Engineering Commons^™

Uncertainty Theory Based Reliability-Centric Cyber-Physical System Design, Houbing Song, Ya Jiang, Mingzhe Wang, Xun Jiao, Hui Kong, Rui Wang, Yongxin Liu, Jian Wang, Jiaguang Sun

Publications

Cyber-physical systems (CPSs) are built from, and depend upon, the seamless integration of software and hardware components. The most important challenge in CPS design and verification is to design CPS to be reliable in a variety of uncertainties, i.e., unanticipated and rapidly evolving environments and disturbances. The costs, delays and reliability of the designed CPS are highly dependent on software-hardware partitioning in the design. The key challenges in partitioning CPSs is that it is difficult to formalize reliability characterization in the same way as the uncertain cost and time delay.

In this paper, we propose a new CPS design paradigm …

Using Active Learning And The Wright State Model For Engineering Mathematics Education To Cultivate Academic Success Among First-Year Engineering Students, Leroy Long Iii

Publications

A mid-sized private university in the Southeast has created an experimental first-year engineering course based on the Wright State Model for Engineering Mathematics Education. The course aims to increase student retention, motivation, and success in engineering through an application-oriented, hands-on introduction to engineering mathematics. Therefore, active learning techniques were used throughout the course. Students provided preliminary qualitative data via end-of-course evaluations. Preliminary quantitative data included student course grades, cumulative GPAs (CGPAs), and retention rates. Thus far, students taking the experimental firstyear engineering course believe they gain confidence and skills such as problem-solving, time management, study habits, computer programming, as well …

Development Of A Statistical Model To Predict Australian Flight Students’ Valuation Of Aviation Safety, Michael Chiu, Nickolai Isaksen, Steven Leib

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

This study was a quantitative approach to explore whether certain demographic factors, exposure to safety training, flight experience, and engagement could be used to develop a predictive model for how Australian flight students and early career pilots valued safety. Participants were given an online Likert-scale survey to determine their valuation of safety based on SMS safety sub-cultures, safety training, engagement, as well as provided basic demographic metrics including age, flight experience, gender. In addition, a second group of participants representing local Australian culture were given a survey to determine their safety valuation. Linear regression was used to develop the best …

The Effect Of Experiential Education On Pilots' Vfr Into Imc Decision-Making, Geoffrey R. Whitehurst, Lori Brown, William G. Rantz, Dominic Nicolai, Jessica M. Bradley

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

In aviation, safety is always a primary consideration, and this is especially true during a pilot’s flight training to instill that safety mentality. However, this means that pilots are restricted by safety policies from encountering difficult weather situations during their training, which could, potentially, improve their weather decision-making skills for avoiding future hazardous weather encounters. Thirty-six general aviation pilots of varying instrument flight experience (IF) were allocated, using stratified random sampling based on their IF, to one of three groups, a control group and two educational treatment intervention groups. The educational treatment interventions were designed to improve the participant’s ability …

An Investigation Of The Magneto-Active Slosh Control For Cylindrical Propellant Tanks Using Floating Membranes, Manikandan Vairamani, Pedro Llanos, Balaji Sivasubramanian, Somnath Nagendra, Kevin Crosby

Publications

The phenomenon of sloshing is a substantial challenge in propellant management, particularly in reduced gravity where surface tension-driven flows result in large slosh amplitudes and relatively long decay time scales. Propellant Management Devices (PMDs) such as the rigid baffles and elastomeric membranes are often employed to counteract motion of the free surface. In the present study, we investigate an active PMD that utilizes a free-floating membrane that, under an applied static magnetic field, becomes rigid and suppresses slosh. This semi-rigid structural layer can thereby replace bulky baffle structures and reduce the overall weight of the tank. In this paper, the …

Fatigue Identification And Management In Flight Training: An Investigation Of Collegiate Aviation Pilots, Flavio A. C. Mendonca Ph.D.

Publications

Pilot fatigue is a significant hazard affecting flight operations;

• Generally the product of one or more factors: Disrupted or lack of sleep;
• Inadequate food and or fluid intake;
• Mental;
• and Physical fatigue.

Previous studies have focused on military and commercial flight operations;

• Little to nothing has been done to investigate fatigue identification & management by general aviation pilots!

Ultrafine Aluminium: Quench Collection Of Agglomerates, Tejasvi K, Y Pydi Setty, Vemana Venkateswara Rao

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Combustion of aluminized solid propellants exhibits phenomena associated with accumulation, agglomeration, ignition, and combustion of ultra-fine aluminium particles. In this study, agglomeration phenomenon of ultra-fine aluminium in solid propellant combustion is investigated using quench collection experimental technique over the pressure ranges from 2MPa to 8MPa. The ultra-fine aluminium powder synthesized by Radio Frequency Induction Plasma technique having harmonic mean size of 438nm is used for agglomeration study. The quenching distance is varied from 5mm to 71mm from the propellant burning surface to estimate the effect on agglomerate size. The morphology and chemical compositions of the collected products were then studied …

Strategies In Developing An Aviation & Aerospace Skill Ecosystem For The State Of Telangana, India – Case Study Of Task -Telangana Academy For Skill And Knowledge, Kim Chua, Sujiv Nair, M.P Ganesh Dr.

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The aviation & aerospace sector in India has been expanding and growing through partnerships and new research facilities, thereby encouraging more players to invest and optimize the manufacturing process. Improving green and fuel-efficient technologies have contributed to a steady rise in fuelling the demand for aerospace engineers.

The state of Telangana is fast emerging as a new aviation cluster with some of the country’s best-qualified engineers and technicians. The potential of the aerospace industry is immense as it continuously requires skilled technicians and engineers. Considering the precision of skill required, it is imperative that rigorous training be imparted to all …

Satellite Maintenance: An Opportunity To Minimize The Kessler Effect, Bettina M. Mrusek Dr.

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Recently, there has been an emphasis on the growing problem of orbital debris. While the advantages of placing satellites into space are numerous, advances in satellite technology combined with the growth of the industry have resulted with a significant amount of debris in the orbits surrounding our planet. The harshness of the space environment has also contributed to the debris, as evidenced by the number of objects currently in orbit which are not operational. As the amount of debris grows, so too does the likelihood of collisions, ultimately culminating in the Kessler Effect. However, recent advances in propulsion, advanced navigation, …

Big Five Technologies In Aeronautical Engineering Education: Scoping Review, Ruth Martinez-Lopez

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The constant demands that technology creates in aerospace engineering also influence education. The identification of the technologies with practical application in aerospace engineering is of current interest to decision makers in both universities and industry. A social network approach enhances this scoping review of the research literature to identify the main topics using the Big Five technologies in aerospace engineering education. The conceptual structure of the dataset (n=447) was analyzed from different approaches: at macro-level, a comparative of the digital technology identified by cluster analysis with the number of co-words established in 3 and 8 and, a keyword central structure …

Computational Study Of Flow Interactions Over A Close Coupled Canard-Wing On Fighter, Setyawan Bekti Wibowo, Sutrisno Sutrisno, Tri Agung Rohmat

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

There have been many attempts to improve the flying performance of a fighter. By modifying the flow that occurs along the fuselage is expected to improve the performance of the aircraft. One of the indicators of combat aircraft performance is the ability to perform maneuver movement. Adding a canard as forewing on the fighter wing configuration is considered capable of raising the ability in maneuver movement. The use of canard-delta pairs will affect the performance and aerodynamic characteristics of the plane. Wings and canards with delta configuration will make the rolled-up vortex as a lifting force producer on the aircraft. …

Urban Flow And Small Unmanned Aerial System Operations In The Built Environment, Kevin A. Adkins

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has put forth a set of regulations (Part 107) that govern small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) operations. These regulations restrict unmanned aircraft (UA) from flying over people and their operation to within visual line of sight (VLOS). However, as new applications for unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are discovered, their capabilities improve, and regulations evolve, there is an increasing desire to undertake urban operations, such as urban air mobility, package delivery, infrastructure inspection, and surveillance. This built environment poses new weather hazards that include enhanced wind shear and turbulence. The smaller physical dimensions, lower mass and …

Aircraft Interior Design And Satisfaction For Different Activities; A New Approach Toward Understanding Passenger Experience, Golnoosh Torkashvand, Lucas Stephane, Peter Vink

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Among airlines and aircraft manufacturers there is much attention for passenger experience. However, there is not much literature on how the activities of passengers can be supported by the aircraft interior. The current study focuses on the need finding and requirements analysis of flight passengers. Twenty-three activities were defined based on retrospective interviews and brainstorming sessions. Respondents were asked to rate their overall perception related to the importance of each of those 23 activities on a Linkert scale, from “not at all important” to “extremely important”. On a separate question they were also asked to rate their overall satisfaction by …

Crew Resource Management For Large Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations, Peter S. Neff

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Abstract

The author explored the application of crew resource management (CRM) principles to commercial flight operations conducted by large unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Currently, there is no regulatory structure governing the operation of large UAS in commercial flight operations. However, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) forecasted the future by demonstrating the feasibility of large remotely piloted UAS flight in June 2018 by flying Ikhana, a modified MQ-9 Predator B aircraft, over a 415-mile route in Class A and in Class E airspace over southern California (Kooser, 2018). Ikhana is a 10,500-pound aircraft with a wingspan of 66 feet …

Aerodynamic Design And Exploration Of A Blended Wing Body Aircraft At Subsonic Speed, Sam Dakka Dr, Oliver Johnson

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Blended Wing Body (BWB) is a novel aircraft concept which provides many different aerodynamic benefits over conventional aircrafts design. This research investigated the BWB design, L/D characteristics, surface pressure distribution and span-wise lift distribution of a BWB aircraft at low to medium subsonic speeds. A BWB model was designed, manufactured and tested in a subsonic wind tunnel to validate the CFD simulation. The results gained from the investigation proved that BWB has a L/D improvement of 9.4% than conventional aircrafts and 21% increase at medium subsonic speeds (Mach 0.6) compared to lower subsonic speeds of 25 m/sec. It was found …

On Atmospheric Lapse Rates, Nihad E. Daidzic

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

We have derived and summarized and most important atmospheric temperature lapse rates. ALRs essentially govern vertical atmospheric air stability and creation of some cloud types. The sensitivity analysis of various atmospheric lapse rates and their dependence on actual ideal-gas air properties and gravitational attraction was conducted for the first time to the best of our knowledge. SALR, which has DALR as the upper asymptote, showed steepest decrease at around 9 degrees Celsius then flattening out and apparently approaching another asymptotic solution which has not been investigated as it falls outside of the terrestrial temperature range. ISA lapse rates are adopted …

Brand Awareness, Purchase Intention And Price Premium Of International Airlines Operating Between Australia And The United Kingdom, Yi Gao, Nigel Wai Keong Choy

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Brand equity has a profound impact on the pricing and sales of consumer products and services. Inspired by existing literature on customer-based brand equity in various domains, this study examines brand awareness (a dimension of brand equity), purchase intention and price premium of international airlines operating on a specific aviation market, Australia - the United Kingdom. Through surveying a sample of 259 participants in the metropolitan Melbourne area, the study captures a snapshot of brand recognition and brand preference of international airlines among local travelers. Statistically significant association is found between brand awareness and purchase intention, and between brand awareness …

A New Method For The Prediction Of The Downwash Angle Gradient, Mondher Yahyaoui Dr.

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

A new method for the prediction of the downwash angle gradient due to aircraft wings across the span of an aft horizontal tail in the incompressible regime is presented. The approach is quite general and accounts for all practical wing geometric parameters except for wing twist where it is shown that this parameter has very little effect on the downwash angle gradient. The method consists of an empirical law which requires the prior knowledge of three constants. These have been computed either based on experimental data when available or using numerical data obtained using the vortex-lattice method. These constants are …

Transforming The Professional Flight Program Curriculum: Justification, Process, And Future Development, Julius Keller, Flavio A. C. Mendonca, Brian G. Dillman, Michael Suckow

Publications

According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), by 2036 the aviation sector will need 620,000 new pilots, 125,000 new air traffic controllers, and 1.3 million aircraft maintenance personnel (ICAO, 2018);

Pilots seeking a first officer position (a common entry-level position at Part 121 air carriers) are required to possess an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate and 1,500 hours of total flight time;

There are some exceptions!

Support from administration

Quantity vs Quality;

How can flight faculty improve student learning and job readiness?

Uas Flight Operations In Complex Terrain: Assessing The Agricultural Impact From Hurricane Maria In The Central Mountainous Region Of Puerto Rico, Kevin Adkins

Publications

Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico in September 2017 as a Category 4 storm causing major damage to infrastructure, agriculture and natural ecosystems, as well as the loss of many lives. Among the crops hardest hit was coffee, one of the most important crops in Puerto Rico. As a perennial system, coffee takes various production forms along a gradient from high shade/biodiversity coffee farms to low shade coffee monocultures and therefore offers an ideal means for the study of resistance and resilience of an agroecosystem to weather and climate disturbance. During the summer of 2018, 14 impacted farms across the production …

Traditional Vs Gesture Based Uav Control, Sam J. Holley, Brian Sanders, Dennis Vincenzi, Yuzhong Shen

Publications

Abstract. The purpose of this investigation was to assess user preferences for controlling an autonomous system. A comparison using a virtual environment (VE) was made between a joystick based, game controller and a gesture-based system using the leap motion controller. Command functions included basic flight maneuvers and switching between the operator and drone view. Comparisons were made between the control approaches using a representative quadcopter drone. The VE was designed to minimize the cognitive loading and focus on the flight control. It is a physics-based flight simulator built in Unity3D. Participants first spend time familiarizing themselves with the basic controls …

Infographic: Celebrities Endorsing Stem, Melanie Canfield, Leroy Long Iii

Publications

This infographic displays quotes from a diverse group of celebrities promoting careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). These male and female celebrities of different racial and ethnic groups include professional athletes, actors, authors, musicians, and models. This infographic was inspired by Verizon's #weneedmore campaign, which featured LeBron James, Drew Brees, Adriana Lima, and Zendaya. Many youth aspire to become celebrities and are aware of careers related to athletics, acting, and music. However, far less youth aspire to become STEM professionals and are aware of the countless career opportunities in STEM fields. This infographic is not meant to discourage …

Infographic: D1 Stem Student-Athletes, Mckenna James, Leroy Long Iii

Publications

In this infographic, Division I student-athletes studying degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) are displayed. The infographic focuses on women and racial/ethnic minoritized students who pursue STEM degrees and play a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I sport. For a variety of sports, the achievements, awards, and degrees of collegiate athletes are displayed. Whether they studied mathematics, psychology, or aerospace engineering, these diverse individuals from different gender/racial backgrounds rose to the challenge of being a STEM student-athlete and achieved greatness.

Instilling An Entrepreneurial Mindset In A New Generation Of First-Year Engineering Students Through A Graphics Course Project, Lulu Sun, Leroy Long Iii

Publications

Each year, an increasing number of engineering start-up companies emerge in the U.S. and around the world. Innovation and entrepreneurship have never been so pronounced, especially in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. How can we train engineering students to be more entrepreneurially-minded so they are well-equipped to become global innovators? Engineering educators can use entrepreneurially-minded learning activities to help students develop an entrepreneurial mindset, which is a set of beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. At a mid-sized Southeastern private institution, we used an open-ended team project and an end-of-semester poster competition within a freshman-level engineering graphics course to encourage …

Infographic: Enhancing Engineering Students’ Communication Skills Through A Team-Based Graphics Course Project, Leroy Long Iii, Kari L. Jordan, William Wanyagah

Publications

This infographic supports the article Enhancing Engineering Students’ Communication Skills through a Team-Based Graphics Course Project which can be accessed here: https://commons.erau.edu/asee-edgd/conference70/papers-2016/5/

Infographic: Stem All-Stars, Mckenna James, Leroy Long Iii

Publications

In this infographic, professional athletes with degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) are displayed. For a variety of sports, the achievements, awards, and degrees of professional athletes are shown. Each of these professional athletes prove that students can study STEM while also being a successful athlete. Whether they studied mathematics, psychology, or aerospace engineering, these athletes from various racial/ethnic backgrounds rose to the challenge and achieved greatness in the classroom and in their sport. Due to the lack of female professional sports, the representation of professional female athletes is not shown. This infographic is meant to encourage youth …

Infographic: Be A Stem Professional, Christian Pierre, Leroy Long Iii

Publications

Infographic describing top STEM professions.

Standardization Roadmap For Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Version 1.0, Kristine Kiernan, Christian Janke, Kenneth Witcher

Publications

This Standardization Roadmap for Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Version 1.0 (“roadmap”) represents the culmination of the UASSC’s work to identify existing standards and standards in development, assess gaps, and make recommendations for priority areas where there is a perceived need for additional standardization and/or pre-standardization R&D.

The roadmap has examined 64 issue areas, identified a total of 60 gaps and corresponding recommendations across the topical areas of airworthiness; flight operations (both general concerns and application-specific ones including critical infrastructure inspections, commercial services, and public safety operations); and personnel training, qualifications, and certification. Of that total, 40 gaps/recommendations have been identified as …

Shape-Stabilization Of Pcm/Hdpe Composites With 3d-Printing Applications For Battery Thermal Management, Thomas Benjamin Freeman

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Phase-change materials (PCMs) are a useful alternative to more traditional methods of thermal management of Li-ion batteries in electric or hybrid-electric vehicles. PCMs are materials which absorb large amounts of latent heat and undergo solid-to-liquid phase change at near-constant temperature. The goal of this thesis is to experimentally investigate the thermal properties of a novel shape-stabilized PCM/HDPE composite extruded filament. The extruded filament can then be used in a 3D printer for custom PCM/HDPE shapes. These custom PCM/HDPE shapes can be used to help reduce weight, energy consumption, and complexity of the thermal management of the ESS. The PCM used …

A Remote Observatory For Geocoronal Hydrogen Emissions, Margaret A. Gallant

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The Investigating Near Space Interaction Regions (INSpIRe) observatory is an adaptable research facility that is designed to use Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) to study the faint Balmer series emissions of the terrestrial upper thermosphere and exosphere, collectively known as the geocorona. This instrumentation is designed to be deployable to a clear-air site, necessitating remote operations of the entire observatory, including control and monitoring. The facility currently employs a siderostat to allow for pointing at sky targets, a pressure-tuned dual-etalon FPI to allow for high spectral resolution (R_80,000) measurements, and several charge-coupled device (CCD) imagers for guiding and collecting data. The environment …