Purdue University
University of Michigan Law School
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
University of Texas at Arlington
Western Michigan University
Chapman University
Florida Institute of Technology
RAMAIAH INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY , BANGALORE
Ohio University
What Types Of Uncertainty Emerge In Instructional Aviation Incidents?,
2027
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
What Types Of Uncertainty Emerge In Instructional Aviation Incidents?, Abigail Henson
Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses
This study utilized narrative reports from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) database to examine the types of uncertainty present in near-miss instructional aviation incidents occurring within the United States between 2015 and 2025. The final dataset consisted of 86 reports, with each report containing a set of narrative accounts from both the student pilot and the flight instructor operating under Part 91 regulations. Each instructional event was classified using a combined framework incorporating uncertainty categorizations and the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS). Results indicate that epistemological uncertainty was the most common …
A Data-Driven Koopman Framework For Station-Keeping On Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit,
2026
Florida Institute of Technology
A Data-Driven Koopman Framework For Station-Keeping On Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit, Anusha Sharma Malladi
Theses and Dissertations
Cislunar missions have gained significant attention in recent decades, motivating the need for efficient modeling and reliable control. In this work a Koopman operator based framework is developed for approximating the error dynamics around a reference Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit (NRHO) in the Earth-Moon Circular Restricted Three-Body Problem (CR3BP). A decoder free neural network is used to learn a lifted linear representation of the nonlinear CR3BP dynamics and a residual based approach is used to identify the corresponding control input matrix. The model is then implemented in a receding-horizon target point controller and compared with uncontrolled propagation and a State …
Flight System Development For A Bio-Inspired Rotating Empennage Experimental Unmanned Aerial Vehicle,
2026
Utah State University
Flight System Development For A Bio-Inspired Rotating Empennage Experimental Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Ashton Gilbert
All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present
Unmanned aerial systems, commonly known as drones, are increasingly used for research, environmental monitoring, and testing new aircraft concepts. Many commercially available drone flight controllers work well for standard aircraft designs, but they can be difficult to adapt for experimental vehicles that use unconventional control methods or require detailed monitoring during testing. This creates challenges for researchers who need flexible and reliable tools to safely evaluate new flight technologies. This work presents the development of a custom drone flight control system designed specifically for experimental research. The system integrates custom electronics and software that allow researchers to easily modify control …
Developing Imitation Learning Policies By Exploring Diffusion Framework For Quadcopters,
2026
Florida Institute of Technology
Developing Imitation Learning Policies By Exploring Diffusion Framework For Quadcopters, Likith Swamireddy
Theses and Dissertations
Imitation learning offers a promising approach in developing near-optimal onboard policies for nonlinear systems, by learning from computationally expensive trajectory planners during offline training. Existing State-of-the-art methods commonly learn deterministic mappings from observations to actions by training fast neural networks to mimic the expert demonstrations, which can limit their ability to capture the action distribution, when the policy is trained on multiple possible expert commands to reach the same target, and this may lead to unsafe scenarios in the obstacle environments. To address these challenges, this study explores Diffusion Models (DMs) as a feedback controller for quadcopters that learns the …
Cascaded Pid Control Of A Passive Bio-Inspired Rotating Empennage Aircraft,
2026
Utah State University
Cascaded Pid Control Of A Passive Bio-Inspired Rotating Empennage Aircraft, Zachary T. Jenkins
All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present
This thesis presents an autopilot for a Bio-Inspired Rotating Empennage (BIRE) aircraft. Most airplanes control yaw using a vertical stabilizer and a moving rudder, a design that has stayed essentially unchanged for nearly a century but adds weight, drag, and surface area to the aircraft. The BIRE removes the vertical tail entirely and instead allows the horizontal tail to rotate about the body x-axis of the airplane; tilting the horizontal tail produces a yaw force, doing the job of a rudder. This thesis first develops a controller for the BIRE where the empennage angle is commanded directly, then extends …
Crushing Behavior Of Crash Boxes With Hybrid Honeycomb–Auxetic Fillers: Effects Of Architecture, Geometry, And Material Behaviors,
2026
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Crushing Behavior Of Crash Boxes With Hybrid Honeycomb–Auxetic Fillers: Effects Of Architecture, Geometry, And Material Behaviors, A. Yudhanto, A. Jusuf, L. D. Lumanauw, M. Falyanzhuri, A. Afdhal
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works
Additively manufactured (AM) fillers provide new opportunities to tailor the crushing response and energy absorption of thin-walled metallic crash boxes. This study presents a combined experimental–numerical investigation of hexagonal AA6063-T4 crash boxes filled with architected structures, i.e., honeycomb, auxetic-reentrant, and hybrid honeycomb–auxetic topology. The hybrid configuration, which integrates cells with positive and negative Poisson's ratios, triggers coordinated mechanisms (that enhance folding behavior and collapse control) unattainable via single topology. Quasi-static axial compression tests were conducted to characterize force–displacement curves, deformation mechanisms, energy absorption (EA), and specific energy absorption (SEA). Finite element models developed in the explicit solver LS-DYNA were employed …
Increasing The Density Value Of Composite Propellant Ap/Htpb/Al For Rocket Performance Using The Sphere Packing Model,
2026
Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia, Depok 16424, Indonesia
Increasing The Density Value Of Composite Propellant Ap/Htpb/Al For Rocket Performance Using The Sphere Packing Model, Muhammad Iqbal Alfikri, Bayu Prianto, Ariadne Lakshmidevi Juwono
Makara Journal of Science
This research employs the sphere packing volume (SPV) model to optimize the density of composite propellants thereby enhancing rocket performance. We systematically varied the diameters of spherical ammonium perchlorate (AP) particles (50 and 400 µm) and aluminum powder (Al) particles (10 and 30 µm). These particles were incorporated at an ideal AP:Al ratio of 4:1 into a matrix of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene and toluene diisocyanate. By adjusting the AP ratio for each Al particle size and considering theoretical and tap densities, we precisely calculated the SPV value for each composition. The composition with the highest SPV value yielded remarkable results. This …
Retraction Notice To "Hydrogen Recovery, Cleaning, Compression, Storage, Dispensing, Distribution System And End-Uses On The University Campus From Combined Heat, Hydrogen And Power System" [International Journal Of Hydrogen Energy 39 (2014) 647-653],
2026
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Retraction Notice To "Hydrogen Recovery, Cleaning, Compression, Storage, Dispensing, Distribution System And End-Uses On The University Campus From Combined Heat, Hydrogen And Power System" [International Journal Of Hydrogen Energy 39 (2014) 647-653], Tarek A. Hamad, Abdulhakim A. Agll, Yousif M. Hamad, Sushrut Bapat, Mathew Thomas, Kevin B. Martin, John W. Sheffield
Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works
This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier policy on Article Correction, Retraction and Removal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/policies-and-standards/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor.
The Evolution Of Reliability Methods For Nondestructive Evaluation (Nde): From Probability Of Detection (Pod) Conception To Contemporary Practices,
2026
Air Force Research Laboratory
The Evolution Of Reliability Methods For Nondestructive Evaluation (Nde): From Probability Of Detection (Pod) Conception To Contemporary Practices, Christine E. Knott, Jennifer Brown, John Aldrin, Christine M. Schubert Kabban
Faculty Publications
Nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods are powerful tools for detecting and characterizing flaws in structural components, but their reliability must be evaluated before they can be used in critical applications. For more than 50 years, probabilistic and statistical methods have been used effectively to estimate reliability by describing an NDE system’s Probability of Detection (POD) for flaws of realistic sizes. The POD methods used by the USAF and NASA, like Hit/Miss, Signal-Response (â vs. a), and Point Estimate method (PEM, a.k.a. 29/29) have evolved, alongside newer approaches like Limited Sample POD (LS-POD) method, and Model Assisted Probability of Detection …
Notes For The Contributors,
2026
University of Nebraska at Omaha
The Global Chessboard: Strategic Deterrence In A New Era Of Great Power Competition,
2026
University of Nebraska at Omaha
The Global Chessboard: Strategic Deterrence In A New Era Of Great Power Competition, The 66th Annual Academy Assembly
Space and Defense
The 66th annual Academy Assembly brought together twenty-seven student delegates from civilian institutions and sister military service academies to discuss urgent issues in national affairs. This national student congress was held during March 3-5, 2026 and produced the following committee reports.
Critical Strategic Deterrence Questions For Today,
2026
Missouri State University
Critical Strategic Deterrence Questions For Today, Keith B. Payne
Space and Defense
r. Payne visited the U.S. Air Force Academy to offer keynote remarks at a national student congress, the 66th Academy Assembly, held during March 3-5,2026 and dedicated to the topic of the Global Chessboard: Strategic Deterrence in a New Era of Great Power Competition. Dr. Payne is co-founder of the National Institute for Public Policy, former Department Head at the Graduate School of Defense and Strategic Studies, Missouri State University, a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, and former Senior Advisor to the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He has authored or co-authored over 230 published articles and 50 …
Death Of Battlefield Hide-And-Seek,
2026
Columbia University
Death Of Battlefield Hide-And-Seek, Lily Cheatham
Space and Defense
For the past twenty years, the stealth regime defined military thinking, prioritizing technologies and tactics designed to evade enemy defense systems. Ensuring radar invisibility and maintaining information dominance have been the keys to survival and strategic advantage. On June 21-22, 2025, the United States conducted "Operation Midnight Hammer" against Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The principal strike package included seven B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, whose crews flew approximately 18 hours to reach the target area and roughly 36 hours and 13,000 miles round trip. The B-2s dropped 14 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators on Fordow and Natanz, marking …
The Baltic Bear Trap Wargame,
2026
U.S. Air Force Academy
The Baltic Bear Trap Wargame, Connor Crookham
Space and Defense
Modern military education increasingly relies on experiential tools that allow students to explore the complexity of contemporary conflict in ways that lectures and readings alone cannot achieve. Nowhere is this more evident than in the emerging emphasis on multi-domain operations, integrated deterrence, and the blurred boundaries between competition and armed conflict. The Baltic Bear Trap wargame was developed as a student design project to meet this instructional need, offering a structured environment in which players must think, plan, and act as operational-level decision makers confronting a deteriorating security situation in the Nordic–Baltic region. Built for use at the Swedish Defense …
A Cislunar Economic Forecast Under Public-Private Partnership,
2026
University of Colorado, Boulder
A Cislunar Economic Forecast Under Public-Private Partnership, Naisha Chirag Naik
Space and Defense
Cislunar space, spanning Earth’s orbit to the Moon, has emerged as a new frontier due to its strategic, scientific, and economic potential, with growing involvement from global powers, governments, and private entities diversifying the market. Unlike the first lunar space race, which saw a spike in activity amongst two countries followed by “silence,” the current cislunar era is hallmarked by a growing mix of public agencies, private companies, and international actors seeking to gain a foothold in what could be the foundation for a long-term space economy. While cislunar space was historically only an interest for superpowers, recent years have …
Autonomous Navigation In Cislunar Satellites,
2026
University of Texas, Austin
Autonomous Navigation In Cislunar Satellites, Heith Johnson
Space and Defense
Cislunar space—the region between Earth’s geosynchronous orbit (about 36,000 kilometers from Earth) and the Moon (roughly 384,000 kilometers away)—is becoming a critical frontier for future space exploration and commercialization.1 This zone includes the Moon’s orbit, transfer orbits, and the Earth-Moon Lagrange points. Additionally, as more nations and corporations launch lunar missions and establish long-term infrastructure, cislunar space is increasingly becoming a strategic focus for exploration, logistics, and transportation.
Planetary Defense As The Ethico-Legal Gateway For International Space Security,
2026
Swinburne University of Technology - Australia
Planetary Defense As The Ethico-Legal Gateway For International Space Security, Evie Kendal
Space and Defense
Following the news in late 2024 that there was a city-killer asteroid on a possible collision course with Earth, many members of the public were shocked to learn there was no reliable global plan for managing such asteroidal and cometary impact hazards. While calculations of Asteroid 2024 YR4’s trajectory were further refined to exclude the previously reported 2-3% chance of collision in 2032, this event highlighted a major security threat: the lack of a globally coordinated, appropriately resourced, and politically supported planetary defense strategy (Gibney, 2025). In so doing, it also provided an opportunity for security experts to consider the …
Space-Based Missile Defense With Early Interceptor Launch Strategies,
2026
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Space-Based Missile Defense With Early Interceptor Launch Strategies, William Priedhorsky, James Wells
Space and Defense
There is renewed interest in space-based boost-phase intercept (SBPI) for missile defense against ICBMs of near-peer adversaries. We discuss SBPI in the context of other missile defense approaches, and address one of its challenges, which is the expense of fielding a large enough constellation of interceptors in space to counter even a small number of ICBMs. We develop an early-launch approach that could substantively reduce the required density of interceptors. Because every second matters in boost-phase defense, early launch of interceptors can significantly increase the reach of each interceptor. Early launch would require interceptors that have highly throttleable motors. Our …
Golden Dome: Seeking Space Security,
2026
Johns Hopkins University
Golden Dome: Seeking Space Security, Namrata Goswami
Space and Defense
The “Golden Dome” initiative [formerly Iron Dome] was announced by President Donald Trump on January 27, 2025, signifying a transformative shift in global space security policy. It fundamentally questions long-standing assumptions about deterrence, national vulnerability to missile attacks, and the role of space in strategic defense. More importantly, it emerges at a moment of acute strategic transition: the erosion of Cold War arms control frameworks, the rapid advancement of hypersonic and orbital delivery systems, and the growing integration of space into warfighting doctrines. Launched via a presidential memorandum in January 2025, Golden Dome calls for a layered missile defense system …
Space & Defense Vol. 17 No. 1 Editor's Note,
2026
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Space & Defense Vol. 17 No. 1 Editor's Note, Damon Coletta
Space and Defense
No abstract provided.
