. Power systems, in particular, have evolved into highly coupled cyber-physical networks integrating renewable energy sources, distributed generation, and advanced automation. While these technologies promise cleaner and more efficient operation, they also introduce fragility and new modes of failure. Events such as the large-scale blackout in Spain (April 2025) and the Heathrow power disruption (2025) illustrate how local perturbations can cascade into systemic breakdowns. Traditionally, system behavior was governed by centralized operators who had exclusive access to the analytical tools and data required to understand grid …

Crew Resource Management Analyzed In Guyana Military Accident, Kaylee Lall

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

"In December 2023, a Guyana Defence Force Bell 412EP helicopter crashed in mountainous jungle terrain near the Venezuela border, killing five of the seven personnel on board. Preliminary investigation findings indicate the probable cause of the accident was pilot error, rather than mechanical failure. Due to deteriorating weather conditions, the crew deviated from the standard route and elected to fly under visual flight rules (VFR) along the Mazaruni River. The combination of limited visibility, rising mountainous terrain, and potential spatial disorientation likely contributed to this controlled flight into terrain.

This case study applies the SHELL model to analyze the interactions …

Contrasting Coastal Dune Environments In Chile, Aurora Christianson

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Emerging coastalization and urbanization threats to the prehistoric Concón Dunes and Humedal de Mantagua coastal area of Chile is being investigated by researchers via uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS). Four UAS were utilized: Anzu Raptor T, DJI Mavic 3E, DJI Mavic 3M, and DJI Air 3 to collect various images of the coastal dunes. Multispectral and RGB cameras gather images by photogrammetry to create orthomosaics and monitor vegetation indexes in Pix4Dmapper. Thermal cameras provided images in rainbow, white hot infrared, and black hot infrared schemes to monitor wildlife and vegetation. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was calculated to visualize overall …

Leveraging Information Theory & Graph Theory To Monitor Communication Networks In Team Settings, Christine Sessions

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Effective communication is a critical component of successful collaboration in group projects and team settings. However, tracking and analyzing these communications can be challenging, especially in complex, multi-member teams. This paper explores an information-theoretic approach that leverages encoding techniques and graph theory to model and monitor communication networks within a university group project. Through utilizing Shannon Entropy and applying Ecological Network Analysis techniques, this research aims to understand how an Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University student project team evolves over the first semester of the project. This research aims to answer the question “Does Project COMET’s team structure evolve the same way …

Scoping Review On Bid In Cubesats, Spoorti Nanjamma

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Requirements gathering is a fundamental step in the systems engineering lifecycle, shaping the success of space missions. This research focuses on refining the requirements development process through a structured methodology, using Project COMET—a University Nanosatellite Program (UNP) mission—as a case study. While Project COMET encompasses various design and operational challenges, this study is centered specifically on improving requirement identification, analysis, and validation for small satellite development. The research employs a three-stage workshop-based approach. The first stage involves functional decomposition, breaking down mission objectives into system-level needs and identifying key constraints. The second stage explores structured problem-framing techniques to enhance requirement …

Dem Modeling Of Powder Capture And Energy Absorption In Ded Additive Manufacturing Of Ss 316l, Anthony Seholm

Student Research Symposium (SRS)

Directed Energy Deposition (DED) Additive Manufacturing of stainless steel is a promising method for the fabrication/repair of metallic structures. Understanding melt pool dynamics in DED is essential for achieving geometric stability and material integrity. However, the process involves complex physical variations (e.g., powder flow, laser energy absorption, and melt pool fluid behavior), which remain difficult to quantify through experiments alone. To address these challenges, this study establishes a multi-scale modeling framework integrating Discrete Element Method (DEM) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to elucidate the underlying physical mechanisms governing melt pool dynamics. The work is divided into two phases. The first …