Atmospheric Weather Balloon for Near Space Research

Abstract The Society 4 S.P.A.C.E. Club at Embry-Riddle has been working on the development of a weather balloon that will reach a height of 80 to 100 thousand feet and collect data from the atmosphere. The weather balloon is attached to a Styrofoam box that contains an Arduino board controlling a set of sensors that will measure: temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind speed and direction. All the data collected will be transmitted with a XBEE antenna to the ground station. A capsule of compressed CO2 will be used to eject a parachute once the free falling Styrofoam box has reached an altitude of 1,000 feet. The Styrofoam box will be retrieved using GPS data, and once refurbished it will be fully reusable

Engineering Physics Propulsion Lab Thruster Test Stand - TTS

The Engineering Physics Propulsion Laboratory (EPPL) student team lead by Dr. Sergey Drakunov and Dr. Patrick Currier, has been working on the design, development, and construction of a Thruster Test Stand (TTS) in the College of Arts and Science. The TTS is a tool developed for a NASA STTR Phase II project titled “The World is Not Enough (WINE): Harvesting Local Resources for Eternal Exploration of Space” currently conducted in EPPL. This is a joint project of Honeybee Robotics, ERAU and UCF. It will allow the EPPL student team to measure the thrust, temperature, pressure, exhausted velocity, frequencies, and electrical loads on any kind of propulsion unit. Currently, cold gas propulsion is being tested with plans to develop and test a steam-based and chemical-based propulsion system. Current and future research to be conducted in optimizing the design parameters and conduct practical tests of the thrusters are being pursued at the University from several different departments, including the COAS, the COA, & the COE. The TTS is designed to be modular towards many different propulsion systems. The modularity on the design will allow all students involved in research related to propulsion and control thrusters to utilize the test stand and gather data on their projects. The TTS frame components are design to increase the stability and rigidity to minimize noise and unwanted natural frequencies on the readings

Multidisciplinary Development of Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Fleet

Eco-Dolphin – Cooperative Fleet for Surveillance Mission SIAM, Society for Industrial & Applied Mathematics, members have been working for two years on the design, construction and testing of three highly integrated and streamlined autonomous underwater vehicles called Eco-Dolphins. This project is being developed at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Daytona Beach campus. The Leverage lab is used to create detailed mathematical models and conduct preliminary research for both electrical and mechanical systems. The campus Composites lab is used for the fabrication of structural and aesthetic components used by the high adaptable platform. The Autonomous Underwater Vehicle testing is conducted in the Universities Nonlinear Waves lab. The first phase of design, production and assembly of the yellow Eco-Dolphin prototype has been done in twelve months. The design includes an internal attitude control system, combined with internal propulsion from brushless direct current thrusters, thus allowing the vehicle to ascend and descend. The Eco-Dolphins promise is to be a unique, highly optimized and a competitive underwater vehicle fleet. The team has also successfully completed the second phase of the program, which involved tracking the Eco-Dolphins while submerged underwater. Work has been conducted to add a GPS system for surface tracking. Converting the acoustic system from tethered to wireless to make the ground station more robust. The Eco-Dolphin is configured with recently developed control system software that utilizes a relay combination of Wireless, Sonar and GPS radio wave communication. The current progress on the blue Eco-dolphin will be completed by the summer of 2014, for testing in littoral waters of central Florida. Through the addition of three sequential (yellow, blue, red) vehicles, therefore allows for better position and orientation data to be sent to the teams buoy network. The three vehicles, three buoy communication structure, multiply the data points collected for surveillance and underwater mapping purposes. This additional complexity improves the reliability and increases the application of the product through error elimination software. The team gives hands on research experience to SIAM members through applied mathematics. The outcome of the research goals, results in the application of many fields of study beyond mathematics. When combined the fleet can cooperatively fulfill multitask missions, advanced surveillance and environmental monitoring can be conducted. This opportunity opens the way for better balance between sustainable developments of the coastline

Level 3 Rocket

The Payload and Integration Lab student team located in the College of Aviation, under the mentorship of Dr. Pedro Llanos, has been working on the design, construction and testing of a Level 3 Rocket capable of carrying a payload to a target altitude. The payloads consist of Nano-laboratories ranging from 1U (10 cm3) to 6U. Each 1U Nano-Laboratory can be as heady as 2.20 lbs (1.00 Kg). The maximum payload weight is 6 times that. The construction of this rocket follows the certification process provided by the National Association of Rocketry (NAR). The Level 3 Rocket is a continuation of previous research conducted at the university. In the past, the team has launched a Level 1 and Level 2 rockets with a 3D printed capsule that carried the CRExIM (ERAU first Suborbital Payload) payload to an altitude of 5,500.00 ft and 7,500.00 ft, redpectively. This vehicle will allow to assess the performance of future suborbital payloads under the effects of large accelerations, decelerations, vibrations, and impact loads during landing. The overall dimension of the rocket is 17 ft in length, 10.85 inches in diameter, total mass of 50 lbs., cargo capacity of 12.22 lbs., and max altitude of 21,000.00 ft

Atmospheric Weather Balloon for Near Space Research

Atmospheric Weather Balloon for Near Space Research The Society for S.P.A.C.E. has been working on the development of a weather balloon that will reach a height of 80 to 100 thousand feet and will collect data from the atmosphere. The weather balloon is attached to a Styrofoam box that contains an Arduino board controlling a set of sensors that will measure: temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind speed and direction. The data will be collected and transmitted through an Xbee antenna that will provide us with remote monitoring capabilities. The data and images gathered will aid understanding of the characteristics and environment that govern our atmosphere. This balloon will burst once it has reached its maximum volume. A deployment apparatus will eject a parachute for safe recovery. In order to reach space we need to travel through Earth’s atmosphere.This research will provide information necessary for further exploration and means of travel even further

Spain’s national network of silos and granaries: architectural and technological change over time

Aim of study: To analyse the 670 silos in Spain’s NNSG (National Network of Silos and Granaries), along with the changes in typologies and degree of mechanisation taking place over time.Area of study: Spain.Material and methods: Research began in 2014, collecting NNSG grain storage data across Spain further to the methodology developed by the authors. In a first stage the information was gathered from the FEGA’s general archives in Madrid and the archives of the departments of agriculture in the 13 regions where silos were built. In the second stage of the study, 665 silos were explored in situ. Photographs were taken and information was gathered on their characteristics (general features; architectural features; technological facilities).Main results: This paper discusses the architectural and typological changes taking place over time, from the earliest small, local, richly adorned brick silos to larger, more modern and austere reinforced concrete structures. The machinery with which they are fitted is also addressed, with the progression from basic grain storage to more sophisticated equipment designed to clean, refrigerate or disinfect the grain. Some facilities were used exclusively to select and condition seed for subsequent sowing. The most modern structures, known as macrosilos, are highly mechanised affairs.Research highlights: Spain’s national network of silos and granaries was 41 years in the building. The inventory of the 665 existing silos identified 20 types or subtypes. Early richly adorned units gradually gave way to more austere, functional structures. The machinery in place in silos varied with type/purpose and period of construction

Rhamnolipids-based nanostructured lipid carriers: Effect of lipid phase on physicochemical properties and stability

In this work rhamnolipids were evaluated as surfactants for the production of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs). NLCs were produced by melt-emulsification using ultra-homogenisation followed by ultrasonication and different ratios of medium-chain-triglycerides and glycerol monostearate (lipid phase) were tested. NLCs presented sizes and polydispersity index values ranged between 97 and 120 nm and 0.200.26, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy observations confirmed the size and the spherical morphology of the NLCs. The thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction showed that the amount of solid lipid (glycerol monostearate) influences the melting, crystallisation and enthalpy of NLCs and their degree of crystallinity. Results showed that NLCs were more stable at 4 °C and the best formulation (1% of water phase, 0.05% of biosurfactant and solid:liquid ratio of 10:90) was stable for 30 days. This work showed the possibility of using rhamnolipids to produce NLCs and represent an important step for the development of lipid-based nanosystems using biosurfactants.Maria A. Azevedo (SFRH/BD/123364/2016) is the recipient of a fellowship from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal). This study was supported by FCT under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01- 0145-FEDER-006684) and BioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145- FEDER-000004) funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte2020 - Programa Operacional Regional do Norte. The authors would like to thank the H2020 MSCA-RISE project FODIAC—Food for Diabetes and Cognition (reference number 778388) and the Comissão de Coordenação e Desenvolvimento Regional do Norte (CCDR-N) project “Nanotechnology based functional solutions” (No. NORTE01- 0145-FEDER-000019). The authors would like to acknowledge to Oliver Schraidt from INL for his kind assistance using TEM.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Camel genetic resources conservation through tourism: A key sociocultural approach of camelback leisure riding

Camels are exotic elements, which can be comprised within adventure travel companies promoting ecotourism activities. Such recreations contribute to sustainable livelihoods for local communities and educational empowerment towards nature and its conservation. At present, some local camel breeds’ survival reduces to this animal-based leisure industry and its reliability to perform and promote customized services accurately. By conducting an on-site questionnaire to customers participating in camelback riding tours, we assessed the motivational factors affecting participation, satisfaction, and loyalty in this tourism segment that may have made it socially differentiated. The sixfold combination of staff performance, culture geography, diverse and humane close interaction, camel behavior and performance, sociotemporal context, and positive previous experience involves the elemental dimensions that explain customer satisfaction and return intention probability within this entertainment business. Customer knowledge is essential for stakeholders to build personalized riding experiences and align profits with environmental sustainability and biodiversity mainstream concerns into their everyday operations. In turn, domestic camel tourist rides could be managed as a viable path to nature conservation by helping endangered local breeds to avoid their functional devaluation and potential extinction