Research Projects Directory

PI Mohammad Moallemi
By assessing the required technology and operational safety, this research project will ensure a vibrant and productive integration of UAS into our national airspace.

PI Richard Prazenica

CO-I Hever Moncayo

CO-I Dae Won Kim

CO-I May Chan

CO-I Boutros Azizi

CO-I Milton Marwa
Smart materials offer several potential advantages for UAV flight control applications compared to traditional servo actuators. One important benefit is that smart materials are lightweight and can be embedded directly into the structure of a wing or control surface.

PI Elizabeth Lazzara

CO-I Joseph Keebler
Communication is an essential aspect of quality patient care in modern medicine, yet mishaps in communication during handoffs (i.e., the transition of a patient between two or more providers) happen frequently. The purpose of this project was to understand the factors that influence handoffs between anesthesia providers and clinicians within the post anesthesia care unit.

PI Ebenezer Gnanamanickam
This work focuses on understanding the coupled interactions between large and heavy solid particles, on a particle bed, and a gaseous (air) carrier phase turbulent boundary layer developing over the bed.

PI Ebenezer Gnanamanickam
This research focuses on understanding the interactions between turbulent flows and long (high aspect ratio), flexible hair-like microstructures or micropillars inspired by those encountered in nature. Some examples include lateral line sensors in fish, airflow sensors in bats and hair cover of animals such as seals and bats.

PI Michael Hickey
With technological breakthroughs in miniaturized aircraft-related components, including but not limited to communications, computer systems and sensors and, state-of-the-art unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have become a reality. This fast growing industry is anticipating and responding to a myriad of societal applications that will provide either new or more cost effective solutions that previous technologies could not, or will replace activities that involved humans in flight with associated risks.

PI Brent Terwilliger

CO-I David Ison

CO-I Dennis Vincenzi

CO-I Dahai Liu
This continuing research project features refinement of UAS application methods to support of ARFF responses. Previously, modeling and simulation, in combination with UAS attribute performance models, was implemented to better understand challenges, limitations, and potential benefits of UAS support. However, based on the findings and recommendations of the original inquiry, the research will be expanded to include examination of operator knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs), performance rating standards, and appropriate training requirements and delivery approaches.

PI Ciprian Mancas
Underwater vehicles, manned or unmanned, mostly rely on ballast tanks pressurization to control their depth. Compressed air and water are allowed to alternately fill the tanks to vary the overall density of the vehicle.

PI Scott Winter

CO-I Stephen Rice

CO-I Sean Crouse
The purpose of these studies is to determine the usability of urban air mobility (UAM) vehicles in the emergency response to natural disasters and the ideal locations for their take-off and landing sites to occur, consistent with the Center's Theme 2. UAM involves aerial vehicles, mostly operated autonomously, which can complete short flights around urban areas, although their applications are expanding to rural operations as well. While initially designed to support advanced transportation mobility, these vehicles could offer numerous advantages in the emergency response to natural disasters. Through a series of four studies with over 2,000 total participants, quantitative and qualitative methods will be used to identify UAM vehicles' usability in response to natural disasters. The studies will examine the types of natural disasters and types of missions where UAM could be considered usable, along with the creation of a valid scale to determine vertiport usability. Interviews will also be conducted to provide qualitative insights to complement the quantitative findings.

PI Kenneth Byrnes
Current methods to provide training to future flight instructors on the fundamentals of instruction is not considered adequate. Through role play, this study will employ a Flight Training Device (FTD) in a classroom to improve instructional method training and retention.

PI M. Ilhan Akbas
Autonomous Vehicle Validation and Verification AV V&V testing produces multi-variate time series data as output, which is evaluated to determine testing coverage.

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 ��ݮ��Ƶ (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.