2008 Proceedings - St. Cloud State University

Abstracts
Session T All Disciplines Ballroom
Autonomous Meteorological Aircraft
This project‘s purpose is to explore the concept and feasibility of autonomous flight with a small-scale platform. The autonomous aircraft
will be used to carry weather measuring devices. This will be a significant improvement over current weather measuring techniques. Our
craft will give mobility to the devices used in making measurements of air temperature, air pressure, relative humidity, and wind velocity. A
―quad-copter‖ platform was the chosen design for the autonomous aircraft. This design consists of an aluminum frame made up of four
arms approximately a foot in length. Each of these arms supports a propeller directly driven by an electric motor. The scope of the project
includes the construction of the aircraft along with the implementation of the necessary electrical components.
Presentation Index: T6
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Department: Electrical and Computer Engineering
Project Sponsor(s):
Student Presenter(s): Doheny, Ryan; Stein, Nick; Voegele, Eric
Petzold, Mark
Airport Foreign Object Debris Prevention
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have identified that foreign object debris
(FOD) is a hazard at airports. FOD is a monetary drain on the world-wide aviation industry, as well as a major safety hazard to human life.
Besides reducing this hazard, our team has proposed a new system, with new procedures, to prevent FOD from entering runway and
taxiway areas at class B airports. Through qualitative literature review, along with critical analysis of the proposed design by airport ground
operations managers, our team has developed a feasible system using fluid dynamics to prevent FOD at major airports. The end-goal of
this design is to reduce the negative effects that FOD has on major airports. Findings will also be summarized and presented at the
Federal Aviation Administration Design Competition for Universities.
Presentation Index: T7
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Department: Aviation
Project Sponsor(s):
Student Presenter(s): Arnfelt, Nickolas; Courneya, Jonas; Weiss, Kevin
Aceves, Robert
The Artificial Neuron
One of the most intriguing endeavors of mankind has been to replicate nature and all natural processes. Along with everything else, the
human brain has been one of the most researched areas in this perspective. Although we might be far from comprehending it to a
measurable standard, neural networks has made admirable leaps in this scenario. Hence, my poster will introduce the fundamental unit of
neural networks, the artificial neuron. This neuron builds up into many useful networks which have greatly aided scientists and
researchers, world over, in understanding complex data trends and decisive techniques. For a person to understand this neuron, it is vital
that the brain‘s basic functionality be presented. Therefore, my poster will also reflect this comparison and comment on the inspiration
which has helped build up the neuron. An important proposition in this field is the back propagation algorithm. It came around at a time
when the study of neural networks had been rendered completely dormant and further progress was imperceptible. The key idea of the
algorithm is to not only to update and reorganize the networks at the output, as most traditional methods do, but to also penetrate into the
networks‘ inner units and adjust it as close to its input structure as possible. My poster will also illustrate and briefly introduce techniques
for approximating functions and provide key examples of the progress made in neural. The goal of the poster is to leave the audience with
an awe-inspiring idea of this tremendous field and its potential, as well as to explain the current position and trends for future pursuance.
Presentation Index: T8
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Department: Electrical and Computer Engineering
Project Sponsor(s):
Student Presenter(s): Sajid, Noureen
Zheng, Yi
Geothermal Energy
With the ever increasing energy requirements of the United States, it is imperative that new forms of renewable sources of energy be developed.
A promising renewable energy source which could be developed to supply over ten percent of the United States electricity is geothermal energy.
In order for geothermal energy to be developed, the government and the private sector must invest in research, development, and exploration of
geothermal energy. This is a very important science technology and society issue that needs to be explored in order to insure the United States
continues to have a surplus of energy into the future. A survey was given to the 190 students in the spring 2007 Earth and Atmospheric Science
109 class. The survey was used to determine the student‘s knowledge, beliefs, and sacrifices they would be willing to make in association with
geothermal energy and renewable energy sources. The results of the survey revealed Saint Cloud State University students are well aware of
what renewable energy resources are, but a slight majority of students are unclear on what and how geothermal energy is obtained. A slight
majority of students were not willing to pay more for energy to aid in the development of geothermal energy in the United States. It is clear from
the results of the survey that students at Saint Cloud State University are aware of the importance of investing in renewable energy sources, but
many students aren‘t aware of the vast potential of geothermal energy in the United States. If geothermal energy is to be developed into a major
energy source of this country, the public needs to be informed and educated by the government and the media about the science, economics,
and potential of geothermal energy.
Presentation Index: T9
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Department: Biological Sciences
Project Sponsor(s):
Student Presenter(s): Rockow, Nathan
Simpson, Patricia
St. Cloud State University Student Research Colloquium 53
April 22, 2008