Flight control in dynamic environments is a complicated task that many animals accomplish with ease. It requires rapid integration of sensory input as well as balancing long-term planning with reflexive behaviors. The giant hawk moth Manduca sexta is a useful model organism for studying flight control because its physiology is well understood and it is easy to rear in captivity and work with experimentally. In order to make flight control adjustments, Manduca constantly integrates information from slow-sensing visual sensors and fast-sensing mechanosensory organs. Both visual motion and mechanical rotation elicit strong abdominal reflexes in Manduca during tethered flight, however the exact role of the abdomen in flight is unclear. Previous work has suggested that abdominal reflexes help maintain flight stability, but it has not been shown that the abdomen is actively used for control. The goal of my research is to determine if Manduca can actively use their abdomen to stabilize the visual field. To answer this question, I have created a virtual flight arena composed of a projection system, magnetic tether, and IR sensor. The visual stimulus is projected onto an acrylic dome within which the moth is suspended by the tether. The experiment consists of a system where the moth controls the velocity of a horizontal bar displayed on the dome with its abdominal position. The bar has an initial velocity that the moth counteracts by moving its abdomen in order to stabilize the visual field. The precision of the moth’s abdominal control capabilities can then be tested by differing the initial velocities of the bar and varying the way that abdominal position controls the bar’s velocity. In addition to answering my research question, this project provides a framework to study the general multi-input multi-output problem in neural control.

Under constant volume muscle contraction myofilament overlap increases and muscle expands radially. While myofilament overlap is considered a major factor in force generation, considerably less is known about the role of myofilament expansion accompanying shortening during contraction. Recent theoretical evidence suggests that the spacing between filaments will indeed be an important determinant of force generation at any level of filament overlap, however, there are scant data that show the extent to which filament overlap changes in intact muscles. To address this issue we performed work loops on intact Manduca sexta flight muscles while simultaneously measuring myofilament spacing, force, and length using time resolved small angle x-ray diffraction imaging. Muscles were stimulated at 25 Hz and held at a temperature of 35C while simultaneously measuring length and force. Five x-ray images were taken during each wingbeat cycle for 100 contractions. These images were averaged over all cycles, and lattice spacing was measured for each phase. During work loops with a 6% strain cycle, lattice expansion changes by 2.77 ± 0.839%. Thus we do not reject the constant volume assumption, which would predict a 2.4% change in radial dimension for a 6% longitudinal strain. Taken together these data suggest that lattice expansion during muscle shortening is a critical component of muscle force generation.

Telemetry is concerned with the problem of making automatic, real-time measurements of remote data which are transmitted to base stations for further analysis. We present here an overview of our work in rocket telemetry for a Stage II Rocket which focuses on problems related to real-time telemetric data acquisition from high-speed, high-altitude projectiles, with detailed overviews of contributions from the six student teams, including: Airframe Team, Propulsion Team, Software, Sensors and Acquisition Team, Computational Physics Team, Launch and Recovery Team and the Computer Modeling Team. The Airframe Team designs the mounting apparatuses for the interior of the rocket. Our Propulsion Team synthesized and thrust tested the fuel we will use for rocket propellant, which is comprised of (Ammonium Nitrate-Oxidizer), C12H22O11 (Sucrose[Sugar]-Fuel) and HTPB(Hydroxyl-Terminated Polybutadiene- Fuel and Binder). The Software, Sensors and Acquisition Team is responsible for designing and programming the scientific equipment that will be onboard the rocket (Steering fins, an Arduino Microcontroller and a Two-Axis Accelerometer to maintain a linear flight path). Our data will be video, 3 axis acceleration, tilt, and altitude. The Computational Physics Team derived models to predict the rockets performance and they worked with the Computer Modeling Team to make CAD sketches. The Launch and Recovery Team make sure we follow safety precautions in launch and will use GPS tracking to retrieve the rocket when landed. The broader goal of this project is to recruit and invigorate future scientists at community colleges specializing in aerospace studies by providing a basic starting point from which they can learn and on which they can improve. We expect that by sharing our initial discoveries and experiences this multi-disciplinary research project, we will help to encourage other students at community colleges to actively participate in realistic team aerospace projects at an earlier stage in their educations.

Wind tunnels are devices used to simulate real-world aerodynamic conditions and characteristics using small-scale models that will be experienced by larger-scale engineering structures such as aircraft, buildings, bridges, windmills, and even cities. They are useful for studying and addressing problems of the stability, efficiency, and feasibility of engineering designs on a small-scale before scaling-up to larger and more-expensive engineering projects. We present here an overview of the design, construction, and testing of the EdCC Undergraduate Research Students Association (URSA) research-grade wind tunnel which was conceived to support further student studies in aerodynamics across the Physics, Engineering, and Materials Sciences departments at EdCC, including detailed contributions from the four student teams involved with the project: Aerodynamic Theory Team, Engineering and Construction Team, Software, Sensors and Acquisition Team, and the Computational Physics Team.

Cyclotrons are devices used to accelerate charged particles to high kinetic energies.  Their applications range from experimental studies in fundamental high-energy particle physics to serving as proton sources for medical use in the treatment of cancerous tumors.  We present here an overview of the design and engineering of a 2-MeV cyclotron currently under construction at EdCC by the Undergraduate Research Students Association (URSA), including detailed work being pursued by each of the seven student teams working on the project: HEP Theory Team, Ion-Injection Team, Vacuum Team, Materials Engineering Team, Magnetics Team, Sensors and Acquisition Team, and the Computational Modeling Team. The long-term goal of the URSA Cyclotron Project is to provide future EdCC students with a starting platform for continued multidisciplinary research in high-energy physics, mechanical and electrical engineering, and computer science. The first near-term project goal is to create and measure the electron-positron pair production process $\gamma \rightarrow \e^+ - \e^-$ by scattering of ~2.2 MeV protons from tungsten target nuclei and looking for $\e^+ - e^- \rightarrow 2\gamma$ annihilation signatures with an event-coincidence detector comprised of bismuth germanium oxide scintillators. At 2MeV, this accelerator will not likely make significant direct contributions to the extant pool of PDG data; but it may make significant indirect contributions by introducing and engaging future practitioners in the field earlier in their educations.