Research

In mid-April, two Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University students, who are also Project PoSSUM graduates, served as test subjects for the first post-landing tests of a commercial spacesuit at Survival Systems USA in Groton, Conn. Embry-Riddle students Heidi Hammerstein and Amy Ramos recently completed a comprehensive training program in preparation for these tests, including instruction in post-landing systems engineering, spacecraft egress, and rescue and recovery architecture.

WeatherFlow, Inc., a leader in private sector weather observational, modeling and forecasting technology, is the newest addition to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Research Park.

Sampedro, a Colombian company dedicated to manufacturing medical devices for the musculoskeletal system, has chosen to partner with the innovation ecosystem in Volusia County to further their innovation efforts and to serve as a launchpad from which to expand internationally.

A unique new orthopedic knee brace took first-place honors at the second annual Launch Your Venture competition for Embry-Riddle student inventors and entrepreneurs. The Ascend™ knee brace, developed by undergraduate student and GRD Biomechanics CEO Mike Geldart, claimed the $10,000 prize at the competition.

The Office of Undergraduate Research at Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University announced the recipients of the sixth annual Discovery Day Awards, held on April 10. Discovery Day, the University’s Undergraduate Research Symposium, was the culmination of hard work and significant achievements for over 300 student researchers representing the four colleges at the Daytona Beach Campus – Engineering, Arts & Sciences, Business and Aviation. 

When tested on their knowledge of 23 types of weather information, from icing forecasts and turbulence reports to radar, 204 general aviation (GA) pilots surveyed by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University researchers were stumped by about 42% of the questions. The findings, published in the April 2018 edition of the International Journal of Aerospace Psychology, are worrisome because GA pilots flying smaller planes at lower altitudes, usually with minimal ground-based support, have higher weather-related accident and fatality rates, said Embry-Riddle’s Elizabeth Blickensderfer, a professor in the Department of Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology.