2022 Winners

Best Undergraduate Presentation

Title of Research
Light Curve Inversion for Shape Reconstruction of Human-Made Space Objects (AAESAC)

Author(s)
Liam Robinson

Abstract
Characterizing unknown space objects is a growing field of study within Space Domain Awareness. One simple ground-based observation of an unknown object is its light curve: a set of brightness measurements over time. The light curve depends on object orientation, material composition, shape, and the positions of the sun and observer. If the orientation and material properties of an object are known, its shape can be estimated from the light curve alone in a process called direct light curve inversion. Shape determination is significant in an operational context for intelligence, collision avoidance, and maneuver detection. This work seeks to strengthen and extend current convex inversion techniques to the more general class of non-convex objects. To enable this, a new shadow rendering pipeline is introduced, accelerating light curve simulation and improving data quality. Existing methods based on the Extended Gaussian Image (EGI) are reinforced through resampling, merging, and validation steps, producing more accurate and sparse reconstructed geometry. Approaches for detecting, locating, and introducing simple concavities are proposed. Simple and prominent concave features are optimized using these methods. Under strong assumptions, direct light curve shape inversion for non-convex objects enables the characterization of human-made satellites and debris.

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Best Abstract

Title of Research
Jet Ignition Process of Passive Pre-chambers in a Modified Constant-volume, Optically-accessible, Ultra-Lean burn Gasoline Engine

Author(s)
Dong Eun Lee, Tianxiao Yu, Li Qiao

Abstract
Improving the efficiency of internal combustion engines is a critical step towards reducing carbon emissions in the transportation sector, because the majority of the near-term powertrain solutions will still require an engine. Although spark ignition (SI) engines have the benefits of low cost and high-power density, there is a strong need to further improve thermal efficiency and reduce emissions of SI engines. One approach is to dilute the mixture with excess air or EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) to lower the combustion temperature and thus the NOx emissions. The challenges, however, lie in difficult ignition of highly diluted mixture and poor combustion stability due to limited ignition energy. To enable stable combustion at higher dilution levels, a more powerful ignition source is required. Pre-chamber jet ignition, an advanced ignition technology, has demonstrated the potential for enabling stable combustion beyond the dilution level obtained in traditional SI engines. An experiment has been developed to investigate the passive pre-chamber jet ignition performance in a gasoline engine configuration and at an ultra-lean burn operation. The apparatus adopted a modified GM gasoline engine in Zucrow Labs, in which a single-cylinder custom block with an optically accessible piston was installed to allow jet visualizations and instrumentations.

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Best Graduate Presentations

Title of Research
Drones in Emergency Response - Will They Make a Difference?

Author(s)
Charles D'Onofrio

Abstract
2 minutes is all it takes for a small flame to grow into a structure enveloping life threatening blaze. Modern house fires burn at lung scorching clothing melting temperatures of 600 degrees F. They release black asphyxiating smoke and, in addition to the typical byproducts of combustion, poisonous gases such as hydrogen cyanide. Every passing second increases the chances that the fire claims a life and destroys property. This risk not only effects house residents, but first responders as well, as each year over a dozen of our nations heroes tragically perish as a direct consequence of harsh conditions at a structural fire. The vision behind this project is to improve fire survivability, optimize emergency response time, and reduce safety risks to first responders by integrating First Responder Network Drones (FRNDs) with the tactical elements of an emergency response team and the national airspace. The specific subject of this work focuses on: (1) defining metrics against which to adjudicate the success of FRNDs in meeting their objectives, (2) developing FRND operational requirements and mission profiles, and (3) modeling, using Agent Based Models (ABM) and multi-agent models, FRND's ability to reduce first responder risk and improve first responder performance.

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Title of Research
A Morphable Entry System for Small Satellite Aerocapture at Mars

Author(s)
Jannuel V. Cabrera

Abstract
Small satellite propulsion systems are currently limited in their delta-V capabilities, making orbit insertion a significant challenge for interplanetary small satellites. Aerocapture is an orbit insertion technique that uses a single pass through the atmosphere of the target planet to convert a vehicle’s hyperbolic approach trajectory into a captured elliptical orbit. Because of the significant velocity decrement provided by aerodynamic drag, this technique can significantly reduce the required propellant for orbit insertion, which is of great benefit to small satellites. This research envisions achieving small satellite aerocapture at Mars with the morphable entry system, a vehicle concept that uses shape morphing for trajectory control. Using a six degree-of-freedom aerocapture simulation environment, a Monte Carlo dispersion analysis was conducted to assess the robustness of this vehicle for aerocapture at Mars. 1001 trajectories subjected to random environmental perturbations were simulated. The results indicate that the morphable entry system is sufficiently robust to off-nominal flight conditions to enable a 99% aerocapture success rate. A total delta-V budget of 222 m/s was also found to be sufficient for insertion of 99% of the captured cases into orbit. This research demonstrates that shape morphing is a feasible method for trajectory control during aerocapture.

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Title of Research
Interface, Phase Change and Molecular Transport in Sub, Trans and Supercritical Regimes for Hydrocarbon Mixtures

Author(s)
Suman Chakraborty

Abstract
To the critical point and beyond! Modern day combustion engines like the SpaceX Raptor can operate at high chamber pressures of 300 bar. A liquid fuel when injected under such harsh conditions often experience conditions close to or beyond its own critical point. Meaning, the liquid will be subjected to pressure and temperature (P&T) conditions corresponding to transcritical or even supercritical regimes during the mixing and evaporation process. Modeling of liquid behavior under such extreme conditions present a serious challenge mainly because of departure from ideal gas behavior and lack of a physical interface. Some salient questions to answer would be: what P&T conditions trigger the transition from the classical two-phase atomization to the one-phase diffusion-controlled mixing? and how to model the non-equilibrium heat and mass transport near the critical point? Molecular Dynamics (MD) has been used as a tool in this research to study phase transition and non-equilibrium interfacial flux of hydrocarbon fuels, subjected to high P&T conditions. The ongoing research focuses on using MD simulations to study the gas/liquid interfacial region and fill some of the knowledge gaps existing in modeling liquid fuel vaporization and mixing. This can help open doors to more efficient and cleaner combustion systems.