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Articles 451 - 480 of 195910

Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Vibration And Thermal-Vacuum Feasibility For Micro Carbon Fiber Filled Nylon Filament Lunar Applications, Andrew Murphy, Shannon O'Sullivan, Daniel Lopez Aug 2026

Vibration And Thermal-Vacuum Feasibility For Micro Carbon Fiber Filled Nylon Filament Lunar Applications, Andrew Murphy, Shannon O'Sullivan, Daniel Lopez

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The proposed work seeks to improve the fundamental understanding of the properties concerning 3-D printing filaments that have potential to be used for lunar applications. The associated properties in focus for the proposed study, vibration and thermal-vacuum-resistance, are fundamental aspects of spaceflight and are critical to mission success for objectives associated with the environmental factors in space. The successful outcome of the proposed work will answer questions relating to the feasibility of micro carbon fiber filled nylon 3-D printing filaments such as Markforged’s Onyx® for application for projects in the Space Technologies Laboratory, including for the development of structures relating …


A Comparative Classical And Data-Driven Facial Analysis Of Wide-Field-Of-View Lens Captures, Andrew Murphy, Giovanni C. Decapua, Anthony M. Cafiso, Max E. Raabe, Kaden E. Van Leuven Aug 2026

A Comparative Classical And Data-Driven Facial Analysis Of Wide-Field-Of-View Lens Captures, Andrew Murphy, Giovanni C. Decapua, Anthony M. Cafiso, Max E. Raabe, Kaden E. Van Leuven

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

WFOV lenses are becoming popular in facial recognition due to the fact that they enhance subject coverage and improve the chances of detecting target faces. However, wide-angle optics introduce nonlinear distortion around the image periphery, which degrades the performance of recognition pipelines. In this poster presentation, we use WFOV lens captures to analyze facial recognition using classical low-complexity algorithms based on the discrete Fourier transform (DFT), discrete cosine transform (DCT), principal component analysis (PCA), and data-driven learning with convolutional neural networks. Finally, we present computational efficiency, compression, accuracy, and precision of recognizing distorted images with qualitative and quantitative measures.


Advancements In Spacecraft Trajectory Generation Through Matrix Decomposition Techniques, David Stoev, Oshani Jayawardane, Kaitlyn Cavanaugh, Kristiyan Stefanov, Andrew Murphy Aug 2026

Advancements In Spacecraft Trajectory Generation Through Matrix Decomposition Techniques, David Stoev, Oshani Jayawardane, Kaitlyn Cavanaugh, Kristiyan Stefanov, Andrew Murphy

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The Circular Restricted Three-Body Problem (CR3BP) is renowned for its intricate and chaotic dynamics, leaving it without a closed-form solution. In this poster, we introduce an innovative approach to determine spacecraft trajectories within the CR3BP framework using matrix factorization techniques. We formulate a matrix equation where the right-hand side vector is constructed from the spacecraft's position and velocity data, while the coefficient matrix is derived from the spacecraft's temporal data. Subsequently, we apply several matrix decomposition techniques, including modified Gram-Schmidt, the Householder technique, and Givens Rotation, to analyze the coefficient matrix and derive the spacecraft trajectories. Finally, we evaluate the …


Hydroquad - A Drone Quadruped Hybrid, Haitish Gandhi, Dheer Chhabria Aug 2026

Hydroquad - A Drone Quadruped Hybrid, Haitish Gandhi, Dheer Chhabria

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The HyDroQuad is a hybrid robotic system designed to navigate environments where traditional robots face limitations. By combining a quadrupedal walking mechanism with an aerial drone, the platform is able to walk efficiently on stable terrain and transition to flight when encountering obstacles such as rocks, gaps, or steep slopes. This adaptability makes it a strong candidate for future planetary exploration, where terrain is often uneven and unpredictable. This work focuses on developing and evaluating a functional prototype of the system. A fully integrated platform, HDQ-MK1, was designed and constructed by combining a lightweight multirotor drone with a compact quadruped …


A Myoelectric Prosthesis Utilizing A Convolutional Neural Network And Signal Processing, Hope Lea, Katherine Clark, Francis Genco, Carolyn Ascha Richardson, Tobiah Rosser Aug 2026

A Myoelectric Prosthesis Utilizing A Convolutional Neural Network And Signal Processing, Hope Lea, Katherine Clark, Francis Genco, Carolyn Ascha Richardson, Tobiah Rosser

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

A Myoelectric Prosthesis Utilizing A Convolutional Neural Network and Signal Processing   Commercially available myoelectric prostheses for transradial amputees utilize electromyography (EMG) sensors to observe electrical signals from superficial muscle contractions and control robotic fingers, yet often have flaws regarding adaptability and dexterity. These devices require users to learn awkward muscle patterns, as the EMG placement and gesture recognition does not consider how humans would normally think about moving their hand. Additionally, the number of available gestures is more limited, as the devices are threshold-based and do not sample enough muscles. This work seeks to address these issues by creating a …


Earthquake-Resistant Design And Base Isolation Techniques, Christian George, Jacob Sweeten, Gabriela Cotto, Savion Stewart Aug 2026

Earthquake-Resistant Design And Base Isolation Techniques, Christian George, Jacob Sweeten, Gabriela Cotto, Savion Stewart

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Earthquake-resistant design has become a critical feature in construction near active fault lines, where seismic activity is most frequent and potentially destructive. In recent years, technological advancements have significantly improved methods for protecting buildings from earthquake damage. Among these innovations, base isolation systems have appeared as one of the most effective solutions. By decoupling a building from ground motion, base isolators reduce the transmission of seismic forces, helping to prevent structural damage and support building stability during earthquakes. In addition to improving safety, base isolation systems can also reduce long-term costs associated with earthquake-related repairs and maintenance. Base-isolated structures are …


Hurricane-Resilient Construction Practices In The Southeastern United States, Eleanor Hopkins, Jonathan Gildersleeve, Kieran Hemminger, Remingtin Rodriguez Aug 2026

Hurricane-Resilient Construction Practices In The Southeastern United States, Eleanor Hopkins, Jonathan Gildersleeve, Kieran Hemminger, Remingtin Rodriguez

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Hurricanes pose a significant threat to infrastructure and communities across the southeastern United States, causing billions of dollars in structural damage each year. High wind speeds, storm surge, and wind-driven rain frequently lead to roof failures, structural collapse, and severe interior water damage. As coastal populations continue to grow, improving the resilience of buildings in hurricane-prone regions has become a critical engineering and planning challenge. This literature review examines hurricane-resilient construction practices and evaluates strategies that improve structural performance during extreme weather events. Key areas of focus include continuous load path structural systems, reinforced roof-to-wall connections, elevated foundations to mitigate …


Plastic Roads And Waste Utilization In Pavements: Recycling Plastic Waste Into Durable Road Construction, Hunter Smith, Caden Hoffer, Robert Kincart, Winston De Feria Weber Aug 2026

Plastic Roads And Waste Utilization In Pavements: Recycling Plastic Waste Into Durable Road Construction, Hunter Smith, Caden Hoffer, Robert Kincart, Winston De Feria Weber

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Plastic waste production continues to increase worldwide, creating significant environmental and waste management challenges. With over 350 million tons of plastic waste generated annually, researchers and engineers are exploring innovative methods to reuse materials in sustainable construction practices. To reduce construction waste and make productive use of recycled materials, engineers are investigating utilization applications for plastic waste in pavement systems. This project examines the use of recycled plastic as a modifier in asphalt pavement mixtures to improve road performance while addressing environmental concerns. The objective of this work is to evaluate how incorporating recycled plastics into asphalt mixtures can enhance …


Characterization Of An Ambe Tagged Neutron Source For A 30-Ton Wbls Detector, Rylee Grover Aug 2026

Characterization Of An Ambe Tagged Neutron Source For A 30-Ton Wbls Detector, Rylee Grover

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Understanding the detection capabilities of water-based liquid scintillator (WbLS) is critical for its deployment in next-generation neutrino detectors such as THEIA and Phase II of the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE). This study focuses on the characterization and alignment testing of an Americium-Beryllium (AmBe) radioactive neutron source. We plan to dope the 30-ton WbLS detector at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) with Gadolinium (Gd) to improve neutron detection capabilities. This will be tested by the implementation of an AmBe source as a calibration metric. The AmBe source emits neutrons coincident with a 4.4 MeV gamma ray, making it possible to perform …


Catalyst: A Unified Framework For Orbital Debris Risk, Conjunction Analysis, And Space Policy, Tyler Barr Aug 2026

Catalyst: A Unified Framework For Orbital Debris Risk, Conjunction Analysis, And Space Policy, Tyler Barr

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Catalyst is an analyst grade mission console and offline simulation service that operationalizes the Embry Riddle MIT Orbital Capacity Assessment Toolbox Monte Carlo (E-MOCAT-MC) for Space Situational Awareness (SSA) aligned assessment, connecting scenario assumptions to time tagged events, quantitative stability indicators, and evidence preserving exports. E-MOCAT-MC serves as the authoritative generator of seeded scenario runs under explicit configuration control, ingesting locally served Two Line Element sets (TLEs) and persisting each run as a structured record containing configuration data, stochastic seeds, event logs, derived metrics, and replayable artifacts for deterministic analysis. Unlike systems that primarily visualize TLEs and object tracks, Catalyst …


Human Factors Challenges In Automated Flight Operations, Jorge Ivan Gonzalez Rivera, Zoe Guyette, Emma Hatten, Katie Huynh, Benjamin Marsh Aug 2026

Human Factors Challenges In Automated Flight Operations, Jorge Ivan Gonzalez Rivera, Zoe Guyette, Emma Hatten, Katie Huynh, Benjamin Marsh

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Automation complacency, a critical aviation hazard, is commonly seen amongst flight crews in high-automation commercial flight decks. This issue occurs when over-reliance on automated systems leads to a decline in manual flying expertise and situational awareness, posing a severe risk of loss of control in-flight (LOC-I) and catastrophic accidents. To bridge the safety gap between current operational demands for efficiency and the regulatory requirement for pilot proficiency, this study proposes the Manual Flight Compliance and Monitoring System (MFCMS). This solution integrates engineering and administrative controls to reduce automation-related risks by mandating 15 minutes of manual flight per hour during cruise …


Lightweight Uav-To-Uav Detection And Tracking For Advanced Air Mobility Applications, Taylor Hostetter Aug 2026

Lightweight Uav-To-Uav Detection And Tracking For Advanced Air Mobility Applications, Taylor Hostetter

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Lightweight UAV-to-UAV Detection and Tracking for Advanced Air Mobility Applications addresses the significant challenge of reliable UAV-to-UAV detection on resource-constrained platforms, particularly within Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) environments where dense, low-altitude airspace requires robust detect-and-avoid capabilities. This work presents the development and experimental evaluation of a lightweight detection and tracking framework for autonomous detect-and-avoid applications. The approach is designed to support real-time onboard operation in multi-vehicle environments characteristic of emerging AAM systems. The proposed framework integrates optical and LiDAR sensing with a low-complexity machine learning decision-support layer that reduces false detections without replacing the underlying control-oriented detection pipeline. This design …


Project Minerva, Lena Wang, Gannon English, Ethan Yemm, Gabrielle Guirguis, Jose Murphy Aug 2026

Project Minerva, Lena Wang, Gannon English, Ethan Yemm, Gabrielle Guirguis, Jose Murphy

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Project Minerva is a multidisciplinary engineering initiative at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) dedicated to the design, integration, and deployment of high-altitude balloon (HAB) systems for stratospheric research and aerospace hardware validation. The project challenges student researchers to engineer flight-ready payloads capable of maintaining structural and electronic integrity in extreme temperatures and low-pressure environments in the stratosphere. Typically utilizing 600g latex balloons filled with helium, Project Minerva missions aim to achieve altitudes exceeding 22,000 meters to facilitate vertical atmospheric profiling of variables such as CO₂ concentration, humidity, temperature, and pressure. Beyond its technical objectives, the project serves as a professional training …


Multimodal Interpretation Of Pilot–Controller Communications For Runway Safety Assurance And Enhanced Atc Situational Awareness., Chaebin Song, Juin Park Aug 2026

Multimodal Interpretation Of Pilot–Controller Communications For Runway Safety Assurance And Enhanced Atc Situational Awareness., Chaebin Song, Juin Park

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Recent runway safety events have highlighted the importance of accurate and timely interpretation of pilot–controller communications, especially in complex airport environments where aircraft and ground vehicles interact on or near active movement areas. In light of the recent LaGuardia Airport collision, which has drawn attention to communication, coordination, and surface safety challenges, this project investigates how multimodal data can support air traffic controllers’ situational awareness and safety assurance. This study develops an in-progress framework that combines Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) of pilot–controller radio communications with ADS-B trajectory data to improve interpretation of operational intent and cross-check communications against observed aircraft …


System And Method For Detecting Subsurface Voids Using Controlled Heat Addition, Chase Nilsson Aug 2026

System And Method For Detecting Subsurface Voids Using Controlled Heat Addition, Chase Nilsson

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This study evaluates controlled heat addition in a confined space to estimate enclosed volumes for irregularly shaped spaces. The intent is to detect hidden voids in cave environments. Conventional methods for identifying such voids are often costly, logistically difficult, and limited in accuracy. Preliminary experiments were conducted with a controlled heat source, a temporary thermal barrier to isolate the test chamber, and simple temperature sensors. Temperatures were recorded for the pre-test baseline, the heating interval, followed by a cooling period. The thermal response showed clear engineering trends that warrant further exploration and modeling. Preliminary results indicate that transient temperature changes …


A Cyber-Physical Flight Simulation Platform For Real-Time Visualization Of Aircraft Dynamics And Sensor-Based Control, Gabriel Martinez, Michael Poinsett Aug 2026

A Cyber-Physical Flight Simulation Platform For Real-Time Visualization Of Aircraft Dynamics And Sensor-Based Control, Gabriel Martinez, Michael Poinsett

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Understanding aircraft dynamics through traditional simulations can be limiting, as results are often confined to screen-based visualization. This project aims to enhance learning and experimentation by creating a system where aircraft motion can be both simulated and physically observed in real time. The primary objective is to develop a cyber-physical flight simulation platform that links mathematical models with physical hardware. The system is designed to (1) represent aircraft dynamic behavior through real-time motion and (2) provide a foundation for integrating sensors and control strategies for responsive flight behavior. The platform combines aircraft dynamic models with a hardware interface capable of …


Experimental Cyber-Physical Platform For Aircraft Dynamic Response Across Subsonic To Hypersonic Regimes, Michael Poinsett, Gabriel Martinez Aug 2026

Experimental Cyber-Physical Platform For Aircraft Dynamic Response Across Subsonic To Hypersonic Regimes, Michael Poinsett, Gabriel Martinez

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Understanding how aircraft behavior changes across different flight regimes is essential for modern aerospace design, yet it is often limited to theoretical or purely computational analysis. This project aims to provide an experimental approach to visualize and study these dynamic changes in a more intuitive and practical way. The primary objective is to develop an experimental cyber-physical platform capable of representing aircraft dynamic response across a wide range of flight conditions, from subsonic to hypersonic regimes. The system is designed to (1) analyze how key dynamic parameters vary with changing conditions and (2) provide a physical representation of these effects …


Radaround: A Field-Expedient Direction Finder For Contested Iot Sensing & Em Situational Awareness, Owen Maute, Blake Roberts Aug 2026

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

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This paper presents RadAround, a passive 2-D direction-finding system designed for adversarial IoT sensing in contested environments. Using mechanically steered narrowbeam antennas and field-deployable SCADA software, it generates high-resolution electromagnetic (EM) heatmaps using low-cost COTS or 3D-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 …


Applying The Hfacs Framework: A Case Study Of Air Florida Flight 90, Ashley Perez-Galvan, Cenk Altinkum, Ryan Hunt Aug 2026

Applying The Hfacs Framework: A Case Study Of Air Florida Flight 90, Ashley Perez-Galvan, Cenk Altinkum, Ryan Hunt

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Applying the HFACS Framework: A Case Study of Air Florida Flight 90 Abstract   This study applies the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS), a widely used safety framework for identifying human and organizational contributors to accidents to examine the crash of Air Florida Flight 90 crash on January 13, 1982. The accident occurred shortly after takeoff from Washington National Airport during severe winter weather, when the aircraft failed to gain sufficient lift and impacted a bridge before entering the Potomac River.   The goal this analysis is to understand how multiple layers of human and organizational factors contributed to this …


The Impact Of Environmental Contributing Factors In Spatial Disorientation And Non-Spatial Disorientation Related General Aviation Accidents, Victoria Cornaro, Molly Mersinger Aug 2026

The Impact Of Environmental Contributing Factors In Spatial Disorientation And Non-Spatial Disorientation Related General Aviation Accidents, Victoria Cornaro, Molly Mersinger

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The Impact of Environmental Contributing Factors in Spatial Disorientation and Non-Spatial Disorientation Related General Aviation Accidents   Spatial disorientation (SD) is an inherent risk of flying and with a high risk of resulting in a fatal accident (Gibbs et al, 2011). SD related accidents occur when a pilot’s perception of the aircraft altitude, position, or relative motion conflict with reality (Benson, 1999). SD accidents are significantly more likely to result in a fatality than non-SD cases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of different contributing factors on SD and non-SD general aviation accidents. We used the NTSB …


Improving Multi-Agent Swarm Collision Avoidance Using Reciprocal Velocity Obstacles, Nick Wilson Aug 2026

Improving Multi-Agent Swarm Collision Avoidance Using Reciprocal Velocity Obstacles, Nick Wilson

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

As multi-agent systems grow increasingly complex, physical robotic swarms are essential to bridge the gap between limited software simulations and real-world application. The BID4R STARS swarm provides a physical platform for testing diverse algorithms, yet its success relies heavily on fundamental agent capabilities—most notably, obstacle avoidance. Preventing intra-swarm collisions is critical to avoid hardware damage and experimental disruption. To address this challenge, this project implements the Reciprocal Velocity Obstacles (RVO) algorithm onto the STARS swarm. While standard collision avoidance algorithms often overcorrect and induce oscillatory agent movement, RVO factors in the velocity and anticipated responses of all agents involved in …


Supply Chain Analysis: The Oregonator Autocatalytic Case Study, Abigail Butcher Aug 2026

Supply Chain Analysis: The Oregonator Autocatalytic Case Study, Abigail Butcher

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Understanding stability in complex supply chains remains a critical challenge due to nonlinear feedback, delayed responses, and sensitivity to parameter changes. This project presents a novel framework that applies bifurcation analysis to evaluate system stability, using the Oregonator autocatalytic chemical reaction model as an analog for supply chain dynamics. A parameter sweep of key model variables, particularly the stoichiometric factor f and the reaction rate constants k, is used to identify transitions between stable and oscillatory regimes. These transitions provide insight into how variations in feedback strength can drive instability in real-world systems. The framework will then be extended to …


Customization That Clicks: Human Factors Evaluation Of A User-Centered Vehicle Customization System, Noah Clark, Shawn Mathura, Sarah Bailey, Paul Seal, Brandon Ibarra, Kailey Hrbek, Carissa Aumack, Kevin Sun, Olivia Honan, Kelly Nguyen, Caroline Deck, Brandon D. Dreslin Aug 2026

Customization That Clicks: Human Factors Evaluation Of A User-Centered Vehicle Customization System, Noah Clark, Shawn Mathura, Sarah Bailey, Paul Seal, Brandon Ibarra, Kailey Hrbek, Carissa Aumack, Kevin Sun, Olivia Honan, Kelly Nguyen, Caroline Deck, Brandon D. Dreslin

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Older adults (OAs) and drivers with disabilities (DwDs) often encounter challenges when customizing vehicle features (e.g., seat adjustment, lighting, climate control) because existing human-machine interfaces (HMIs) may not be designed to accommodate diverse sensory, motor, and cognitive capabilities. HarmonIQ is a biometric-based, user-centered vehicle customization system designed to improve accessibility and inclusivity for OAs and DwDs, developed by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in collaboration with Bethune-Cookman University (BCU). This research, supported in part by the EcoCAR Electric Vehicle Challenge, builds on Fall 2024 proofs-of-concept and Spring 2025 initial development of HarmonIQ and its components, namely the driver profile software and …


Simplified Flight Controls For Urban Air Mobility (Uam), Sierra Martinez, Frank Cunningham Iv, Nicole Giordano, Olivia Honan, Katie Stubits, Heather Bond, Paul Seal, Brandon Ibarra Aug 2026

Simplified Flight Controls For Urban Air Mobility (Uam), Sierra Martinez, Frank Cunningham Iv, Nicole Giordano, Olivia Honan, Katie Stubits, Heather Bond, Paul Seal, Brandon Ibarra

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Air taxis are meant to perform short-distance, lower-altitude flights in challenging terrain- whether it be maneuvering around skyscrapers in urban areas, or for emergency responders in remote, difficult to access areas. It is paramount that the control system is intuitive and user friendly, since air taxi pilots will likely receive less training than commercial airline pilots. The Human Factors Department is working to advance Urban Air Mobility (UAM) initiatives by evaluating alternative inceptors (ie. control systems) that might be used in Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) air taxi designs. The controller itself needs to have specific and distinct enough operations …


Honeybee-Inspired Swarm Intelligence For Autonomous Adaptability Of Martian Infrastructure, Morgan Kendall Aug 2026

Honeybee-Inspired Swarm Intelligence For Autonomous Adaptability Of Martian Infrastructure, Morgan Kendall

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Current research in autonomous space systems primarily relies on centralized control or swarm methods designed for fixed mission scenarios. These approaches lack the flexibility needed for long-duration Mars operations, where infrastructure must adapt to changing conditions, evolving mission goals, and limited human oversight. This creates a critical gap in developing autonomous systems capable of continuous self-organization. This gap is being addressed by developing a biologically inspired, adaptive Martian infrastructure using swarm intelligence. The scope includes key system domains such as power distribution, communication networks, and surface logistics. Agent-based modeling software will simulate infrastructure components as autonomous agents that evaluate local …


Synchrotron X-Ray Diffraction Method For Continuous Strain Analysis Across Heterogenous Material Interface Layers, Sierra Damon Aug 2026

Synchrotron X-Ray Diffraction Method For Continuous Strain Analysis Across Heterogenous Material Interface Layers, Sierra Damon

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Synchrotron X-ray diffraction method for continuous strain analysis across heterogenous material interface layers   The transfer of strain across a material interface is a relevant concept to quantify for numerous aerospace applications that involve coatings applied to substrates of different materials, particularly in the field of high temperature materials. X-ray diffraction (XRD) is a metrology technique capable of resolving strain within an arbitrary material by quantifying the shifts of Bragg peaks with respect to an unstrained sample and has seen increased use due to the capability of XRD to perform in-situ measurements on materials in extreme environments. Since different materials have …


Nano Aircraft Using Underactuated Technology (Naut), Giol Vinyals I Roca Aug 2026

Nano Aircraft Using Underactuated Technology (Naut), Giol Vinyals I Roca

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The Nano Aircraft using Underactuated Technology (NAUT) project presents a novel swashplateless rotor system that achieves cyclic pitch control using a single actuator, eliminating the need for conventional multi-servo swashplate assemblies. This approach is specifically tailored for nano unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operating within Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) environments, where size, weight, and power constraints demand highly efficient and simplified control architectures. A functional prototype has been developed and experimentally validated, demonstrating measurable cyclic pitch variation and effective control authority. Multiple mechanism variants are currently being investigated to evaluate performance trade-offs in responsiveness, mechanical efficiency, and aerodynamic effectiveness. These configurations …


Intrinsic Memory In Digital Snns: Enhancing Performance On The Cart-Pole Task With Fractional-Order Dynamics, Niklas Karl Anderson Aug 2026

Intrinsic Memory In Digital Snns: Enhancing Performance On The Cart-Pole Task With Fractional-Order Dynamics, Niklas Karl Anderson

Dissertations and Theses

Researchers working with Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) are faced with the challenge of identifying useful biologically plausible features for inclusion in neuron models. Prior research indicates that dynamics of fractional-order calculus, which impart a form of intrinsic memory, are a key feature of biological neurons. In this work, we present the development and usage of neural networks with intrinsic memory in application to the cart-pole task, a common benchmark for neural network performance. We found that usage of fractional-order neurons may allow for up to a 37.5% reduction in neural network size as compared to networks using a standard Leaky …


The Influence Of Urban Form On The Distribution Of Air Pollutants, Takin Khosrownia Aug 2026

The Influence Of Urban Form On The Distribution Of Air Pollutants, Takin Khosrownia

Dissertations and Theses

Urban form exerts strong control on how pollution from outside a city is transported through the urban canopy and experienced at street level. This study uses the prognostic microclimate model ENVI-met to simulate an active pollutant released from an upwind rural highway and advected through an urban region represented by ten Local Climate Zone (LCZ) types. The cases share identical inflow and are isothermal, dry, and non-vegetated, so that differences among them are attributable to building morphology alone. PM2.5 is the primary exposure diagnostic. Its transport and ejection are characterized through plan-view contours, vertical plume sections, and spatially averaged streamwise …


Multidimensional Total Quality Management And Its Effects On Sustainability And Performance In Industrialized Building System Projects, Felix Delmonte Aug 2026

Multidimensional Total Quality Management And Its Effects On Sustainability And Performance In Industrialized Building System Projects, Felix Delmonte

Mechanical and Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

This study develops and tests a multidimensional total quality management (TQM) framework to explain how distinct quality practices influence environmental sustainability, construction quality, cost and schedule performance, waste reduction, energy efficiency, stakeholder satisfaction, and overall project performance in industrialized building system (IBS) projects. Soft and hard TQM dimensions such as leadership commitment, customer focus, employee involvement, training and continuous improvement, process management, supplier quality, and data driven decision making are operationalised and linked to eight outcome constructs. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS SEM) is used to estimate direct effects and to examine mediation by waste reduction and energy …