Engineering Commons^™

Optimization Of Orbital Trajectories Using Neuroevolution Of Augmenting Topologies, Nathan Wetherell

University Scholar Projects

This project aims to determine the feasibility of using NeuroEvolution of Augmenting Topologies (NEAT), an advanced neural network evolution scheme, to optimize orbital transfer trajectories. More specifically, this project compares a genetically evolved neural network to a standard Hohmann transfer between Earth and Mars. To test these two methods, an N-body simulation environment was created to accurately determine the result of gravitational interactions on a theoretical spacecraft when combined with planned engine burns. Once created, this simulation environment was used to train the neural networks created using the NEAT Python module. A genetic algorithm was used to modify the topology …

Evaluating Driving Performance Of A Novel Behavior Planning Model On Connected Autonomous Vehicles, Keyur Shah

Honors Scholar Theses

Many current algorithms and approaches in autonomous driving attempt to solve the "trajectory generation" or "trajectory following” problems: given a target behavior (e.g. stay in the current lane at the speed limit or change lane), what trajectory should the vehicle follow, and what inputs should the driving agent apply to the throttle and brake to achieve this trajectory? In this work, we instead focus on the “behavior planning” problem—specifically, should an autonomous vehicle change lane or keep lane given the current state of the system?

In addition, current theory mainly focuses on single-vehicle systems, where vehicles do not communicate with …

Outer-Sphere Adsorption Of Para-Substituted Benzoates On Gibbsite: A Molecular Dynamics Investigation, Lukas Mcnaboe

Honors Scholar Theses

In soils, the spread of toxic organic anions through groundwater can be partially mitigated by the formation of inner- and outer-sphere complexes with aluminum (hydr)oxides. In current practice, a constant soil-water partition coefficient is used to describe the relative quantity of sorbed compound to that in solution. However this method is empirical and site-specific. In order to establish a thermodynamically relevant sorption model, sorption reactions between many mineral phases and organic compounds must be characterized. While there exists a wealth of research quantifying the sorption potential of ferric oxide mineral phases, there remains a gap in knowledge of these parameters …