Research

A special article collection on the human side of autonomous driving features Embry-Riddle research that looks at how positive and negative media portrayals of driverless vehicles affect consumer perceptions of the technology. The article collection, published by Elsevier and freely available until Dec. 31, 2018, covers six levels of automation, from none to hands-off driving. The editors note, however, that “regardless of the level of automation we reach, there will always be a human side to autonomous driving, whether it’s the psychology behind getting people into self-driving cars or the policy implications of the technology.” In a pair of Embry-Riddle studies, people were more willing to ride in driverless vehicles after hearing positive information about them, and less willing to ride after hearing negative information. Because people from India are significantly more willing to ride in driverless vehicles compared to Americans, the researchers also looked at the effect of nationality on an individual’s willingness to forego a human driver. Females from India had the highest willingness-to-ride scores, researchers found. The Embry-Riddle team was directed by Scott Winter, a faculty member in the College of Aviation’s School of Graduate Studies, and colleague Stephen Rice of the College of Arts and Sciences’ Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology Department on Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach, Fla., Campus. Student Emily Anania served as first author of the research. Co-authors were students Nathan Walters, Matthew Pierce and Mattie Milner.

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.