A team of Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University students and faculty recently returned from a visit to Namibia, Africa, where they aided in developing a system to grant wildlife access to life-preserving resources, like watering holes, while deterring them from entering populated villages.

The project, conducted in collaboration with conservation group Elephants, Rhinos & People (ERP), aims to protect Southern Africa’s elephant and rhinoceros populations, which currently struggle for resources alongside rural communities that share their habitat.

“We have developed a system that will detect the presence of elephants in the general area, allowing the wildlife access to shared resources, such as watering holes, that are adjacent to community resources, such as crop fields or other village infrastructure,” said Dr. Elliott Bryner, chair and associate professor of Mechanical Engineering, who advised the student group. “If elephants start to approach a community, a deterrence system will activate to discourage them from approaching.”

Leveraging his experience in engineering and rocket design, Bryner worked to ensure that the system, code-named “Jumbo Shoo,” would be capable of withstanding the harsh environment of Namibia’s wilderness.

“The work our students and faculty have done on the Jumbo Shoo project demonstrates the impact innovative engineering can have to solve global challenges,” said Dr. Kenneth Witcher, Prescott Campus chancellor. “This project exemplifies Embry‑Riddle’s dedication to fostering the next generation of leaders who are prepared to tackle complex issues and create a more sustainable future.”

The project was funded by a generous gift from alumnus Dom Narducci (’11) and his wife, Lauren Narducci, in addition to support from ERP and software company EPI-USE.

Engineering a Better Future

Designing a terrestrial-based, statically mounted system capable of withstanding Namibia’s diverse terrain was a significant challenge. ERP invited Bryner and participating students to Namibia in May to observe the geographical conditions of the project site.

“When elephants encroach on human environments, humans do things that are not very conducive to conservation, like try to keep them away from water or scare them out of their habitat,” Bryner explained.

Bryner’s experience in mechanical and aerospace engineering brought a unique perspective to the assignment. The rigors of building a rocket that can endure the harsh conditions of Earth’s atmosphere — and beyond — are some of the harshest environments in which an engineered system can operate. With years of experience designing systems for precisely these conditions, Bryner could bring innovative concepts to the team facing the harsh Namibia environment.

“Mechanical engineers must be versatile and ready to tackle diverse problems,” said Bryner. “This project has been an invaluable learning experience for our students, expanding their knowledge beyond traditional engineering disciplines.”

Students created a preliminary design for the “Jumbo Shoo” system focused solely on deterrence. After subsequent discussions and feedback from ERP, the students modified their original system to accommodate several additional mission objectives, such as tracking elephants within a specified area or signaling when a particular animal is close to or approaching a designated deterrence zone.

“Human-elephant conflict remains one of the most formidable challenges in conserving these magnificent creatures,” said Tinus Hansen, ERP head of operations. “An innovative solution developed by students at Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University offers a promising and scalable technology designed to function as a virtual fence, potentially transforming conservation efforts and mitigating conflicts between humans and elephants.”

Good Vibrations

Understanding how elephants communicate offered insights into how to successfully engineer a device that would deter them from potentially dangerous encounters with humans.

“We found that elephants communicate through seismic signals,” explained Mechanical Engineering student Gabriel Ledezma. “That is how they can tell if there’s a predator in the area. We wanted to replicate that.”

Realizing that elephants pick up on underground seismic vibrations to alert other elephants of danger in an area was the impetus for Jumbo Shoo, which detects elephant activity and releases a seismic signal that warns them of potential hazards.

“The system ‘hears’ the elephant and then ‘speaks’ to it — saying to stay away from this area,’” added Ledezma.

Thanks to the low frequency at which elephants communicate, Jumbo Shoo likewise uses low seismic frequencies to produce minimal noise pollution while specifically targeting elephants, reducing the overall impact on wildlife in the area.

A Lasting Legacy

The Jumbo Shoo project is just one way Embry‑Riddle has partnered with ERP and EPI-USE to protect Africa’s wildlife. In 2020, aided by Narducci’s gift, students developed a fence monitoring system that detected poacher intrusions, defending elephants and other African wildlife. The donation allows Embry‑Riddle to continue helping ERP and EPI-USE with similar conservationist projects over the next five years.

“These innovations could have further applications within the anti-poaching environment — potentially enhancing efforts to protect wildlife from illegal hunting and trade,” added Hansen.

For Ledezma, the opportunity to use his engineering skills to solve a complex problem was an empowering experience.

“I was taken aback by the flexibility we had as the architects of a brand-new product,” said Ledezma. “Our mentors were always there to guide us, but after extensive research and testing, the students became the leading experts on the problem we were addressing. This directive was incredibly freeing, allowing me to exercise my creative freedom and put my engineering knowledge into practice.”

The success of Embry‑Riddle’s design has opened doors for continued collaborations between students, faculty and ERP, who have invited Embry‑Riddle to return next year to review data and refine their system.

“Traveling with our students has allowed me to see their growth firsthand,” said Bryner. “This experience emphasizes the importance of applying engineering knowledge to global conservation efforts. Working with ERP and EPI-USE has shown that there is a place for such efforts in our professional lives.”

“Knowing that a group of young, aspiring engineers could significantly improve the living conditions of local communities was profoundly moving,” added Ledezma. “I felt truly thankful to be a part of something bigger than myself.”