An Engineer, Podcaster, and Creative.
Research
Lunar Resource Utilization Experiment
Georgia Tech Research Institute
Skills :
Space Policy Research International Affairs
Presenting at a conference
Paper writing
In Spring 2022, I was a graduate researcher under Dr. Borowitz on the Lunar In Situ Atomic Resource Utilization Experiment (LISA RUE), developing the formalization of internationally-acceptable norms of behavior when it comes to lunar resource utilization for military, scientific and economic purposes, in collaboration with the Chemical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and International Affairs departments at Georgia Tech. This work was presented at the 73'rd International Astronautical Congress in Paris, France. You can find the abstract here.
This program is to yield the first CubeSat-scale lunar regolith processing device capable of manufacturing optical quality glass, and/or elements for use in batteries and solar cells on the lunar surface.
Model-Based Systems Engineering
Graduate Student Project
In graduate school, I worked on a ‘Requirement Verification and Model-Based Systems Engineering Framework for Novel General Aviation’ for the NASA X-57. Novel general aviation technologies are being developed across the world, in many forms, creating unprecedented challenges for regulators. This is creating a need for innovative methods of interpreting and verifying certification requirements. For manufacturers, there is a level of uncertainty on what the applicable regulatory requirements are, the associated means of compliance, and additional concerns with the novelty of the systems involved both for functional and physical architectures. Since the differences between conventional and novel vehicles are so fundamental and complex, model-based systems engineering can alleviate the pressures in systematically addressing the complexity of the vehicle and regulatory environments to see where the gaps are clearly and consistently emerging. This project proposed a structured framework for the pursuit of compliance testing and requirement verification prior to certification, massively expediting the process for novel general aviation manufacturers and the time to market. This was further supported by discussions I organized with the NASA Langley Advanced Concepts Group Lead, KittyHawk Senior Systems Engineer, former NASA Director for Aviation Safety, and the Co-founder of the Community Air Mobility Initiative.
Skills :
SysML
Monthly technical presentations
Model-Based Systems Engineering
Presenting to stakeholders
Teamwork
Flight Safety Predictive Modeling for Airline Operations using Machine Learning
FAA Graduate Research Assistant
In Spring 2021, I was a graduate research assistant sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) NJ Tech Center on their Runway Safety Project, 'Flight Safety Predictive Modeling for Airline Operations using Machine Learning' at the Aerospace Systems Design Lab at Georgia Tech. I used Python to prepare the datasets that would be run through the Machine Learning algorithm to provide insights regarding the various runways in the data. Find more on FAA's Runway Safety initiatives here.
Skills :
Teamwork Python
Presenting to Sponsors
Tableau Machine Learning
Federal Aviation Administration, ASCENT Project 054
FAA Graduate Research Assistant
In Fall 2020 and 2021, I worked on improving FAA's Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT) as a Graduate Research Assistant at the Aerospace Systems Design Lab at Georgia Tech. AEDT currently models arrival profiles using specified fixed point trajectories or manufacturer-provided procedures. My task on 'Arrival Profile Modelling' involved comparing data from real flights to the models in AEDT to make recommendations on how to improve AEDT models such that they capture real flight operations.
To accomplish this, the goal was to examine prior years research and arrival profile recommendations; study prior Python algorithms for level-off detection, level-off length calculation, and other parameters; conduct similar efforts with arrival profiles from other data sources available (threaded track, ADS-B); develop a modified algorithm for applying to threaded track/ADSB data, and use statistical analysis to confirm the original recommendations and refine as needed.
Accident Causation and System Safety
Research Team Lead
In Fall 2019 I took a Options course which provided an in-depth examination of the multidisciplinary issues in accident causation and system safety across different industries. As part of the course I opted to conduct a team-based research study, paper and poster presentation on the topic of "Recurring Failure Modes in Aircraft Disappearances: Improvements in Location Tracking Requirements and Review of Solutions".
I was the lead on the team and chose this topic to address the questions I had since 2014 regarding the MH370 disappearance, which set into motion my interest in Aerospace Engineering. Besides providing direction for the team and consolidating ideas, I independently conducted onsite informational interviews with companies. One of these visits was to Aireon, one of the only solution providers of 'Space-based ADSB'. The paper, poster and our findings can be found linked below:
Skills :
Teamwork Python
Presenting to Sponsors
Tableau Machine Learning
Skills :
Leadership Networking
Perusing Through Databases
Writing Editing Finding Multiple Sources
Effective Poster Layout
Technical Public - Speaking
Experimental Aerodynamics and Concepts Laboratory
Wind Tunnel Research Assistant
Between AY 2017 - 2018 I worked at the Experimental Aerodynamics and Concepts Lab at Georgia Tech. Here my team developed a reflector concept dubbed the 'Flying-Carpet' to reduce the effects of climate change. The team's concept studies indicated that a set of reflectors located in the upper atmosphere could efficiently reduce radiant forcing into the atmosphere. We proposed to do this by using aircraft to reflect it back into space.
This involved a design in which the reflective sheets were concentrated within efficient bands rather than being uniformly spread over the globe. The basic element of the Flying-Carpet was a rigidized reflector sheet towed behind and above by a solar-powered, distributed electric- propelled flying wing. 10 of these flying carpets could join together to form an extremely efficient high-aspect-ratio rectangular wing. The carpets were to be arranged around the equator where the sunlight is most intense. The paper, and images of the prototyping process can be found below:
Skills :
Prototyping Solidworks Overleaf
Student - Professor Communication
Effective Poster Layout
Technical Public - Speaking
Teamwork Machine Shop Training