41-50 of 204 results
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Maritime RobotX Challenge
PI Eric Coyle
CO-I Patrick Currier
CO-I Charles Reinholtz
CO-I Brian Butka
The Maritime RobotX Challenge entails the development and demonstration of an autonomous surface vehicle (ASV). Embry‑Riddle is one of three U.S. schools selected to compete in the challenge, which is co-sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) Foundation.
The 2014 ERAU platform, named Minion, is a 16-foot fully-autonomous Wave Adaptive Modular Vessel (WAM-V) platform and is registered as an autonomous boat in the state of Florida. Minion's development currently focuses on autonomous tasks of buoy channel navigation, debris avoidance, docking, target identification and sonar localization. To accomplishing these tasks, the team has developed as set of system software nodes including state estimation, object classification, mapping and trajectory planning. These nodes run in parallel across a set of networked computers for distributed processing. Minion's propulsion system is centered around a set rim-driven hubless motors attached to articulated motor pods. This design reduces the risk of entanglement, and provides consistent thrust by maintaining motor depth in rough seas.The group is currently developing the 2016 platform for the competition
Categories: Faculty-Staff
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Multi-Modal Sensor Fusion for ASV Situational Awareness
PI Eric Coyle
CO-I Patrick Currier
An investigation into strategies and techniques for maritime object detection and classification using visual and spatial data with an emphasis on sensor fusion.
This project focuses on enhancing autonomous surface vessel (ASV) situational awareness through the fusion of visual and spatial sensing, aiming to improve the detection and classification of objects in the surrounding environment. Such technologies have applications in patrolling test ranges, enhancing harbor security, and using ASVs as support vessels for manned operations. The research is structured around four main objectives: creating and annotating multi-modal maritime data for sensor fusion, developing accurate surface maps for navigation, applying machine learning techniques for robust object identification, and creating sensor fusion strategies for improved robustness. The team uses a custom data acquisition system, which was used to create the open-source ER-Coast dataset. This dataset includes Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), high-resolution cameras, infrared cameras, and localization sensors to capture coastal waterways in Florida, both day and night, across 36 sequences. A portion of this data has been made publicly available for future LiDAR semantic segmentation, image segmentation, and object detection studies.Categories: Faculty-Staff
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Exploring vulnerabilities, threats, and exploits in small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS)
PI John Craiger
Small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS), also known as drones, have been called flying computers given the overlap in their technologies. The purpose of this research is to conduct cybersecurity vulnerability assessments of several sUAS to identify vulnerabilities, threats, and associated exploits to the sUAS. Cyber vulnerabilities could theoretically allow a bad actor to take control of the sUAS, cause it to malfunction while in flight, and more.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) predicts that purchases of hobbyist small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) will grow from 1.9 million in 2016 to 4.3 million by 2020, and commercial sUAS to increase from 600,000 in 2016 to 2.7 million by 2020. sUAS, often referred to as ‘drones,’ are comprised of aeronautical hardware, a CPU, RAM, onboard storage, radio frequency communications, sensors, a camera, and a controller used by the pilot-in-command. Some have argued that a sUAS is essentially a flying computer. As such, sUAS may be susceptible to many of the types of attacks that are often used on personal computers attached to a computer network. Potential attacks on sUAS include de-authentication (i.e., ‘terminating’ the sUAS from the network); GPS spoofing (e.g., modifying or faking GPS coordinates); unauthorized access to the computer flight systems and onboard storage; jamming the communications channel (resulting in the possible loss of the sUAS); and contaminating the sUAS geofencing mechanism (allowing the sUAS to fly in a ‘no-fly-zone’). The result of these types of attacks include theft of the sUAS; flying the sUAS into sensitive/off- limits areas; purposefully crashing the sUAS to cause damage to persons or equipment (including airplanes, crowds, etc.); and theft or adulteration of sensitive data (e.g., law enforcement surveillance data).
The purpose of this research is to identify potential threats, vulnerabilities, and exploits for a subset of consumer/hobby sUAS that were included in the 2016 ERAU sUAS Consumer Guide. The research will apply a threat modeling approach to identify cyber-based vulnerabilities; potential attack vectors; commercial-off-the-shelf and “home-built” equipment required to effectuate attacks; cyber and kinetic ramifications of attacks; and mitigating strategies for protecting sUAS from cyber-attacks. Vulnerability assessments are to be conducted via network scanning tools to identify open network ports, vulnerability scanners that identify system vulnerabilities, and tools used for the associated exploitation of these vulnerabilities. The exploitation (i.e., attack) architecture will use an attack proxy consisting of a Raspberry PI running Kali Linux OS, and specifically outfitted with multiple network interface cards, allowing the proxy to capture and manipulate network traffic in either managed or monitor (i.e., active vs. passive) mode. Given that most personal computers are known to suffer from various cyber vulnerabilities, and many of the components and software are the same as used in personal computers, we expect to observe the same for the sUAS.
Identifying threats and vulnerabilities has two purposes, one defensive, and one offensive. From the defensive side, manufacturers, and even users, should be aware of potential threats. Manufacturers should be aware that the design and component decisions can effect the cybersecurity of the sUAS. From the offensive side, sUAS pilots are known to fly them for nefarious purposes, including flying into no-fly zones, violating the privacy of individuals using attached high-definition cameras, etc. Indeed, a new and growing industry involves developing anti-drone techniques to protect against rogue sUAS and their pilots.
Categories: Faculty-Staff
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Using Virtual Reality to Identify Cybersecurity Threats for Navy Midshipmen
PI Andrew Dattel
CO-I Omar Ochoa
CO-I Daniel Friedenzohn
CO-I Trevor Goodwin
CO-I Harry Brodeen
This research is investigating the training of U.S. Navy Midshipman enrolled in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) to identify cyber and security threats in a simulated bridge of a Navy vessel. Midshipmen will receive classroom instruction, as well as training in a virtual reality bridge simulator. The knowledge and skills training the midshipmen received is intended to transfer to the applications of midshipmen’s future positions and careers.
Cyber and security threats are burgeoning tactics being used in wartime affairs. The first line of defense of a vulnerable vessel is for the crew to distinguish misinformation from factual information. To increase the preparedness of cybersecurity threat awareness, the Office of Naval Research is interested in innovative training initiatives at colleges and universities that support Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs. Twenty Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) enrolled in Navy ROTC will be recruited to participate in an 8-week long training program. These 20 midshipmen will participate in traditional classroom instruction, practice on a bridge (i.e., ship control room) virtual reality (VR) simulator, and participate in a specifically designed VR bridge application. This VR application is being designed by the XR Lab in the College of Aviation.
In the classroom setting, midshipmen will receive instruction in theoretical and practical applications to identify cyber and electronic warfare threats. This instruction will go beyond any cybersecurity training that may have been received in previous courses offered by the Naval Sciences curriculum. Group discussion and activities to encourage inquiry-based learning will fulfill some of the classroom requirements and when participating in the VR bridge application.
Midshipmen will also receive a few hours of practice in the Conning Officer Virtual Environment (COVE) simulator. The Cove simulator is designed to allow students to practice navigating ship maneuvering without the risk and expense of operations at sea. However, the COVE simulator does not permit the injection of misinformation experienced in a cyber-intrusion situation.
A VR application will replicate the bridge of a Navy vessel and immerse the operators in a VR environment. This application will permit subtle cyber threats to be introduced during the scenario. The first phase of the application will include three primary resources of the bridge: the Automatic Identification System (AIS), the Voyage Management System (VMS), and Radar. The AIS is based on a transponder system and functions as a broadcast messaging system. The VMS functions as the navigation charting display and is partially based on the Global Positioning System (GPS). Threats such as misinformed broadcast information, erroneous navigation position (e.g., showing own vessel traveling in an untrue heading), and radar misinformation (e.g., showing a friendly ship as an enemy ship) are potentially vulnerable by hacking and other nefarious actions.
Midshipmen in the Trainee position will spend several hours in the VR simulator identifying these cyber threats. Midshipmen will also spend time in the Instructor position to execute command functions that introduce the misinformation. This role of Instructor will show the midshipmen when a threat is introduced and how the Trainee responds. There will be three to four midshipmen observers during any given scenario. After each scenario, the Trainee, Instructor, and Observers will discuss hits and misses that occurred during the scenario. In addition to cohort discussion periods, performance feedback will be given by the instructors.
Research Design
This research will utilize a 2 x 2 mixed quantitative design. Twenty midshipmen (the experimental group) will complete a pretest before starting the curriculum and a posttest after completing all aspects of the curriculum (traditional classroom instruction, participation in the COVE simulator, and participation in the specifically designed VR simulation). A control group that will receive the pretest and posttest will be compared to the experimental group. Evaluation metrics will include accuracy and response time to threats in the VR simulations and measurements of the skills developed in the COVE simulator and knowledge acquired in classroom instruction and the specifically designed VR simulation. At the end of the study, participants will complete a survey consisting of forced-choice and open-ended questions about their experience, self-efficacy, and opinions about the 8-week long study.
This study intends to train midshipmen to be better prepared to identify cybersecurity threats in their future positions and career following graduation from the program. The specific VR application is being designed to be sustainable to be further utilized for the future Naval curriculum and other applications.
Categories: Faculty-Staff
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Natural Fiber Reinforced Polymer (NFRP) Composites
PI Birce Dikici
This research is directed toward understanding the thermophysical and nanomechanical properties of NFRP composites in order to predict and optimize the behavior of the final product.
According to Mordor Intelligence Market Research report, the natural fiber reinforced composites market is projected to register a compound annual ground rate of 11% during the forecast period (2021-2026). Natural fibers have the advantages of low cost, low density, and biodegradability. However, natural fibers also have some limitations such as moisture absorption, poor chemical and fire resistance, variations in fiber geometry, high dispersion of mechanical properties, poor interfacial interactions with polymeric matrices. Cellulose fibers are the most abundant natural fiber worldwide that form most of the agricultural wastes. One intriguing form of these fibers is nanocellulose. Nanocellulose consists of rod/fibril-like nanoparticles that have outstanding mechanical properties, low coefficients of thermal expansion, with a surface chemistry that can be readily modified. Our group have demonstrated the ability to extract nanocellulose fibers from pinecones - using acid digestion- and fabricate an epoxy based composite. This research is directed toward understanding the thermophysical and nanomechanical properties of NFRP composites in order to predict and optimize the behavior of the final product.Categories: Faculty-Staff
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Investigation of an Injection-Jet Self-Powered Fontan Circulation: A Novel Bridge and Destination Therapy for the Failing Fontan
PI Eduardo Divo
CO-I Arka Das
This research effort unifies multiscale computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and mock circulatory loop (MCL) benchtop cross-validations to analyze the hemodynamic impact of an innovative palliative alternative: the Injection-Jet-assisted Fontan circulation.
A structurally normal heart consists of two separate pumping chambers, or ventricles. One pumps deoxygenated blood from the body to the lungs, while the other delivers oxygenated blood from the lungs to the body. Approximately 8% of all newborns with a congenital heart defect have only a single functioning ventricle (SV). These patients cannot survive without a series of staged palliative operations to ensure adequate blood flow to both the pulmonary and systemic circulations. The final step in this staged reconstruction is the Fontan operation. While lifesaving, this unique physiology directs systemic venous return passively into the pulmonary arteries without the need for a subpulmonary pump. This results in chronically elevated central venous pressure and reduced cardiac output. Over time, this non-physiologic flow leads to significant morbidity, including hepatic fibrosis, protein-losing enteropathy, and Fontan-associated liver disease. A 2018 study of 683 adult Fontan patients from the Australian and New Zealand Fontan Registry reported 20% mortality by age 40, with only 53% free of heart failure symptoms and 41% free of serious adverse events. Similar outcomes have been documented worldwide, with nearly half of the observed morbidity and mortality attributed directly to failure of the unique Fontan circulatory system. To address this growing clinical challenge, our team is developing a novel, surgically implantable Injection-Jet Shunt (IJS) as a passive support strategy for patients with a failing Fontan circulation. This approach challenges the prevailing paradigm that mechanical pumps are the only viable support option for this population. Our proposed mechanism utilizes an intra-corporeal, surgically feasible shunt that harnesses the patient’s own cardiac power to inject a high-velocity jet from the aorta into the Fontan conduit. This jet entrains ambient inferior vena cava (IVC) flow, facilitating momentum transfer into the pulmonary circuit and unloading proximal venous pressure, all without any external power source. Multi-scale CFD simulations have demonstrated that this mechanism can lower Fontan pressure by 3 to 4 mmHg while maintaining clinically acceptable systemic oxygen saturations. These encouraging in-silico findings are currently being cross-validated in-vitro using a dynamically calibrated MCL that replicates Fontan hemodynamics under both resting and simulated exercise conditions. To characterize the flow behavior and jet entrainment dynamics of the Injection-Jet Shunt (IJS), the experimental MCL integrates both Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and Light-Induced Fluorometry (LIF) systems. PIV enables high-resolution quantification of velocity fields and shear layers, while LIF captures real-time oxygen transport in benchtop Fontan surrogates, allowing for the assessment of systemic flow distribution and entrained volume fractions. A Proper Orthogonal Decomposition trained Radial Basis Function (POD-RBF) interpolation framework is applied to reconstruct and enhance the spatiotemporal flow fields. This combined optical and data-driven approach enables detailed mapping of jet structure, entrainment efficacy, and pulmonary perfusion, supporting the optimization of IJS configurations for future clinical translation. If successful, the IJS may provide a low-risk, fully passive alternative to conventional mechanical support, potentially delaying or obviating the need for heart transplantation and improving quality of life for children and young adults with single-ventricle physiology.
Categories: Faculty-Staff
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EVALUATING RESILIENCE IN COMMERCIAL AIRLINES THROUGH SUPPLY CHAIN FLEXIBILITY IN THE PRE & POST COVID-19 WORLD: APPLYING THE SUPPLY CHAIN FLEXIBILITY RATIO
PI Stephanie Douglas
CO-I Juan Roman
CO-I Thomas Schaefer
Measuring supply chain flexibility in the Airline – Mainline Passenger industry.
This study investigates the relationship between factors of supply chain flexibility that may explain the success of some airline companies throughout various shocks and most recently the COVID-19 pandemic. The study focuses on the viability of the underlying supply chain models within major U.S. airline companies. Specifically, the study explores supply chain flexibility as a component of the Supply Chain Operations Reference metrics. Multiple regressions were performed and found the Supply Chain Flexibility Ratio being a predictive value of supply chain flexibility p< .05 and indicating supply chain flexibility which can be used as an indicator of organizational resilience in the Airline – Mainline Passenger industry.Categories: Faculty-Staff
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UAS Parameters, Exceedances, Recording Rates for ASIAS
PI David Esser
The project was to support aggregation of UAS flight data with commercial, general aviation and surveillance data, to develop enhanced safety analyses for NAS stakeholders, support UAS integration in the NAS, and support the Unmanned Aircraft Safety Team (UAST).
The purpose of the project was to enable the safe integration of UAS in the NAS through building upon existing aviation database and data-sharing efforts encouraged and endorsed by participating government-industry entities. Through this research, a data architecture for unmanned air and ground vehicles and operations was developed in alignment with the FAA’s Aviation Safety Information and Sharing (ASIAS) program.
This project designed and evaluated Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) for unmanned operations and integrated that data into the Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing (ASIAS) system. In addition, this project identified current Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) FDM capabilities and practices, including refresh/recording rate and robustness, and developed guidance for a UAS FDM standard. The UAS community has specific and disparate needs in relation to manned aviation, such as the need for strong cyber-security measures regarding telemetry streams and the storage of sensitive UAS flight data. This project sought to identify the best governance practices regarding the use and research involved with UAS flight data. The project team included original members who designed and deployed the National General Aviation Flight Information Database (NGAFID) which has successfully integrated and is data-sharing with ASIAS.
This project identified UAS FDM events, including event definitions and exceedances, using the normal ASIAS techniques. Future phases of this project will include the actual deployment of a UAS database which interfaces with ASIAS similar to other safety reporting programs.
Categories: Faculty-Staff
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UAS Flight Data Research in Support of ASIAS (Aviation Safety Information and Analysis Sharing)
PI David Esser
This research will aggregate high quality UAS flight data with commercial and general aviation flight data and surveillance data, in order to develop enhanced safety analyses for NAS stakeholders and to support UAS integration in the NAS.
The overarching purpose of this research is to enable safe integration of UAS in the NAS through building upon existing aviation database and data-sharing efforts encouraged and endorsed by participating government-industry entities. Through this research, a data architecture for unmanned air and ground vehicles and operations will be developed in alignment with the FAA’s Aviation Safety Information and Sharing (ASIAS) program.
This project will design and evaluate Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) for unmanned operations and integrate that data into the Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing (ASIAS) system. In addition, this project will integrate the findings from ASSURE project A20, which identified current Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) FDM capabilities and practices, including refresh/recording rate and robustness, and developed guidance for a UAS FDM standard. The proposed team includes original members who designed and deployed the National General Aviation Flight Information Database (NGAFID), which has successfully integrated and is data-sharing with ASIAS.
Categories: Faculty-Staff
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A Comparison of Online and Traditional Undergraduate Introductory Physics
PI Emily Faulconer
CO-I John Griffith
CO-I Beverly Wood
CO-I Soumyadip Acharyya
CO-I Donna Roberts
While the equivalence between online and traditional classrooms has been well-researched, very little of this includes college level introductory physics. Only one study explored physics at the whole-class level rather than specific course components such as a single lab or a homework platform. In this work, we compared the failure rate, grade distribution, and withdrawal rates in an introductory undergraduate physics course across several learning modes including traditional face-to-face instruction, synchronous video instruction, and online classes.
In this study, statistically significant differences were found for student failure rates, grade distribution, and withdrawal rates but yielded small effect sizes. Post-hoc pair-wise test were run to determine differences between learning modes. Online students had a significantly lower failure rate than students who took the class via synchronous video classroom. While statistically significant differences were found for grade distributions, the pair-wise comparison yielded no statistically significance differences between learning modes when using the more conservative Bonferroni correction in post-hoc testing. Finally, in this study, student withdrawal rates were lowest for students who took the class in person (in-person classroom and synchronous video classroom) than online. Students that persist in an online introductory physics class are more likely to achieve an A than in other modes. However, the withdrawal rate is higher from online physics courses. Further research is warranted to better understand the reasons for higher withdrawal rates in online courses. Finding the root cause to help eliminate differences in student performance across learning modes should remain a high priority for education researchers and the education community as a whole.
Categories: Faculty-Staff
41-50 of 204 results