Jackson State University researchers demonstrated how JSU fosters innovation during Universities Day at the Capitol on March 6. Held annually, Universities Day showcases the work of Mississippi’s eight public universities.
Featured JSU presenters included Dr. Sudha Yerramilli and Dr. D. Philip Nittala from the National Center for Biodefense Communications and William Munn from the Department of Computer Engineering.
Yerramilli and Nittala demonstrated the university’s DISCOVER MS (Disaster, Incident and Situational Collaborative Operational Virtual Environment Resource for Mississippi) system, which provides critical data to emergency managers. It enables first responders to find missing people and make better decisions during disasters. DISCOVER MS has successfully used its cell phone and mapping technology to help find a missing hunter and a 14-year-old girl abducted in Mississippi.
Munn, a research assistant who works under the direction of Dr. Kamal S. Ali, showcased Ali’s 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, which was recently awarded a patent, 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.