241-250 of 253 results
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Project Courier
CO-I Greg Diehl
CO-I John Robbins
Project Courier is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) delivery service that would operate across the ERAU campus aimed at allowing for quick delivery of documents, packages, and potentially food.
Logistically, the design of the project is relatively simple. A modified UAV will fly from one delivery point to another based on a preset flight path. The delivery points will be either structures in outdoor locations or open spots for personal pickup such as in front of the Student Village or in front of the College of Arts and Sciences. At each drop off zone there will either have to be a storage container for the payload or a user present to collect the deliverables; either way the focus of this project is so that students and staff could be able to access other university services via this delivery with ease. When a UAV runs low on battery, programming will be in place that will return the UAV to a dedicated charging hub allowing for, hopefully, a closed and automated system.
Despite the simplification above of the team’s goals, the work involved will be complex and multidisciplinary. We will involve skills in the field of programming, CATIA, structural engineering, aeronautical engineering, human resources, aeronautical law, logistics, and leadership. This calls for a team composed of everything Embry‑Riddle does and because of our parallel goal of catalyzing individuals anyone will be able to join.
Categories: Undergraduate
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Neuromuscular-Activated Armband for Safety Operation of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems
CO-I Eduardo Divo
CO-I Victor Huayamave
CO-I Jeremy Brown
The goal of this research is to implement wearable technology using neuromuscular activation and electrocardiograms signals to successfully operate small UAS using safety parameters proposed by the FAA.
In recent years, wearable technology using gesture recognition has gained increasing attention in the field of human-machine interaction. One technology proposes the use of myoelectric controllers to collect electromyography (EMG) signals from user’s neuromuscular activation as inputs. Available commercial devices have accomplished gesture control by detecting motion and muscle activation in different groups of skeletal muscle. In addition to wearable technologies, the use of small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) has seen an increase in popularity. The popularity and affordability of small UAS has also increased the number of new and inexperienced hobbyists and many are concerned that this will lead to the unsafe use of these vehicles. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a new set of regulations for commercial small UAS. However, few manufacturers have implemented safety features to their UAS. Therefore, we propose to engage in a research project where wearable technology using neuromuscular activation and electrocardiograms signals can be implemented to successfully operate small UAS using safety parameters proposed by the FAA. Our hypothesis is that we can measure abnormal spikes in heart rate and then establish these spikes as a threshold for safety of the UAS user. Then unexpected spikes in heart rate can be detected and transmitted to an armband. Using these thresholds, we can change the trajectory of the UAS to avoid collisions with the user.
Categories: Undergraduate
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GAANN
CO-I William Engblom
CO-I J. Gordon Leishman
This project is sponsored by the Department of Education Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) fellowship program to support six to 10 Ph.D. students of high ability and financial need in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University.
This project is sponsored by the Department of Education Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) fellowship program to support six to 10 Ph.D. students of high ability and financial need in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University. The purpose of the program is to enhance and diversify the pool of U.S. citizens who are qualified to teach and pursue research careers in the field of aerospace engineering.
Embry‑Riddle's Aerospace Engineering Department is among the top aerospace engineering programs in the nation. It is currently ranked 32nd for its graduate programs and 8th for its undergraduate program by U.S. News and World Report. The department currently has 34 faculty comprised of distinguished researchers and teachers in the fields of aerodynamics and propulsion, dynamics and control, as well as structures and materials.
GAANN Fellows will participate in a formal training/teaching program, which will allow them to learn, observe experienced teachers and gain hands-on experience in teaching. Fellows will receive instruction on effective teaching techniques and will be evaluated formally on their teaching. A far-reaching recruitment plan will allow Embry‑Riddle to identify outstanding and eligible students, especially from traditionally underrepresented groups. Embry‑Riddle is contributing matching funds in the form of tuition and fee assistance.
If you are interested in being supported as a GAANN Fellow, please contact Dr. Lyrintzis at lyrintzi@erau.edu.Categories: Faculty-Staff
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Autonomous Satellite Recovery
CO-I Devonte Grantham
CO-I Janet Marnane
Embry‑Riddle Future Space Explorers and Developers (ERFSEDS) will be attending a rocket competition in Utah this coming June, and they will receive extra points for the competition if they have a research project (not built by their club), Inside of their rockets. In collaboration with ERFSEDS, the Society 4 S.P.A.C.E. team would like to send a small satellite attached to a quad-coper as the research project (payload) for ERFSEDS rocket.
This project consists of building a quad-rotor that can fit in the space constraints of a rocket. This Rocket will reach an altitude of 10,000 to 20,000 ft. The Quadcopters objective will be to collect atmospheric data as it descends. The plan is to create a new chassis for the quad-copters electronic components and arms that will allow the quad copter to fold its arms inwards to meet the required space constraints. After launching the rocket, the quad copter/satellite will be deployed at the maximum altitude and begin collecting data once jettisoned from the rocket. Once reaching 1,000 feet the quad-copter will be programmed to deploy a parachute. Once it has reached a safe velocity, the engines will engage at around 400 feet (the maximum altitude for any civil autonomous or r/c vehicle) and the quad-copter will be autonomously navigate to a prearranged location. Flight planning will be done using the open source application Mission Planner. In addition to the critical components of the quad-copter, our design will integrate a number of other data by collecting sub-systems currently being used in the weather balloon project designed by the Society 4 S.P.A.C.E. team. These sensors will be able to collect pressure, temperature, humidity, wind and video. This project will provide it’s user with a better understanding of rocket propulsion system, UAVs in high altitude/velocity, and the effect of launch on the payload. The A.S.R.V will also drastically improve the data retrieval process, because it will bring the data directly to the user so the user does not have to search for it.
Categories: Undergraduate
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From degree to Chief Information Security Officer (CISO): A framework for consideration
CO-I Martha Harrell
Research findings from this study demonstrate a framework in which to examine the required skills of a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), with consideration of the relationship between the (a) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), (b) Chief Finance Officer (CFO), (c) Chief Information Officer (CIO), (d) Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), (e) Chief Risk Officer (CRO), and (f) Chief Security Officer (CSO) within the Information Security and Assurance field and the needs of both industry and academia. Participants were asked to complete a 10-15 minute survey conducted between various CISOs and academicians.
Categories: Faculty-Staff
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Generational Violence: Examining the Radicalization Process of Northern Ireland’s Youth
CO-I Sean Herman
CO-I Amy Grubb
This project seeks to understand the mechanism by which young people are becoming radicalized members of paramilitary organizations on both the Republican and Loyalist sides of the conflict.
With the 100th anniversary of Irish independence being marked this year, there is expected to be an increase in violent activity among paramilitary groups representing both sides of the conflict in Northern Ireland. Among these paramilitaries are an increasing number of young people who did not live through The Troubles of the 1970’s and 1980’s. This project will be conducted using qualitative analysis of primary and secondary sources, including interviews with scholars and representatives from government and non-government agencies, and archival data.
Categories: Undergraduate
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Oil for Terrorism: Examining the Effectiveness of Western Intervention in ISIS’s Oil Smuggling
CO-I Rae Heuer
CO-I Elisabeth Murray
The Terrorist organization ISIS has been identified as a violent, radical group that poses a threat to both the regional and international arena. By gathering both primary and secondary research data from foreign and domestic sources, this project investigates whether ending ISIS’s oil smuggling would decrease ISIS’s strength, power, and influence as a terrorist organization.
ISIS is, to date, the richest jihadi terrorist organization. It has several forms of revenue; however, smuggling and exporting oil from conquered facilities in Syria and Iraq is by far the most profitable, potentially bringing in millions of dollars a day. Due to the nature of terrorist organizations, ISIS does not have many expenses, giving it the ability to greatly increase its assets on an annual basis. For centuries, money has been shown to lead both power and influence. By gathering both primary and secondary research data from foreign and domestic sources, this project investigates whether ending ISIS’s oil smuggling would decrease ISIS’s strength, power, and influence as a terrorist organization.Categories: Undergraduate
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Eaglet: Writing Center and Tutoring Program
CO-I Wendi Kappers
The purpose of this research is to develop and implement a fully functioning writing center for the Embry‑Riddle Worldwide student body. The program will consist of a tutoring service to aid students with grammatically correct writing, forming coherent arguments, and properly addressing the specific objectives of the paper.
While writing tutor programs are routine at residential campuses, they are not for online programs, such as Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University's Worldwide Campus. In the fall of 2013, the English department and the Rothwell Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE) distributed a needs assessment survey to the Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University- Worldwide faculty for the potential need of an online writing center. The results from the needs assessment showed 80 percent of respondents indicated that they thought ERAU needed a writing center, and another 15 percent answered that maybe there was a need.
In January 2014, a pilot project was initiated that matched live tutors with students in three different online courses. Data collected from students, tutors, and instructors illuminated program successes, as well as ways to improve pilot implementations scheduled in future terms. The pilot included three courses taught in different modalities, from different colleges, and targeting different levels of students. Students submitted drafts of assignments via email, and tutors responded with feedback and comments within 48 hours. Types of feedback focused on organization, meeting assignment parameters, APA documentation and formatting, plagiarism avoidance, and language use and punctuation.
This is an on-going investigation until the determination is made about the need to create a Writing Center and what will be needed to support it in terms of staffing and services. Original findings were disseminated at the 2014 Lilly Conference held in Oxford, Ohio, hosted by Miami University and are planned to continue until the establishment of a center takes place or another mechanism is selected.
Categories: Faculty-Staff
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EagleVision Classroom (EVC) Best Practices
CO-I Wendi Kappers
To improve the quality of EVC instruction, an evaluation was initiated of the modality to further investigate the sources of negative feedback and comments; and to identify strategies and best practices gathered from recent EVC faculty and students suggesting improvements needed in the EVC modality.
Distance and online education have been growing in popularity over the past decade. However, synchronous, distance education still faces a number of challenges with respect to student engagement and effective teaching and learning. To help improve this modality, this study investigates best practices for teaching in a synchronous Virtual Classroom (VC). This evaluation identifies 48 classroom strategies; all of which can help engage students and make the VCs more effective. Where some strategies were ranked as “least” effective by survey participants, nearly all of them were also ranked as “most effective” by another instructor or student. These strategies are meant as a guide to help improve the VC experience. This research will organize and outline the identified practices and make recommendations for instructional designers and for instructors teaching in this modality to make the most of the experience.
Categories: Faculty-Staff
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NASA/ZeroG Microgravity Research
CO-I Pedro LLanos
CO-I Sathya Gangadharan
Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University and Carthage College proposed a technology demonstration that has several advantages over passive slosh control. Relative to slosh baffles, the proposed MAPMD technology has a lower total mass, a much higher degree of surface wave suppression, and less volumetric intrusion into the tank. The MAPMD concept also is optimized for cylindrical tanks (unlike elastomeric diaphragms, which work only in spherical pressure vessels), and currently requires no structural design changes to existing cylindrical propellant tanks.
The objective of the current research project under PI Kevin Crosby (Carthage College and University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio) is to demonstrate the effectiveness of a low-gravity active-damping diaphragm in reducing the gauging uncertainty of the Modal Propellant Gauging (MPG) technology during propellant slosh. The active damping system relies on a cross-woven mesh of magnetic alloy film embedded in a polymer matrix and formed into a thin circular membrane that floats freely (in 1-g) on the surface of the propellant. The alloy has a large magnetic permeability and demonstrates strong magnetostriction (expansion) under a static applied magnetic field. When formed into a mesh, the alloy is a “smart material” that experiences dramatic changes in structural properties under an applied magnetic field, expanding and stiffening from a pliable mesh to a more rigid structure. A secondary effect of the interaction of the alloy with an applied magnetic field is that the mesh can be induced to accelerate along magnetic field gradients, generating forces on the liquid that can further damp slosh waves. It is the enhanced rigidity and the restorative damping force of the membrane that we exploit in this technology to suppress surface waves and to localize propellant during slosh. The active damping technology used in this technology demonstration has been under development for several years at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. We refer to the mesh alloy embedded in the polymer matrix as a “Magnetoactive Propellant Management Device” (MAPMD). The MAPMD was developed by one of the authors of this proposal who, in partnership with Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, holds the patent for its application to slosh control (Sivasubramanian, et al., 2016). MAPMD has been demonstrated to suppress slosh in 1-g laboratory testing at the ERAU slosh facility with an effective reduction in slosh amplitudes of up to 50% for the low-mode rocking slosh commonly seen in low-gravity propellant slosh (Santhanam, et al., 2015).
Internal tank diaphragms have long been used in propellant management to control slosh. The diaphragm concept has evolved from elastomers with fixed boundaries on the inside walls of the tank to floating “micro-baffles” that move with the propellant to damp surface oscillations (Paul, 2016). While floating micro-baffles offer reliable slosh suppression in normal (1-g) gravity, the absence of a buoyant force in zero-g precludes their use in most space applications.
We proposed to test a hybrid of the existing MAPMD diaphragm in which an external magnetic field is used to position the free diaphragm near the top surface of the liquid in low gravity (where buoyant forces are not active). By adjusting the gradient of the magnetic field, the position of the diaphragm can be manipulated with high resolution, while the strength of the magnetic field determines the restorative forces applied to the sloshing liquid. The “Field Gradient Control” method of positioning a free-floating diaphragm is a new approach to propellant slosh mitigation that is both minimally invasive to the propellant tank (requiring only the free-float diaphragm inside the tank) and is scalable to large tank systems. The proposed test had three key objectives:
Objective 1: Demonstrate the ability to position the MAPMD diaphragm at the free surface of the liquid using field gradient positioning
Objective 2: Measure the reduction in slosh amplitude of low-gravity propellant simulant slosh when the MAPMD is activated (relative to passive diaphragm slosh suppression), and
Objective 3: Correlate the reduction in slosh amplitude with enhanced low-gravity gauging resolution of the MPG technology. The reduction in slosh amplitude will be measured relative to a free-floating but unactuated MAPMD.
Image below: Parabolic flight November 2019
Image below: Parabolic flight November 2020
Image below: Accompanied with Carthage College and ERAU students
Categories: Faculty-Staff
241-250 of 253 results