秋葵视频

Keeping runways safer: Georgia Southern alumnus receive aircraft safety technology patent

TXU 2-444-239. 

That registration number won鈥檛 mean much to most people. But for 秋葵视频 Mechanical Engineering Professor Valentin Soloiu, Ph.D., and alumnus David Ortegon (鈥23), it is a step toward safer runway navigation and validation for countless hours spent in the laboratory.

The two were awarded a patent by the U.S. Copyright Office, recognizing them as the creators of a technical system that offers advanced safety features for aircraft systems monitoring runway navigation.

鈥淲e started working on this years back, when Dr. Soloiu launched the Intelligent Vehicles Laboratory,鈥 explained Ortegon. 鈥淗e was very interested in finding a way to decrease collisions or accidents for airplanes during runway navigation and taxiing, something that is now extremely relevant.鈥  

The system uses data output from integrated sensors that constantly record data from the surroundings and the aircraft鈥檚 envelope. This data generates safety warnings or can take proactive measures if any obstacles are detected, helping the pilot to avoid potential collisions. 

Soloiu credits Ortegon with the heavy lifting on the research. The two worked together for three years, fulfilling Ortegon鈥檚 childhood dreams of making such a big heavy craft stay up in the sky. 

鈥淚鈥檝e always wanted to understand the engineering behind this,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 always been a dream of mine to figure out aircraft work.鈥

Ortegon, originally from Colombia, came to Georgia Southern in 2017 to pursue a bachelor鈥檚 in mechanical engineering. Soloiu, impressed by Ortegon’s tenacity and dedication to his studies, mentored him as he acclimated to his new home. 

鈥淓nglish is not my first language,鈥 explained Ortegon. 鈥淚 had a lot of trouble trying to understand everything in a technical way because there was a lot of terminology that, for me, was completely abstract. Doctor Soloiu supported me in everything.鈥 

When the project began in 2020, Ortegon had to balance numerous research responsibilities with an ever-increasing workload.    

鈥淭he process was slow, but very thorough,鈥 he explained. 鈥淏ut I’m very proud to say that we were able to accomplish what we wanted.鈥

Ortegan and Soloiu developed painstakingly intricate algorithms focusing on advanced driving assistance features. This allowed them to make sure that the landing gear system didn鈥檛 just detect obstacles but also took corrective actions in the event of an emergency.

鈥淭he next step is to develop a product or service that will incorporate this new technology,鈥 explained Soloiu. 鈥淲e will work to meet the market needs by making this technology ready for commercialization.鈥

Ortegon has since graduated and moved to Detroit, Michigan, where he works in research and development of automated/intelligent navigation technologies at FEV North America, a leader in the American automotive industry. He credits his career success to his advanced research in Dr. Soloiu鈥檚 Labs. 

鈥淩esearch is what really helped me to move to the next level as an engineer,鈥 he explained. 鈥淏ut Soloiu prepared me to work in this industry. He supported me in every project I took on. It鈥檚 because of his mentorship that I got simulation and hands-on experimental experience in the laboratory. And to this day, it still feels like I never left the lab at Georgia Southern.鈥