Highlights from Embry-Riddle’s annual research showcase in Prescott

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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Undergraduate Research Institute (URI) hosted its annual research conference this month. More than 50 student projects were presented on the Prescott, Arizona campus, showcasing the next generation of leaders in aerospace, engineering, business, science and security.

CARLOS team.

“It has been an exciting year for our Embry-Riddle students, as evidenced by the breadth and depth of the presentations at our Discovery Day events,” said Dr. Anne Boettcher, assistant dean of research for URI. “I have been repeatedly impressed by the insight, dedication and determination of our students.”

Forensic psychology student Narayt Salcido examined research titled “Addressing the Cold Case Crisis Among Arizona Tribes” to investigate the disproportionately high number of unsolved violent crimes impacting Arizona’s Native American communities

Salcido’s research, supervised by Dr. Diana Orem and Professor Kelly Crockett, focuses on factors contributing to the crisis, influenced by historical trauma and past government failures.

“A critical aspect of understanding the Native American Cold Case Crisis involves understanding tribal perspectives,” Salcido says. “By integrating tribal perspectives and empirical data to make recommendations, we hope to build a trusting relationship between local Arizona tribes, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and investigators.”

Together with faculty mentors Dr. Johann Dorfling and Dr. Richard Mangum, a team of aerospace engineering students, known as BOLT (Battery Operated Light Transport) Aerospace, has prepared to compete in the Vertical Flight Society’s prestigious Design-Build-Vertical-Flight Competition. in April

This national competition pushes the boundaries of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology and challenges students to design, build and fly electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

BOLT Aerospace’s design, called CARLOS (Craft for Aerial Relocation of Light Objects and Supplies), consists of two phases: one controlled and one autonomous. In both phases, the team’s eVTOL aircraft is tasked with taking off vertically, completing a course and landing vertically.

“Working on CARLOS last year was an amazing experience with more than 4,000 hours of hands-on analysis, design, manufacturing and testing,” said team member Hunter Nudson. “This project has thoroughly expanded our technical skills and prepared us for our future.”

Aided by NASA funding and a partnership with the Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project (NEBP), another team of student researchers designed a weather balloon and payload system called “SinyeLLA,” to collect valuable data during the total solar eclipse that occurred on April 8.

SinyeLLA will use a high-altitude balloon equipped with advanced sensors and cameras to understand the impact of eclipses on Earth’s atmosphere. With faculty mentors Dr. Kathryn Wesson, Dr. Yabin Liao and Dr. Seth McNeill, the project integrates elements from the applied aeronautical sciences, aerospace engineering, and computer, electrical, and software engineering disciplines.

“Working with NEBP and NASA was extraordinary,” says Mechanical Engineering student and researcher Mackenzie Shughart. “It was truly remarkable to be able to travel to Texas to test my payload with others and see how it produced high-definition images of the solar eclipse, including infrared.”

Through partnerships with Embry-Riddle Philanthropy Councils, Ignite, Eagle Prize and the Arizona Space Grant program, funding was awarded to support these innovative student research efforts.

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