Lab Alumni

Ph.D. Alumni

James Hand

Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

handj6 at my.erau.edu

Fall 2022 to Spring 2026

James Hand received his B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas in 2020, where he contributed to the university’s NASA Lunabotics competition team. He went on to earn his M.S. in Unmanned and Autonomous Systems Engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), Daytona Beach, Florida in 2022, with a thesis focused on soft robotics in underwater environments, and was recognized with the Outstanding Master’s Student award in 2021. He subsequently completed his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at ERAU. During his doctoral studies, he was active in the Robotics Association of Embry-Riddle (RAER), contributing to the club’s NASA Lunabotics team and leading a project centered on a rocket-deliverable robot nicknamed J.I.M.B.O. He also had the opportunity to collaborate with the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab during spring 2023. His research interests include multi-agent systems and the application of biological analogs to them, as well as robotics for space exploration and human exploration support

Rogelio Gracia Otalvaro

Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

graciaor at my.erau.edu

Spring 2023 to Fall 2025

Rogelio Gracia earned his B.S. and M.S. in Industrial Systems Engineering in ICAI, Madrid, Spain in 2020 and 2022 respectively, with majors in Electronics and Automation for both. In 2022 he also earned his M.S. in Mechanical Systems Engineering in Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He has 3+ years of professional experience in the real-estate, healthcare and financial sectors acting as a technical and financial consultant. After these experiences he chose to pursue his Ph.D. in EECS in Embry-Riddle where he focuses on researching about different system properties and their scalability, new technologies like AI and ML, and teaches a lab in Control Dynamics.

Master’s Alumni

Austen Pallen

M.S. in Systems Engineering

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

pallena at my.erau.edu

Spring 2023 to Spring 2024

Past Research: Implementation of a Turtle-Based Consensus Algorithm on Drone Swarm Search & Rescue. Investigated consensus models in MASs and biological systems for influence in increasing the capabilities of MASs.

Jessica Christa Wira Hadipoernomo

M.S. in Data Science

B.S. in Computational Mathematics

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

wirahadj at my.erau.edu

Summer 2023 to Spring 2025

Past Research: Researching sandpipers behavior in food search as a potential source for inspiration for bio-inspired optimization algorithm

Benjamin Wierzbanowski

M.S. in Systems Engineering

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

wierzbab at my.erau.edu

Spring 2024 to Summer 2024

Current Job: PE Trainee for Florida Department of Transportation

Past Research: An Exploration of Prototyping Strategies and Frameworks through a Systematic Literature Review, Additive Manufacturing in Space, and AI Volleyball Video Processing.

Rasika Ravindra Kale

M.S. in Systems Engineering

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

kaler1 at my.erau.edu

Spring 2024 to Fall 2025

Current Job: Model-based software verification engineer

Past Research: Worked towards building the rover swarm test platform, now known as STARS with BID4R lab. Researched and implemented systems Engineering approach towards planning, implementation and testing of the Bio-Inspired algorithms with the swarm. Published a paper for ASEE 2025 based on how this is a great educational platform for hands-on approach to multidisciplinary engineering. Previous research was focused on model-predictive control for a network of deep space satellites.

Maxwell Moolchan

M.S. in Systems Engineering

B.S. in Computer Science

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

moolcham at my.erau.edu

Spring 2024

Current work: Bed bug computer vision algorithm

David Chiaravalle

M.S. in Systems Engineering

B.S. in Aerospace Engineering

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

chiaravd at my.erau.edu

Past work: Systems Engineer for Project COMET

Summer 2025 to Fall 2025

Matthew Scheinblum-Brewer

Matthew Scheinblum-Brewer

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

M.S. in Systems Engineering

scheinbm at my.erau.edu

Spring 2025 to Spring 2026

Past work: Building and testing the robot swarm

Noah Fulton

M.S. in Systems Engineering

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

fultonn3 at my.erau.edu

Fall 2025 to Spring 2026

Past work: MBSE for small satellites, Project COMET

Undergraduate Alumni

Aidan Curry

B.S. in Human Factors Psychology

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

currya4 at my.erau.edu

Spring 2023

Jack Capuano

B.S. Candidate in Computer Engineering

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

capuanoj at my.erau.edu

Spring 2023 to Spring 2024

Current Job: Associate Systems Engineer at Northrop Grumman

Past Research: Implementation of a Turtle-Based Consensus Algorithm on Drone Swarm Search & Rescue.

Creation and use of a software testbed for multi-agent-systems, such as a fleet of drones, and their use in search and rescue operations. The testbed will be useful in furthering the efficiency and success rate of search and rescue missions, as well as for testing consensus algorithms among multi-agent-systems.

Julia Gorthey

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

gortheyj at my.erau.edu

Spring 2023 to Spring 2024

Current Job: Commercial Blades EDM Process Manufacturing Engineer at Pratt & Whitney

Past Research: Biological Inspired Resource Allocation for Distributed Multi-Agent System with Limited Knowledge.

Researching and modeling the ant colony optimization and similar behaviors of coral shrimp to understand how to optimize resources from sustainability.