Aerospace Engineering Brown Bag Lecture Series, Oshinowo Oluwafikayo and Dylan Kemelor

The Feburary 11th AE Brown Bag Presentation featured Oshinowo Oluwafikayo and Dylan Kemelor
Oshinowo Oluwafikayo presented "Flame Edge Detection in a Vitiated Crossflow"
Edge detection algorithms are an image processing tool that can help quantify the size, shape, or location of an object. In the case of a jet in vitiated crossflow, an edge detection algorithm can help determine the flame shape as well as the holding or attachment of the flame. However, some of the images of the flame can be particularly noisy, leading some edge detection algorithms to find false edges or remove edges altogether. Utilizing a fuzzy logic edge detection algorithm helps mitigate the problems that other algorithms tend to face which allows there to be more usable data from a single test campaign.
Dylan Kemelor presented "Development of Inflatable LEO System for LIDAR Targeting and De-Orbit Applications"
This presentation details the research and development that went into creating an inflatable mylar balloon for the TARGIT mission in SSDL. The balloon was intended to pack into a very small volume and maintain satisfactory optical characteristics when scanned with a LIDAR topographic sensor. The system includes a ‘center body’ where a gas plenum, inflation valves, a battery, and communication electronics are stored. We decided to use mylar as the material of choice and impulse sealing to ensure strong and reliable seams. The inflatable and center body system were validated in the SSDL Lab, in a scale bell jar, and in the HPEPL vacuum chambers. The inflatable system was manufactured for flight and loaded onto the TARGIT 3U CubeSat, which was deployed from the ISS (International Space Station) on January 26th, 2022.