Engineering Commons^™

Simulating And Training Autonomous Rover Navigation In Unity Engine Using Local Sensor Data, Christopher Pace

Senior Honors Theses

Autonomous navigation is essential to remotely operating mobile vehicles on Mars, as communication takes up to 20 minutes to travel between the Earth and Mars. Several autonomous navigation methods have been implemented in Mars rovers and other mobile robots, such as odometry or simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) until the past few years when deep reinforcement learning (DRL) emerged as a viable alternative. In this thesis, a simulation model for end-to-end DRL Mars rover autonomous navigation training was created using Unity Engine, using local inputs such as GNSS, LiDAR, and gyro. This model was then trained in navigation in a …

Developing General Purpose Apps To Automate Image Analysis Of Wave-Augmented-Varicose-Explosion Atomization And Other Multi-Phase Interfacial Flows, Ethan Newkirk

Senior Honors Theses

Atomization involves disrupting a flow of contiguous liquid into small droplets ranging from one submicron to several hundred microns (micrometers) in diameter through the processes of exerting sufficient forces that disrupt the retaining surface tensions of the liquid. Understanding this phenomenon requires high-speed imaging from physical models or rigorous multiphase computational fluid dynamics models. We produce a MATLAB application that utilizes various methods of image analysis to quickly analyze and store mathematical data from detailed image analyses. We present a user with numerous tools and capabilities that provide results that deviate from 1.8% to 8.9% of the original image sequence …

Applications, Challenges, And Research Issues For Enabling A Uav Swarm, Jennifer Hahner

Senior Honors Theses

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) swarms have the potential to be useful in numerous applications due to their versatility and ability to operate without human intervention. However, this promising technology still requires further investigation, research, and testing before UAV swarms can be implemented extensively. The level of human intervention needed to control the system determines the differing levels of autonomy for UAV swarms. For swarms to become more independent, efficient algorithms for task and path planning are essential. In addition, accurate communication is essential for swarms to be able to coordinate and accomplish tasks successfully. This paper seeks to provide a …

Incorporating Safety Excellence Into Urban Air Mobility (Uam): Insights From Commercial Aviation, Rotorcraft, And Unmanned Aerial Systems (Uas), Seyoung "Evie" Jang

Senior Honors Theses

This paper focused on safety considerations in Urban Air Mobility (UAM) through a cross-industry examination of commercial aviation, rotorcraft, and unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Although UAM promises transformative benefits, there are safety concerns remaining. Based on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s Concept of Operations (ConOps), the literature review explained the fundamental concepts of UAM. In commercial aviation, regulatory framework, pilot training and certification, vehicle design and maintenance, and emergency response planning are emphasized. For rotorcraft, safety requirements for vertical flight, collision avoidance systems, heliport standards, and weather adaptability are crucial. Leveraging UAS advancements, the study suggested autonomous systems, sense-and-avoid technology, …

Of Towers And Philosophy: How Interdisciplinarity Nurtures And Expands Capacity, Mario Calabretta

NEXUS: The Liberty Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies

No abstract provided.

Exploring 21st Century Learning In Virginia Secondary School Technology And Engineering Classrooms: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, George Nicholas Cornwell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine how integrative STEM teachers utilize the Standards for Technological and Engineering Literacy (STEL) to foster and assess 21st-century learning in technology and engineering classes at multiple Virginia public secondary schools. The theory guiding this study was Kolb’s experiential learning theory, which integrates nine learning theories into an innovative cyclical learning process that is like the engineering design loop. This hermeneutic phenomenology included 15 Virginia technology and engineering schoolteachers (Grades 6-12) who purposefully taught multiple academic disciplines and utilized the eight practices of the STEL in the context of their curriculum to …

A Novel Brain Computer Interface Design, Steven Vogan

Senior Honors Theses

A brain computer interface (BCI) is a system which connects neural signals to a computer system. They have been used for controlling systems including robotics, on-screen computer control such as mouse movement, typing, and synthesizing audio signals. Invasive, or implanted, systems are often long-term medical solutions, or used for research where very clear signal is required. Non-invasive systems usually rely on exterior signals gathered through a headset using one or more electrode sensors. These signals are composed of sums of neuron activation potentials from brain activity and can be used to determine particular aspects of brain function. All BCIs rely …

An Embedded Case Study To Understand The Barriers To Cultural Progression In Aviation, Scott Phillip Trepinski

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, revelatory, embedded case study was to understand the barriers to cultural progression aviation leaders experience within airlines based in the United States. The study was guided by the research question: What can be learned about the barriers hindering the progression of safety culture within the aviation industry? The research design used a single embedded case study model utilizing participants responsible for managing, participating in, and designing programs and policies associated with an organization's safety management system. The study's theoretical framework was the cognitive dissonance theory and the dialogue-supported organizational learning theory. Data was collected utilizing …

Meeting The Psychological Needs Of Astronauts In The Flourishing Human Spaceflight Frontier: The Case For Astronaut-Trained Psychologists, Skylar Jordan Laham

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Space psychology (i.e., astronaut psychological counseling and support) has remained largely unchanged since the onset of long-duration low-Earth-orbit (LEO) human spaceflight missions, with teletherapy utilized as the primary means of psychotherapy delivery. However, with NASA’s plans to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon, the suitability of teletherapy – as well as astronaut-trained psychologists, an alternative space psychology method suggested for human spaceflight beyond LEO – must be ascertained. The aim of this novel space psychology investigation was to identify and compare the effectiveness of three astronaut psychotherapy treatment conditions (i.e., teletherapy with a 2 second Earth to LEO …

A New Atomization Paradigm: Smart Wave-Augmented Varicose Explosions, Daniel Mason Wilson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The characterization of viscous, non-Newtonian slurry heating and atomization by means of internal wave excitation is presented for a twin-fluid injector. We detail mechanisms that enhance their disintegration in a novel process called “Wave-Augmented Varicose Explosions” (WAVE). Atomization of such fluids is challenging, especially at low gas-liquid mass ratios. Droplet production is further complicated when slurry viscosity varies widely; if viscosity levels are too high, atomization quality suffers, and an undesirable pressure drop restricts the flow. To mitigate, we introduce and demonstrate “Smart” atomization, a novel implementation of simultaneous proportional integral derivative (PID) control algorithms to accommodate dynamically and extensively …

Covenant Persuasion Lead To Constitutionalism – Neither Was Invented, Joseph Livni

Helm's School of Government Conference - American Revival: Citizenship & Virtue

Constitutionalism is a conviction shared by people that a government must act in compliance with a dominant charter. So is covenantal persuasion. The covenant reflects statutes and traditions etched in a living covenantal practice. The practice cannot exist without the persuasion and the persuasion cannot exist without the practice. Elazar was one of the most prolific scholars of the covenantal model. There is one point were the paper diverges from Elazar. The paper discusses a mathematical model and other studies of the covenant practice demonstrating that such a practice involves a multitude of simultaneous vital conditions. That led to the …

An Exploration Of The Application Of Desalination In Disaster Relief, Emma Sager

Senior Honors Theses

This paper aims to explore the application of small-scale desalination systems to provide clean water in the wake of marine natural disasters. A lack of clean water is a devastating impact of many natural disasters. Desalination technologies, both thermal and membrane, show potential for being scaled down and self-powered by renewable energy. Desalination can transform ocean water and contaminated drinking water with a high salt content into drinkable, usable water. While these techniques are not perfected, and the solution to a need for clean water is multifaceted, desalination shows potential. Through further research and ever-advancing technology, small-scale desalination could develop …

The Impact Of Flight On Cabin Crew Wellness: A Literature Review, Ashleigh Roderick

Senior Honors Theses

Since its conception in 1903, aviation has captivated the attention of people across the globe and has been utilized in many sectors of society. Aviation related occupations pose a unique set of risks to those working in the field, health risks being one of the most prominent. Cancer, cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal ailments, and genetic damage have all been studied as potential consequences of working in the aviation industry, as some studies indicate a higher prevalence of these issues in aviation employees. Apart from physiological issues, mental health issues have also been observed in those working in aviation. Mental health issues …

The Development And Use Of The Probabilistic Financial Decision Model For A Company Expansion, Elizabeth Wiese

Senior Honors Theses

In the United States, companies are expanding constantly. However, in an industrial equipment dealership expanding into a new state, it is important to understand the industry, new market, and costs associated with expanding. With using financial statements of data-backed percentages for growth, research seeks to set up a financial model to see if expansion for an industrial equipment dealership into the state of North Carolina will be a financially wise decision. Wesley Worldwide, an industrial equipment dealership, is moving forward with the investment of expanding into North Carolina. However, it is vital to understand the financial predictions for profit return …

Effect On Focusing Fields By Ferromagnetic Cell Cores In Linear Induction Accelerators, Cooper Guillaume

Senior Honors Theses

In the Los Alamos National Laboratories DARHT facility, there are two perpendicular linear induction accelerators, LIAs. The LIAs’ solenoids produce magnetic fields which focus the electron beam. Simultaneously, the accelerating pulse creates a magnetic field. These two field intensities act upon a ferromagnetic material in the cells to enhance magnetic flux density. Due to the nonlinearity of the material, this flux density will reach a saturation point. In turn, the magnetic field intensity of the axial solenoidal magnetic field will be affected and slightly altered. The width of the electron beam will increase, causing a decrease in effectiveness. Through simulation, …

The Rapid Increase Of Ransomware Attacks Over The 21st Century And Mitigation Strategies To Prevent Them From Arising, Sanjay Jacob

Senior Honors Theses

Cyber-attacks have continued to become more common throughout the past century as more people are exposed to the Internet. Every year, various studies, reports, and scholarly research is done to emphasis the rapid increase of attacks. In this honors thesis, the student sought to gather further information about the rise of ransomware attacks, various cyber threats, discuss the psychological manipulation that exist, and provided the reader with an ethical complement of cyber-attacks. Additionally, case studies from previous research have been analyzed and mitigation strategies have been explained to provide the reader with practical application. This research emphasizes in on key …

Design Optimization Of Shot Peening Process With Multiscale Modeling Of Viscoplasticity With Internal State Variable Codes, Joby M. Anthony Iii

Liberty University Research Week

Graduate

Three Minute Thesis

Comparison Of Internal Mixing Physics For Two Types Of Non-Invasive Respiratory Therapy, Robert Kacinski

Liberty University Research Week

Graduate

Three Minute Thesis

Microstructure Characterization Of Az31 Under Strain, Aaron Beckley

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Three Minute Thesis

The Predicting And Modelling Of Commonly Used Structural Steels Under Cyclic Loading, Adam Maroni

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Three Minute Thesis

Hot Spots: Quantifying Risk For Reactor Failure And A Measure For The Validity Of The Lumped Capacitance Assumption, Elijah Yoder

Liberty University Research Week

Graduate

Three Minute Thesis

Transverse Third-Damper To Improver Suspension Systems For In-Wheel Motor Driven Electric Vehicles, Kayden Bingham, Michael Debard

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Applied

Mechanical Properties Of Composites Containing Exfoliated-Graphite/Epoxy Sensors, Quinn Reed

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Applied

Undersubscription: An Underutilized Factor In High-Performance Computing, Reid Prichard

Liberty University Research Week

Graduate

Applied

Exploding Banana Puree, Daniel Wilson

Liberty University Research Week

Graduate

Applied

Drone Maneuverability Around Built And Natural Structures: Phase I, Fabrication And Testing Of Mock Environments, Hannah Deter

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Applied

The Effects Of Energy Drinks On Muscles Using Electromyography (Emg) Sensors- A Work In Progress, Molly Elder

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Applied

Spectral Fatigue Behavior Of Az31 Magnesium During Variable Loading, Manuel Figueroa Gomez, Daniel Kenney

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Applied

A Molecular Dynamics Study On Properties Of Poly Dimethyl Siloxane With Silica Nanoparticles For Polymer Nanocomposites: Part I, Modeling And Preliminary Simulations, Joshua Ingram

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Applied

Development Of Graphene Oxide/Carbon Nanofiber Hybrid Structure, Greta Wilkins

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Applied