Breakout Group Discussion

Breakout Group Discussion: Emerging directions for aerospace cyber security research and education (participants breakout into smaller groups to discuss and identify grand challenges and related near-, mid-, and long-term goals, and report out

Building the Future Flight Path: Funding Strategies for Advanced Air Mobility Education

As Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) transforms the aviation landscape, the demand for a workforce skilled in emerging technologies, systems integration, and regulatory frameworks is growing rapidly. Yet, educational programs capable of preparing this workforce often struggle to secure sustainable funding. This presentation examines how educators and industry leaders can collaborate to design, fund, and scale AAM-focused educational initiatives—drawing inspiration from models such as those championed by the Advanced Air Mobility Institute. We will explore diverse funding pathways, including public–private partnerships, workforce innovation grants, and corporate investment in curriculum development. Special attention will be given to strategies that align academic programs with industry needs, creating pipelines for talent that strengthen both education and enterprise. Attendees will learn how to leverage joint research projects, internship programs, and community partnerships to attract financial and institutional support. Through case studies and policy examples, we will identify successful approaches that ensure program longevity while promoting diversity, inclusion, and regional economic growth. By fostering alignment between educational outcomes and industry advancement, this session empowers stakeholders to create funding ecosystems that support both learning and innovation. Ultimately, this presentation argues that coordinated investment between education and industry is not just beneficial—it is essential to realizing a sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready AAM sector

Collaboration with KP Aviation: Reassessing Avionics with Elemental Analysis

The aviation industry’s rapid growth presents a challenge to mitigate its carbon footprint. One implemented strategy is recycling and repurposing aircraft components. Recycling and repurposing aircraft material reduces the demand for component production, therefore reducing the environmental burden of the aviation industry. KP Aviation is an aftermarket aerospace material and services provider focused on enhancing the aviation ecosystem and extending the lifespan of aerospace materials. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and KP Aviation are collaborating to evaluate the benefit of recycling aerospace via precious metal detection. Total x-ray fluorescence (TXRF) spectroscopy will quantify these precious metals, providing insight into the intrinsic economic value (IEV) of the component. If the IEV is higher than previously thought, scrapping the component may be reconsidered

Digital Icarus: Learning from Mythology in the Age of AI Aviation

The haunting inevitability of Icarus\u27s choice to fly higher mirrors our relationship with AI—we create incredible systems, then struggle with losing control. What can a 2,000-year-old Greek myth teach us about maintaining the balance between innovation and safety in AI-powered aviation

Considerations of Undrained Behavior of Compacted Clay Embankments Under Extreme Wetting-Drying Cycles

Many geotechnical analyses, including slope stability, involve unsaturated soils or soils in thevadose zone. Undrained loading happens when the increase in driving forces occurs quicker thanthe ability of the soil to dissipate its pore-water pressure (PWP). During undrained loading forcompacted clay embankments, in which the material is typically unsaturated, it has beenestablished that the increase in shear strength caused by an increase in confining pressure is largerthan the reduction in shear strength due to a decrease in matric suction. This concept is not wellestablished in engineering practice because the conventional understanding is that the strength ofunsaturated soils is larger than that of saturated soils due to suction. Air compresses under theapplication of total stress loading, even in undrained conditions, which leads to an increase in thedegree of saturation because of a decrease in the void ratio, and hence, the decrease in matricsuction. On the other hand, infiltration and evaporation of water create downward and upward flowwithin the embankment, respectively; this flow affects the distribution of PWP. In addition, thelevel of drying, i.e., how low the moisture content is of the soil during a drying cycle, affects thevolumetric change during the following wetting cycles. This paper explores the above processesand their effect on the estimation of the undrained shear strength of compacted clay embankmentsunder the expected climate change and extreme cycles of wetting and drying. An unsaturatedtriaxial testing program is proposed to further confirm the above

Steam Distillation and Characterization of Star Anise: Investigating Aroma and Aromaticity

Steam distillation is a widely used technique for extracting essential oils from plant materials, allowing for the separation of volatile compounds while minimizing thermal degradation. In this study, steam distillation was used to extract the essential oil of Illicium verum (Star Anise) to investigate the relationship between aroma and aromaticity. While aroma refers to the sensory perception of a substance’s scent, aromaticity is a chemical property related to the stability of conjugated ring systems. This distinction for our compound was explored by using chemical characterization of the extracted oil. Following the steam distillation process, gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS) were utilized to confirm the successful extraction and composition of the essential oil. The GC trace provided the relative abundance of the constituents of Star Anise, while mass spectrometry provided the identification of key compounds. Anethole, a major component of star anise oil, was confirmed as the dominant constituent. This compound, known for its sweet, licorice-like scent, is both aromatic in the chemical sense, by having a benzene ring, and contributes to the oil’s distinct aroma. This experiment demonstrated the effectiveness of steam distillation for essential oil extraction while providing a deeper understanding of the dual meaning of aromatic in chemistry and sensory science. The characterization techniques validated the purity and composition of the oil, reinforcing the connection between molecular structure and olfactory perception. These findings highlight the significance of analytical methods in essential oil research and their broader applications in food science, perfumery, and pharmaceuticals

Multi-Modal Aerial Object Detection for Enhanced Airport Safety

The rise of small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) near airports presents growing safety risks, including mid-air collisions, operational disruptions, and security threats. Current detection systems, such as radar and optical tracking, struggle to reliably identify and classify aerial — particularly non-cooperative drones — under variable operational conditions. This research proposes a multi-modal aerial object detection system that combines six sensor modalities to enable real-time surveillance. By integrating sensor fusion and machine learning (ML), the system aims to improve detection and classification accuracy, reduce false positives, and support Real-time Decision-making for airport safety personnel. The research aims to evaluate system performance under varied weather and lighting conditions and develop a scalable framework for enhanced Situational Awareness in airport operations

Identifying Individual Factors Which Impact Student Learning in a Desktop Flight Training Simulator

With expected global growth in air transport demand and forecasted shortage of pilots, there is a need for faster and cheaper flight training. A range of protocols was used to assess factors such as student’s emotional state, adaptive performance, and situational awareness as possible predictors of flight performance based on the influence of these factors on student flight performance conducted using a Personal Computer-based Aviation Training Devices (PCATD). Factor analysis and regression models were used to identify how these factors related to student performance during a visual flight conducted using a desktop simulator and our findings demonstrated some influence of adaptive performance, emotional state, and situation awareness upon student flight scores

Integrating Fusion Energy for Sustainable Grid Resilience in Texas

Texas\u27s electrical grid operates independently to reduce costs and federal oversight, but this isolation creates critical vulnerabilities during extreme weather events. Recent crises have exposed the need for additional redundancy that preserves ERCOT’s (Electric Reliability Council of Texas) autonomy while improving grid resilience. This study examines the possibility of integrating a fusion-based reserve facility near the Texas-Louisiana border to provide supplemental power during crises while selling surplus energy during normal operations. This project applies computational modeling and scenario-based analysis to evaluate the technical feasibility, reliability outcomes, and economic viability of a shared fusion reserve facility integrated into the Texas grid. This work aims to identify the optimal conditions under which fusion energy could enhance grid stability while minimizing disruption to existing energy markets and regulatory frameworks. Modeling results will estimate potential reductions in outage frequency and duration during extreme weather events, as well as projected economic tradeoffs for interstate energy exchange