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PHERB - Portable Hotfire Engine for Rocketry Basics
No full textRocket propulsion is one of the most captivating and inspiring fields for the future of engineering. However, both rocket enthusiasts and the general public alike often perceive it as a domain reserved only for the genius minds of each generation. PHERB seeks to challenge this perception and bridge the gap between hopes, aspirations, and accessibility. PHERB is a portable, compact, and visually exposed rocket engine and fluid system specifically designed for the purpose of introducing and educating high school students. Designed to fit inside a Pelican Case, rocketry will no longer be something students have to search for; instead, it will become an accessible and engaging opportunity, ready to be brought to schools and inspire the curious minds of todays youth. PHERB builds upon a completed research project from a Fall 2024 Cornerstone group that aimed to create a compact, mobile demonstrator to engage K-12 students in the principles of propulsion. This project will feature a fully functional miniature rocket engine utilizing ethanol and gaseous oxygen as propellants and the “heat sink” method of engine cooling. A core component of PHERB is its ability to not just display all of it’s hardware, but to actually demonstrate how it all works. With the malleability of the system, operators will be able to alter key rocket propulsion parameters to educate how each affects the performance of the engine. By adjusting the oxidizer-to-fuel ratio (O/F ratio),and combustion chamber pressure, students can observe real-time changes in thrust, efficiency, and exhaust characteristics, reinforcing fundamental rocket propulsion concepts. Students may not only gain a deeper understanding of the science behind propulsion but also develop an appreciation for the possibilities within engineering. In doing so, PHERB can inspire the next generation of engineers and strengthen Embry-Riddle’s reputation as a leader in STEM education and engagement
Porcine Decomposition Rates as An Estimate for Human Post-mortem Interval in Yavapai County, AZ
No full textThe rate of decomposition of human remains is variable, mostly depending on the ecosystem where the body is located. Major areas of the United States, such as Arizona\u27s Sonoran Desert, have been sites for decomposition studies to gain a general understanding of how the weather affects the rate of decomposition. Understanding the rate of decomposition in areas experiencing different weather conditions and insect and animal activity would benefit forensic scientists when determining post mortem interval (PMI), of a decedent. Because of Yavapai County\u27s unique elevation and weather patterns, it is unknown what the standard rate of decomposition is in the area. Sus scrofa domesticus, domesticated pigs, that are of a similar weight to female humans were used in this project because they are biologically similar to humans and are therefore commonly used as proxies. This project measured the air temperature, air humidity, soil temperature, soil moisture, soil pH, UVA/UVB rays, and luminous flux per unit area (LUX ) taken once daily from two deceased 1 00 lb. female pigs, one exposed to full sun and one placed in the shade in mid- February. Additional to the observation of physical changes, entomological activity was studied. Results obtained thus far demonstrate that the typical rate of decomposition, estimated from other areas of Arizona, has slowed, due to the colder temperatures, between 28- and 50-°F, Prescott, AZ has been experiencing. It was observed that rain and warmer temperatures from 60-73 °F, increased the rate of decomposition. Physical changes observed over the first 16 days of the project include: rigor mortis, severe bloating in the abdomen, edema surrounding the urethra seen from the abdomen, skin discoloration, liver mortis, coagulated blood and mucus escaping from the nasal cavity .. Insect and animal activity only began after 6 days of decomposition, with Calliphoridae (blow flies) and Formicidae (desert ants) activity and no visible larval activity in the cavities. With the temperatures recorded, it is likely cold weather and slowed decomposition have discouraged further activity up to this point. The sun pig showed bloating one week before the shade pig, yet the shade pig was more putrescent and exhibited higher insect activity. Changes in the weather, entomology, and physical conditions of the pigs will be monitored for a total of 6 weeks, or until skeletonization occurs. This study will provide important data and information on PM I for our unique high-desert ecosystem
Future of Fuel - Unleaded Fuel Initiative
No full textGeneral aviation has been fueled by 100 low lead (100LL) since the 1970s. Cars have moved away completely from leaded fuel by 1996. In 2022, the FAA has taken the same motivation from the car industry and formed the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) initiative. EAGLE’s goal is to eliminate leaded fuel for piston aircraft by 2030. With general aviation clearly moving towards unleaded fuel, this project looks towards implementing the results for Embry Riddle Prescott Flight Department and Prescott Regional Airport. With several flight schools in the country using unleaded fuel, this project will be a comparative analysis to which factors contributed to the success or unsuccessful elements of this transition and operations. The key to implementing new technology into any industry is to learn from any shortcomings and ensure that safety measures or regulations are put in place. This comparative analysis will include research into the maintenance inspections, operational assessment, certifications, distribution and other factors that are involved with using unleaded fuel. While there have been some setbacks recently for unleaded fuels, several flight schools have shown in the past years that unleaded fuels are a suitable option for airports and flight schools. These results will be used to provide insight and justification for Embry Riddle and Prescott Airport to utilize unleaded fuel
Vertical Flight Society Design-Build-Vertical Flight Competition 2025 - Thunder Vertical Flight Team
No full textOur team consists of ten members that are interested in the technological and innovative challenges that Vertical Flight Society (VFS) has proposed for competition guidelines this April in Churchville, Maryland. Thunder Vertical Flight Team designed an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for the 5th annual Design-Build-Vertical Flight (DBVF) competition, hosted by the VFS. This year\u27s competition focused on the growing industry and utility of small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) in wildfire suppression. Some competition requirements included achieving a maximum range within a restricted time, demonstrating agility, and carrying multiple 0.5 lb water bottle payloads while staying within a 25 lb maximum takeoff weight and max wingspan of 10 ft. Thunder designed BORAT (Battery Operated Rotaric Aerial Transport), which features a custom variable tilt-rotor design allowing for a more efficient payload fraction during vertical takeoff and landing. The aircraft then transitions into a conventional horizontal cruise configuration to take advantage of improved aerodynamic efficiency. Our team has developed a semi-modular construction for easy transportation and rapid assembly. The aircraft achieves a hover endurance of 15 minutes, with significantly extended endurance in horizontal flight. It can have single input commands to deploy a payload utilizing a reloadable auger system
GeNS Mechanical Loss Measurement
No full textGravitation waves are being observed at the Laser Interferometer Gravitational- Wave Observatory (LIGO). The sources from which LIGO detects gravitational waves are all fairly nearby compared to the size of the universe because instrument noise masks the faint signals from sources further away. Some of that instrument noise is due to the fact that the interferometer mirrors vibrate randomly--so-called Brownian motion. The characteristic that is most important in the evaluation of Brownian noise from mirrors is internal friction, also known as mechanical loss. If one causes the glass disk to vibrate, the vibration will eventually die out. By measuring the rate at which test mirrors ring-down we can estimate their mechanical loss and thereby predict how far out into the universe LIGO would be able to detect sources of gravitational waves if equipped with such mirrors. The apparatus required for such ring-down measurements consists of a small hemi-sphere of sapphire, silicon, or fused silica upon which the test mirror is balanced known as a Gentle Nodal Suspension or GeNS apparatus. Unfortunately, the mechanical loss measured by this apparatus is quite sensitive to the precise placement of the disk on the hemi-spherical balance point and we don\u27t really know how far out of balance the disk can be before the measurement is biased. So, how does the mechanical loss in the samples depend on the placement of the samples on the support? We are investigating this issue by re-commissioning an existing GeNS apparatus and then intentionally moving the balance point of the sample on its suspension. We are setting up a system for careful measurement of the balance point location in order to do a systematic study of mechanical loss as a function of the balance point location. The results of this will give insight into how far out of balance the mirror can be before the results of the experiment the apparatus is used in are biased. This will help improve the understanding of the GeNS system under vacuum conditions and potentially improve methods of Brownian Noise reduction in various systems including the ones within LIGO
Bathymetric Lidar
No full textThe purity of water is a critical factor in various industrial applications, including Bathymetric LiDAR; which relies on the transmission and reception of laser beams through water to capture underwater topography. Water quality can affect the performance of LiDAR systems, as impurities and suspended particles lead to light attenuation, impacting the accuracy and detail of the data. The project\u27s objective is to investigate the relationship between water purity and its effects on visible light spectrum lasers, focusing on light attenuation methods and quantitatively identifying the optimal visible light laser for Bathymetric LiDAR. Accurate and detailed underwater mapping relates to fields in defense, security, and space exploration, which includes: submarine navigation, harbor security, and potentially moon subsurface water exploration and mapping. By analyzing impure water on laser performance, we enhance the accuracy and reliability of LiDAR systems in complex settings and contribute to stronger security and new pathways of space exploration