UAV Autopilot Design for the AUVSI, UAS International Competition

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad M. Mahmood ◽  
Md S. Chowdhury ◽  
Rizwan Ihsan ◽  
Umar M. Yousaf ◽  
Mohamed W. Afifi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Flight Control ◽  
Computer Network ◽  
Imaging System ◽  
Aircraft Design ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft ◽  
American University ◽  
Ground Station ◽  
Aerial Imaging ◽  
Safety Features

This paper provides an overview of the first participation of the design developed by the undergraduate students of American University of Sharjah to meet the requirements laid forth in the 2008 Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) Student UAS competition. The overall objective of the competition is to fly autonomously over a GPS waypoint defined route and also to identify and locate ground based targets within a confined area. To meet the objectives an unmanned aircraft is equipped with autonomous functionality and aerial imaging system. A ground station and supportive software to keep track of the aircraft routine and log the raw data gained from the flight is also designed. Achieving complete success depends upon mission elements which include autonomous take-off and landing, autonomous control and waypoint navigation. The onboard equipment used was a flight control computer network, IMU, GPS, an air data system and a camera. Additionally, safety features such as manual override was also installed. Presented in this report are aircraft design and testing, the processes involved in accomplishing the goal, and the results and achievements.

Utilizing Schlieren Imaging to Visualize Heat Transfer Studies

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob C. Kaessinger ◽  
Kramer C. Kors ◽  
Jordan S. Lum ◽  
Heather E. Dillon ◽  
Shannon K. Mayer
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Cfd Simulation ◽  
Stokes Equations ◽  
Imaging System ◽  
Empirical Science ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Schlieren Imaging ◽  
Navier Stokes Equations ◽  
Imaging Device

Convective heat transfer beyond explicit solutions to the Navier Stokes equations is often an empirical science. Schlieren imaging is one of the only fluid imaging systems that can directly visualize the density gradients of a fluid using collimated light and refractive properties. The ability to visualize fluid densities is useful in both research and educational fields. A Schlieren imaging device has been constructed by undergraduate students at the University of Portland. The device is used for professorial heat transfer and fluid dynamics research and to help undergraduates visualize and understand natural convection. This paper documents the design decisions, design process, and the final specifications of the Schlieren system. A simple 2-D heated cylindrical model is considered and evaluated using Schlieren imaging, OpenFOAM C.F.D. simulation, and convection analysis using a Nusselt correlation. Results are presented for the three analysis techniques and show excellent verifications between the CFD simulation, Nusselt correlation, and Schlieren imaging system.

Lighting Up the Bulb’s Station

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adeeb Nami ◽  
Virginia Bodolica ◽  
Martin Spraggon
Keyword(s):  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Food Industry ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Critical Question ◽  
American University ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Predisposing Conditions ◽  
The Way

This case study follows the entrepreneurial journey initiated by a group of undergraduate students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and examines the decisions made and lessons learned along the way. Uncovering the intricacies of the process of business ideation, the case analyses the predisposing conditions that led to the establishment of the Bulb’s Station—a vending booth offering exclusively homemade food. A particular emphasis is placed on analysing the two major experiences that the partners had running the booth, namely, at the 2016 AUS Global Day and the 2016 UAE National Day Celebration at the American University of Sharjah (AUS). By providing detailed information regarding the type, variety, quantity and pricing of dishes on the menu, the reader is brought to estimate the extent to which the booth’s operation was successful at each of the two events. Based on prior challenges and shortcomings in adopted strategies, the partners are now confronted with the critical question of whether to turn the Bulb’s Station into a start-up company in the food industry in the UAE.

Decision tree classifiers for unmanned aircraft configuration selection

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
João Antônio Dantas de Jesus Ferreira ◽  
Ney Rafael Secco
Keyword(s):  
Decision Tree ◽  
Aircraft Design ◽  
Classification Problem ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft ◽  
Requirements Traceability ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Configuration Selection ◽  
Incomplete Databases ◽  
Engine Type ◽  
Selection Of

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the possibility of lowering the time taken during the aircraft design for unmanned aerial vehicles by using machine learning (ML) for the configuration selection phase. In this work, a database of unmanned aircraft is compiled and is proposed that decision tree classifiers (DTC) can understand the relations between mission and operational requirements and the resulting aircraft configuration. Design/methodology/approach This paper presents a ML-based approach to configuration selection of unmanned aircraft. Multiple DTC are built to predict the overall configuration. The classifiers are trained with a database of 118 unmanned aircraft with 57 characteristics, 47 of which are inputs for the classification problem, and 10 are the desired outputs, such as wing configuration or engine type. Findings This paper shows that DTC can be used for the configuration selection of unmanned aircraft with reasonable accuracy, understanding the connections between the different mission requirements and the culminating configuration. The framework is also capable of dealing with incomplete databases, maximizing the available knowledge. Originality/value This paper increases the computational usage for the aircraft design while retaining requirements’ traceability and increasing decision awareness.

Social Media in Higher Education

2019 ◽  
pp. 898-922
Author(s):  
Laura Aymerich-Franch
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Teaching Resources ◽  
American University ◽  
Privacy Concerns ◽  
Spanish Universities ◽  
The University

This chapter analyses privacy concerns of students and faculty resulting from the adoption of social media as teaching resources in higher education. In addition, the chapter focuses on privacy concerns that social media can cause to faculty when they are used for social networking. A trans-cultural study was carried out which involved three Spanish universities, a Colombian university, and an American university. A focus group was organized with PhD students to brainstorm the topic. Afterwards, 94 undergraduate students completed a survey and 18 lecturers participated in a written interview. Results indicate that social media are widely adopted in the university and are perceived as valuable resources for teaching. However, privacy concerns can easily emerge among students and faculty when these applications are used for this purpose. Concerns may appear when social media are used for social networking as well. The text also offers some guidelines to overcome them.

scholarly journals “Because of the Christian Fellowship, I Decided to Stay”: How Participating in a Christian Community Shapes the Social Experiences of Chinese International Students

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 234
Author(s):  
Anke Li ◽  
Chi Nguyen ◽  
Jinhee Choi
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
Learning Community ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Social Experiences ◽  
Ethnographic Study ◽  
Christian Community ◽  
American University ◽  
The Social ◽  
Christian Fellowship ◽  
The University

This ethnographic study examines how participation in a Christian church community shapes Chinese international undergraduate students’ social experiences in an American university. Our findings reveal that Chinese international undergraduate students identify the church and its fellowship as (1) a social support community and (2) an informal learning community, one which fills in the gap in counseling services and interpersonal activities that the university fails to offer. Recommendations are made for higher education institutions to provide stronger support for international students, regardless of their nationalities and religions.

American Undergraduate Students’ Social Experiences With Chinese International Students

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 354-370
Author(s):  
Takahiro Sato ◽  
Valerie Burge-Hall ◽  
Tsuyoshi Matsumoto
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
Social Exchange ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Global Education ◽  
Social Exchange Theory ◽  
Social Experiences ◽  
Chinese International Students ◽  
International Exchange ◽  
American University ◽  
The Social

The purpose of this study was to describe and explain American undergraduate students’ social experiences interacting with non-native English-speaking Chinese international students during conversational practices at an American university. This study used an explanatory (holistic) multiple case study design (Yin, 2003) using in-depth, semistructured interviews grounded in the social exchange theory. The participants were seven American students (three men and four women) who served as conversation partners of Chinese international exchange students during each fall semester. Three major interrelated and complex themes emerged from the data. They were (a) developing social reward relationships, (b) proving the social norm information during the conversational partnerships, and (c) employing/utilizing strategies for developing trust relationships. The results of this study can be utilized to encourage faculty, global education office staff, and all students to respect, value, and embrace the languages and cultures of Chinese international students. This contribution can prompt a greater appreciation for diversity which leads to meaningful academic, athletic, and social experiences for all students at American college and university.

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