An Engineer, Storyteller, and Creative.
Research
Federal Aviation Administration, ASCENT Project 054
Graduate Research Assistant
In Fall 2020, 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
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