Project Description
GPS and other global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) are regularly used for positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) onboard platforms from cell phones to low-earth orbit satellites. The timing aspect of GPS is less familiar than the positioning aspect, but it is quite important for communications and provides a convenient tool for observing the performance of atomic clocks over a wide range of time scales. The COMPASS lab is currently conducting several research projects that require clock performance characterization for operation on CubeSats, high altitude satellites, and UAVs. We have an established approach using GPS for this purpose, but are interested in rigorously quantifying the performance limits of our current methods and investigating higher accuracy carrier phase-based methods to further improve the quality of our measurements. The DLA student will gain experience in working with our clock testbed and GPS measurement methods and then investigate new methods to characterize several of the clocks in our laboratory by collecting their own data sets, or in other facilities by using publicly available data sets.
Requirements: Students must have a strong interest in aerospace applications of GPS and excellent skills in using MATLAB for data analysis and plotting. Some background knowledge or experience with satellite orbits and GPS is preferred.
Prior completion or Fall 2023 enrollment in ASEN3200 and 3300 is required.
Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Engineering Physics
Contact
Penina Axelrad, Faculty
Email: penina.axelrad@colorado.edu
Project Description
Machine-learning (ML)-based approaches are increasingly being used to accelerate design and discovery of new materials with target properties. Over the past two decades, a new alloying strategy of combining multiple principal elements in high concentrations, has revealed unprecedented opportunities for materials discovery. The most attractive property of these so-called high-entropy materials, is that they can exhibit unprecedented combinations of mechanical and functional properties, even at extreme environments, making them attractive for aerospace applications. The vast compositional space of multicomponent alloys and ceramics offers enormous possibilities to discover materials with exceptional properties. However, the 'needle in a haystack' scenario puts targeted alloy design to its hardest test: new materials with exceptional properties can hide in practically infinite and vastly unexplored composition space. In this project, we will develop a model to rapidly predict new materials with exceptional properties. Once developed, the model can be applied for a broad category of materials.
Requirements: Student must have experience with MATLAB/Python and/or other programming languages. A strong mathematics background and some basic physics/chemistry knowledge are also desired. The student should have maintained at least a 3.5 GPA. Some fundamental knowledge of materials electronic properties will be helpful but not required.
Project website: Neogi Group: CU Aerospace Nanoscale Transport Modelling (CUANTAM) Laboratory
Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Engineering Physics, Mechanical Engineering
Contact
Sanghamitra Neogi, Faculty
Email: sanghamitra.neogi@colorado.edu
Project Description
Are you interested in human-autonomy teaming, psychophysiology, signal processing, or wearable sensors? Join us in CU Bioastronautics to work on improving human-autonomy teaming in space using psychophysiological data! Future autonomous systems onboard space habitats can serve as better teammates to operators on Earth by leveraging estimates of human cognitive states to intelligently adjust their behavior.
Our lab is working on modeling an operator’s trust, workload, and situation awareness using data recorded from psychophysiological sensors, but we would like to be able to do this in real time! We have wearable, bluetooth-enabled sensors that collect psychophysiological data and will be working to enable access and use of that data as it is collected.
Throughout the year, we will compare the performance of models generated from wearable and research-grade sensors. We will also investigate how different stressors of long duration spaceflight, such as time delays, affect human autonomy teaming. These experiments will involve collecting experimental data from human subjects, signal processing, mathematical modeling and presenting results.
Requirements: Relevant skills in MATLAB, Python, working with APIs, Github, mathematical modeling
Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
Contact
Allison Anderson, Faculty
Email: Allison.P.Anderson@Colorado.edu
Erin Richardson, Graduate Student
Email: erin.richardson@colorado.edu
Project Description
Long duration exploration missions (LDEM), such as a mission to Mars, create new challenges for human spaceflight crews. One of these is the challenge of providing sufficient training, which must help Astronauts gain complex skills and retain those skills over long periods of time. In the Trinity project, we are creating 3 virtual reality training scenarios: a spacecraft landing simulation, exploring the surface of Mars in a rover, and maintaining systems inside a habitat. We are looking for a student who can support aspects of this project related to understanding neural mechanisms behind VR training.
The primary task is running data collection sessions, where research participants will come to train in VR and undergo skill assessments. Our setup will interface VR with neuroimaging equipment. This requires a highly organized, responsible individual who can professionally communicate with participants and can manage a complex schedule.
The secondary task is evaluating and presenting neuroimaging data related to changes in brainwaves and brain oxygenation between our treatment groups. This requires analyzing large, complex data structures using a series of MATLAB toolboxes.
Requirements: Student will need to have the following.
- Experience using virtual reality
- Strong organizational and scheduling skills
- Some familiarity with software, including the use of GitHub
- Familiarity with MATLAB and using toolboxes
Preferred experience with:
- Familiarity with brain structures
- Ability to read and critically evaluate journal papers
Project website: Research Projects | Allison Anderson, Ph.D.
Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Architectural Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemical & Biological Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Creative Technology & Design, Electrical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Engineering Physics, Environmental Engineering, Integrated Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
Contact
Allison Anderson, Faculty
Email: Allison.P.Anderson@colorado.edu
Sage Sherman, Graduate Student
Email: sage.sherman@colorado.edu
Project Description
has a long history of innovating software defined radios for GPS/GNSS. This project is to further that effort, explore real time implementations utilizing parallel programming through SIMD and GPU implementations to optimize the signal processing. No experience with GPS/GNSS is required, however the candidate should be experienced in programming under Linux and comfortable with C/C++/Matlab or Python, ideally with insight into SIMD and GPU programming. Also open to exploring high speed signal processing with FPGAs as well.
Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Architectural Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemical & Biological Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Creative Technology & Design, Electrical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Engineering Physics, Environmental Engineering, Integrated Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
Contact
Dennis Akos, Faculty
Email: dma@colorado.edu
Project Description
When astronauts return from spaceflight, they experience disorienting illusions of self-motion which is a functional and safety hazard, especially for upcoming Lunar and Martian missions. Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS) is a safe method of stimulating the vestibular organs, used in determining self-orientation, by passing low levels of electrical current through the head. GVS has been previously shown to produce illusions of self-motion and decrements in functional performance. This project aims to use GVS to replicate the specific post-flight illusions experienced by astronauts and will include a series of exploratory experiments to determine the best stimulation methods to do so. The DLA student will have an opportunity to work on experimental design, human subject testing, data analysis, and dissemination of findings.
Requirements: Student will need to have at some availability in 2hr blocks as subject testing can take 2-5 hrs.
Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Architectural Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemical & Biological Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Creative Technology & Design, Electrical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Engineering Physics, Environmental Engineering, Integrated Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
Contact
Torin Clark, Faculty
Email: Torin.Clark@colorado.edu
Caroline Austin, Graduate Student
Email: caroline.austin@colorado.edu
Project Description
The Anderson Bioastronautics Research Group in the Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences is conducting a series of experiments exploring trust dynamics between humans and autonomous systems. As part of these experiments, we will be developing a computer interface in which operators oversee a simulation of a ground troop monitoring system.
The student will assist in collecting data from our experiments and help process and clean the data. The student may also assist in model development, depending on their background and capability. The DLA student will attend weekly team meetings with professors and graduate students in addition to working in the laboratory on the research.
Requirements:
- Completed at least one undergraduate-level course in computer programming
- Experience with Git, GitHub, Python, and the Qt GUI design toolkit
Highly Encouraged:
- Knowledge of parallel computing/multi-threading/multi-processing
- Experience with computer networking
- Experience working on software with multiple people at the same time
- Experience conducting human subject research
- Experience in signal processing
- Interest in human physiology
Project website: Allison Anderson, Research Projects
Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical & Biological Engineering, Computer Science, Creative Technology & Design, Electrical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Engineering Physics, Integrated Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
Contact
Allison Anderson, Faculty
Email: allison.p.anderson@colorado.edu
Jayce Cuberovic, Graduate Student
Email: jana.cuberovic@colorado.edu
Project Description
Lightning, an energetic phenomena in our atmosphere, has far reaching effects in space. When lightning strikes, it releases an electromagnetic (EM) pulse that injects energy into the Earth’s magnetosphere. Many spacecraft like the Van Allen Probes measure these EM waves, called lightning generated whistlers (LGWs) due to the sound they make when shifted to audible frequencies. LGWs interact with radiation trapped in the magnetosphere, causing particles to precipitate into the atmosphere where they trigger a chain of chemical reactions. Studying lightning is important for understanding how energy and particles transfer between Earth and space.
In this project, we connect in-situ LGW measurements to lightning events on Earth detected by the GLD360 lightning database. Combining our data with ray tracing and full wave modeling, we will predict global lightning energy in space. You will learn background science about the magnetosphere, ionosphere, lightning, and waves in plasmas, and may participate in analysis of the lightning data and spacecraft science data.
Requirements: Programming experience with Python, Matlab, and C++ are all valuable for this project, as demonstrated through CS courses at sophomore level or above or through independent projects.
Project website: Radiation Belts - THE LAIR
Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Engineering Physics
Contact
Robert Marshall, Faculty
Email: robert.marshall@colorado.edu
Alexandra Wold, Graduate Student
Email: alexandra.wold@colorado.edu
Project Description
Energetic electrons in the space environment interact with matter inducing the emission of x-rays. The AVS lab is working on exploiting these interactions for the on-orbit detection of objects in the vicinity of a spacecraft. We are interested in doing the necessary experimental, modeling, simulation, and conceptual work to get novel techniques in this field published in the broader aerospace literature.
This unique opportunity offers involvement in a diverse range of relevant projects for an ambitious undergraduate student. This student will assist in the experimental setup, modeling, simulation, and analysis of detection capabilities for the relevant space environments, as well as in the development of dynamical models for the angles-only initial relative orbit determination problem. The experience offers exposure to a variety of roles, from building on existing high-fidelity software solutions to developing simpler proof-of-concept demonstrations for more theoretical work. Desirable skills include coding experience (ideally in Python, C and C++, but not required) and some familiarity with dynamics and orbital mechanics. Some experience with hardware is desired.
Requirements:
- Adaptable and motivated undergraduate engineering student
- Coding experience
- Able to work 5 - 10 hours per week
- Able to work independently
Project website:Dr. Hanspeter Schaub
Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
Contact
Hanspeter Schaub, Faculty
Email: hanspeter.schaub@colorado.edu
Andrea López, Graduate Student
Email: Andrea.Lopez@colorado.edu
Project Description
Long duration exploration missions (LDEM), such as a mission to Mars, create new challenges for human spaceflight crews. One of these is the challenge of providing sufficient training, which must help Astronauts gain complex skills and retain those skills over long periods of time. In the Trinity project, we are creating 3 virtual reality training scenarios: a spacecraft landing simulation, exploring the surface of Mars in a rover, and maintaining systems inside a habitat. We are looking for a student who can support 2 critical aspects of the project.
The primary task is running data collection sessions, where research participants will come to train in VR and undergo skill assessments. This requires a highly organized, responsible individual who can professionally communicate with participants and can manage a complex schedule. The second task is supporting the continued development of the VR training environment. An ideal student for this task has software experience in C#, familiarity with GitHub, and/or has developed content using Unity game engine. You will support the creation of game logic such as difficulty adjustment and task scoring, and creation of immersive 3D assets.
Requirements:
- Experience using Virtual Reality
- Strong organizational and scheduling skills
- Some familiarity with software, including the use of GitHub
Other Skills that would be beneficial:
- Development experience with Unity game engine
- C# programming language skills
- Familiarity with Blender for 3D modeling
Project website: Research Projects | Allison Anderson, Ph.D.
Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering,Applied Mathematics, Architectural Engineering, Computer Science, Creative Technology & Design, Electrical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Engineering Physics, Integrated Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
Contact
Allison Anderson, Faculty
Email: Allison.P.Anderson@Colorado.edu
Esther Putman, Graduate Student
Email: esther.putman@colorado.edu
Project Description
The Bioastronautics Laboratory in the Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences is conducting experiments to explore how humans and autonomous systems can best team up to address the challenges of deep space missions. As part of these experiments, we have developed a computer interface that simulates what remote operators of spacecraft life support systems would see as they worked with an autonomous system to keep the spacecraft working. Our interface is being integrated with other space habitat technologies into a demonstration that will be presented to NASA in 2024. The first part of this project will have the DLA student help update the software for the interface so that it can communicate with other space habitat technologies such as explainable AI and digital twin models in the demonstration.
The second part of this project will have the DLA student assist in collecting data for our demonstration and experiments, and help with creating a simulated autonomous systems to work with participants.
The DLA student will attend weekly team meetings with professors and graduate students in addition to their time spent working on the project itself.
Requirements: Students who apply for this project are required to have completed at least onecourse in computer programming.
Additionally, any of the following skills will be good to have for this project:
- Proficiency in the Python programming language
- Experience working on software with multiple people at the same time
- Experience conducting human subject research
- Experience with Git, GitHub, or other version control and repository systems
- Experience with computer networking and APIs
- Experience with computer database tools and languages (e.g., SQL)
- Experience with the Qt GUI design toolkit
- Knowledge of parallel computing/multithreading/multiprocessing
- Experience with software continuous integration
Project website: Projects | Habitats Optimized for Missions of Exploration (HOME)
Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Architectural Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemical & Biological Engineering,Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Creative Technology & Design, Electrical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Engineering Physics, Environmental Engineering, Integrated Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
Contact
Torin Clark, Faculty
Email: torin.clark@colorado.edu
Jacob Kintz, Graduate Student
Email: jacob.kintz@colorado.edu
Project Description
Accurately simulating spacecraft and its components is an essential part of any spacecraft guidance and control pipeline, as it helps guarantee that the mission requirements are met. The AVS laboratory has been developing models of spacecraft dynamics for some time, with the goal of implementing them in a modular software architecture called Basilisk. We are interested in developing general formulations that can describe rotational and translational spacecraft components, flexible appendages and even multi-spacecraft interactions.
This unique opportunity offers involvement in a diverse range of relevant projects for an ambitious undergraduate student. The experience offers exposure to topics in the field of complex spacecraft dynamics and its software implementation in a modular, general architecture. This student will mainly assist in setting up and running multiple scenarios that test and show the capabilities of novel dynamics formulations. If applicable, the student will also help in developing such models.
Requirements: Desirable skills include coding experience (ideally in Python, C and C++, but not required), and familiarity with the field of dynamics and kinematics, namely, to formulate the equations of motion of a spacecraft.
- Adaptable and motivated undergraduate engineering student
- Coding experience
- Able to work 5 - 10 hours per week
- Able to work independently
Project website: Welcome to Basilisk: an Astrodynamics Simulation Framework
Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Engineering Physics, Mechanical Engineering
Contact
Hanspeter Schaub, Faculty
Email: hanspeter.schaub@colorado.edu
João Vaz Carneiro, PhD Student
Email: Joao.Carneiro@colorado.edu
Project Description
The research goal of this project is to complete the assembly and testing of the electrical systems of the COSMO spacecraft, and ensure those systems do not produce unmitigable magnetic interference. The student will support the process of updating the existing CANVAS spacecraft’s electrical power subsystem to adapt it to the COSMO spacecraft. The student will also support the process of manufacturing cables and harnesses necessary to interface different subsystems inside the COSMO spacecraft. The student may also participate in updating the mission’s Concept of Operations (ConOps), the spacecraft’s power, data, and link budgets. The student will support the process of preparing the spacecraft’s batteries for flight as well as the process of performing acceptance screening tests to certify the batteries for flight. Finally, the student will engage in magnetic testing of the electrical systems, including the batteries, characterizing their magnetic signatures.
Requirements: Experience with electronics; circuit board design with Altium is a plus. Experience with electronic measurement equipment and testing; experience plotting and analyzing data using Matlab or Python.
Project website: COSMO - THE LAIR
Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Electrical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Engineering Physics
Contact
Robert Marshall, Faculty
Email: robert.marshall@colorado.edu
Aldo Aguilar-Nadalini, Graduate Student
Email: aldo.aguilar@colorado.edu
Project Description
The research goal of this project is to develop mechanical systems enabling the COSMO mission, including fixtures that allow testing and verification of the spacecraft design. The successful DLA student will support the process of updating the COSMO spacecraft’s computer-aided design model to ensure that the spacecraft’s structure is up to date and can be interfaced with the current design of the Vectorized Rubidium Magnetometer instrument. The student will help design fixtures to be used to transport the spacecraft (i.e. clean box), and to secure the spacecraft during the environmental and functional tests required to certify the spacecraft for flight. These tests include vibration testing, thermal vacuum testing, and magnetic cleanliness characterization. Finally, the student will support the team in the process of preparing documents and procedures to facilitate the assembly of the spacecraft and its subsystems. These documents include the spacecraft’s Master Inventory, the Cabling Matrix, and the Master Assembly Plan.
Requirements: Experience desired in Solidworks; machining; plotting and analyzing data. Good understanding of spacecraft systems, mechanical design, and tolerancing.
Project Description: COSMO - THE LAIR
Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Electrical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Engineering Physics, Mechanical Engineering
Contact
Robert Marshall, Faculty
Email: robert.marshall@colorado.edu
Aldo Aguilar-Nadalini, Graduate Student
Email: aldo.aguilar@colorado.edu
Project Description
In the era of hybrid cloud, AI, and the Internet of Things, the demand for faster and more energy efficient microprocessors continues to rise. In order to address this growing demand, the newest IBM innovation projects to host 50 billion transistors on a chip the size of a fingernail, utilizing the latest 2 nanometer (nm) nanosheet node technology. However, self-heating poses one of the biggest challenges to realize these chip architectures, and leads to performance degradation. Current thermal management approaches typically handle these conditions via over-provisioning of resources, or increasing the size of thermal management hardware. Size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) are an increasing concern in the development of future microsystems. This project will discover strategies to tune nanoscale thermal properties of new transistors to desired specifications. The passive thermal control strategies will help realize faster, more reliable, and more energy efficient chips, that can help slash the carbon footprint of data centers, which account for 1% of global energy use.
Requirements: Student must have experience with MATLAB/Python and/or other programming languages. A strong mathematics background and some basic physics/chemistry knowledge are also desired. The student should have maintained at least a 3.5 GPA. Some fundamental knowledge of thermal properties will be helpful but not required.
Project website: Neogi Group: CU Aerospace Nanoscale Transport Modelling (CUANTAM) Laboratory
Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Chemical Engineering, Chemical & Biological Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Engineering Physics, Mechanical Engineering
Contact
Sanghamitra Neogi, Faculty
Email: sanghamitra.neogi@colorado.edu
Project Description
Spacecraft charging has been a subject of research since the beginning of the space age. The electrostatic forces between neighboring spacecraft have been proposed as a means of electrostatic actuation. This may be implemented by a servicer which aims an electron beam at a target, imposing a negative potential on the target and a positive potential on itself. This can be used to detumble or reorbit space debris or dock incoming bodies. As interest in the cislunar region increases, this technology may be extended there as well. However, the first step towards using electrostatic actuation is determining the charge of the target spacecraft. Therefore, this work aims to account for the cislunar plasma environment in order to expand the functional region of touchless potential sensing and electrostatic actuation.
This opportunity will expose the student to research that intersects between engineering and science. The student will assist in conducting numerical simulations of touchless potential sensing or hands-on experiments in the ECLIPS vacuum chamber. Desirable skills include exposure to orbital mechanics and attitude dynamics and experience working in a lab setting.
Requirements:
- Independently motivated undergraduate engineering student
- Ability to work with lab hardware
- Ability to work with software tools
- Able to work 5 – 10 hours per week
Project website: https://hanspeterschaub.info
Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Engineering Physics, Mechanical Engineering
Contact
Hanspeter Schaub, Faculty
Email: hanspeter.schaub@colorado.edu
Kaylee Champion, Graduate Student
Email: Kaylee.Champion@colorado.edu
Project Description
This project focuses on simulating the experiences of astronauts in a water landing in order to develop a suite of countermeasures to mitigate the effects of Entry Motion Sickness. Following ground-based analogs, we will simulate gravity transitions by spinning human subjects in the Human Eccentric Rotator Device (HERD) to hyper-gravity and then transitioning them into the Tilt-Translation Sled (TTS), in which they will undergo wave-like motion. Countermeasures include using Virtual Reality to provide different visual cues and enabling different amounts of postural control inside the TTS.
DLA students can expect to assist in subject testing, data analysis, and experiment piloting.They will be trained in how to conduct human research trials, working with subjects and running experiments as operators of the HERD and TTS. They will also learn how to analyze data received from human subject experiments including quantitative data from balance tests and qualitative data from surveys.They will also gain experience working in Unity for Virtual Reality development and deployment.Finally, they will get the opportunity to experience experimental profiles to gauge subject comfort.
Requirements: Ability to work in 5-hour blocks at least once a week. Must be able to lift 50 pounds for a short duration of time.
Desired Majors: Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, Engineering Physics, Mechanical Engineering
Contact
Torin Clark, Faculty
Email: torin.clark@colorado.edu
Taylor Lonner, Graduate Student
Email: taylor.lonner@colorado.edu