(Jackson, MS) – Dr. Kamal S. Ali, a computer engineering professor at Jackson State University, has been awarded a patent for his Hardware in the Loop Simulator (HILS) for small autopilots used in unmanned aerial vehicles or drones.
HILS are systems that combine the best of software flexibility and hardware accuracy, providing the user with a powerful and realistic evaluation tool. The system allows the user to compare how a plane is flying under different autopilots and weather conditions. The project is a collaboration of JSU and the U.S. Army Research Laboratory. Ali collaborated with his student, Justin Shumaker, who currently works for the Army Research Laboratory.
A copy of the system will be delivered to the U.S. Air Force on Dec. 6. This is Ali’s first patent. 
“I’ve been working on this for five years. When I came to JSU, I started doing research with unmanned aerial vehicles,” Ali said. “It actually flies the plane inside the computer. You can look at the plane and how it’s flying. If it crashes, you can just reset and do it again.”
JSU Interim Vice President for Research and Federal Relations Dr. Loretta Moore said university officials are excited about the project.
“It is a great example of what can result from strong partnerships, such as the one between Jackson State University and the Army Research Laboratory,” Moore said.
“We are very proud of Dr. Ali’s achievements. He is a dedicated teacher, an innovator, an outstanding researcher and scholar, and a positive role model for students. This patent is a demonstration of the great things that our faculty, staff and students are doing at Jackson State University,” Moore said