Education

Research Description

Dr. Silverberg's research is in dynamic system modeling and algorithm development for autonomy and exploration.

Publications

Cellular growth algorithms for shape design of truss structures

Tschida, C. E., & Silverberg, L. M. (2013), Computers and Structures, 116, 1-6.

Optimal Targets for the Bank Shot in Mens Basketball

Silverberg, L. M., Tran, C. M., & Adams, T. M. (2011), Journal of Quantitative Analysis in Sports, 7(1).

Autonomous soaring: The montague cross-country challenge

Edwards, D. J., & Silverberg, L. M. (2010), Journal of Aircraft, 47(5), 1763-1769.

Control of underwater vehicles in full unsteady flow

Levedahl, B. A., & Silverberg, L. (2009), IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering, 34(4), 656-668.

Fourier series of half-range functions by smooth extension

Morton, J., & Silverberg, L. (2009), Applied Mathematical Modelling, 33(2), 812-821.

Characterizing hydrodynamic loads in full unsteady flow

Silverberg, L., & Levedahl, B. (2008), AIAA Journal, 46(12), 3159-3163.

Optimal release conditions for the free throw in men's basketball

Tran, C. M., & Silverberg, L. M. (2008), Journal of Sports Sciences, 26(11), 1147-1155.

Basic experiments in PID control for engineers

Silverberg, L. (Larry), Tran, Chau. (2005), Boston : Pearson/Custom Publishing.

Transpermanent magnetics using alternating uniform linear stacks

Silverberg, L., & Duval, L. (2005), Journal of Mechanical Design (New York, N.Y. : 1990), 127(4), 679-687.

Autonomous coordination of aircraft formations using direct and nearest-neighbor approaches

Silverberg, L., & Levedahl, B. A. (2005), Journal of Aircraft, 42(2), 469-477.

View all publications via NC State Libraries

Grants

Women & Minorities in STEM: Get Trained in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

NCSU NC Space Grant Consortium(2/01/17 - 4/30/18)

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Women & Minorities in STEM: Get Trained in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Sponsor: NCSU NC Space Grant Consortium

Start Date: 2/01/17

End Date: 4/30/18

Abstract

In terms of the NASA educational mission, this program supports STEM through a highly structured, hands-on experience. Students in such areas as zoology will be using UAV in their field to monitor wildlife; more broadly this is a sought after skill in many of the animal science related areas of specialty. The same can be said for engineering students in the different areas of engineering. In fact, with the spread of UAV throughout our industries, this skill being received is expected to be useful in nearly all of the employment areas, state, federal, and private. Of course, the excitement of the program is also a bonus and this will be encouraging to all of the participating students in their respective STEM fields of study.

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Digital Twin Research

National Institute of Aerospace(12/01/16 - 6/30/18)

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Digital Twin Research

Sponsor: National Institute of Aerospace

Start Date: 12/01/16

End Date: 6/30/18

Abstract

The principle purpose of this research is to investigate and determine methods and approaches that can translate to a usable digital twin model of an aircraft. The PI will collaborate with NASA LaRC researchers and engineers directly.

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CAD Apps for Core Courses in AE and ME Curricula: Bridge Funding 

The MathWorks, Inc.(1/01/16 - 5/31/17)

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CAD Apps for Core Courses in AE and ME Curricula: Bridge Funding 

Sponsor: The MathWorks, Inc.

Start Date: 1/01/16

End Date: 5/31/17

Abstract

The proposed work is essentially a bridge effort. The goal is to advance the work that was performed in the previous instructional grant, in preparation for an NSF grant that will broaden the impact of our work. The primary objective is to develop a design tool that can be used with each of the five CAD apps and support further instructional software testing and assessment. Currently, when using any one of the apps, the user selects nodes, connects them to create a structure, applies boundary conditions, then applies loads, and finally runs the program after which results are displayed in different forms (movies, static drawings, tabular  data, pop‐ups, etc). The user essentially runs one case. 

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Angelfish: Initial Planning and Project Management

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)(6/19/14 - 1/31/16)

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Angelfish: Initial Planning and Project Management

Sponsor: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

Start Date: 6/19/14

End Date: 1/31/16

Abstract

The objective of Project Angelfish is to develop a dual-purpose (air and water) unmanned system, referred to as Angelfish. The system to be developed will be capable of locomotion and controlled maneuvering in both the aerial and subsurface domains. The air-purpose performance (flight distance, duration, etc.) is to be minimally compromised by the water-purpose requirements, and the transition between air and water are to be as reliable as possible, again with minimal performance penalty (power). The goal of the effort is to develop alternative designs that lie throughout the trade space and to focus the further development on the most promising design or set of designs.

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NCSU Autonomy

US Army - Army Research Office(8/01/14 - 8/31/15)

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NCSU Autonomy

Sponsor: US Army - Army Research Office

Start Date: 8/01/14

End Date: 8/31/15

Abstract

US Army Special Operations Forces (SOF) seek autonomous and semi-autonomous tactical robotic systems that can provide mission support including counter-IED support, improved situational awareness, route clearance, patrol support, target engagement, logistics and communications support. At present, such systems are too large, slow, costly or noisy to support most SOF mission needs, and they still require a considerable level of human control, limiting their added benefit in an operational environment. Small unmanned systems are desirable for mission support but improvements are needed in areas such as perception, sensing, obstacle avoidance, autonomous decision-making, mechanical systems, action/motion planning and intelligent behavior in order to permit tactical operations effectiveness. This task will focus on Army-specific challenges related to developing autonomous capabilities for air systems. These efforts correspond with ARO core thrusts in Intelligent Networks (10.3) and Multi-Agent Network Control (10.4). The core areas of focus will be related to enabling capabilities that will reduce the soldier’s workload and increase mobility, maneuverability and information dominance.

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CAD Apps for Core Courses in AE and ME Curricula

The MathWorks, Inc.(5/16/13 - 5/14/15)

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CAD Apps for Core Courses in AE and ME Curricula

Sponsor: The MathWorks, Inc.

Start Date: 5/16/13

End Date: 5/14/15

Abstract

This grant aims to close the gap in the ?design thread? found in AE and ME undergraduate programs by developing general-purpose, course-specific CAD apps for its core courses in the freshman and sophomore years ? Engineering Statics, Engineering Dynamics, Solid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, and Vibrations.

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Building Design Apps for Early Engineering Education

National Science Foundation (NSF)(1/15/11 - 7/31/13)

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Building Design Apps for Early Engineering Education

Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)

Start Date: 1/15/11

End Date: 7/31/13

Abstract

The objective of this proposal is to build upon advances in engineering education and engineering design research as a means of introducing design into the early phases of the aerospace engineering curriculum at NC State. This research builds on the PI's design background and the Co-PI's initial efforts at developing a repository of computational "modules" used by students for in-class activities and for knowledge acquisition outside of the classroom. Freeware modules will be created that, when used together, build a student's appreciation for the multidisciplinary aspect of engineering, creates a hands-on design experience, and fosters system-level analysis. When used separately, these modules will provide curriculum-wide teaching tools for component-level content while supporting a student's independent inquiry. Simultaneously, this proposal will strengthen the curriculum's existing design thread by introducing a virtual, multidisciplinary rocket design problem. Motivation for this research lies within the ever increasing challenge of improving engineering education to facilitate a student's capability to solve complex problems that require multidisciplinary approaches and systems thinking. This task is particularly important today, as the same technological advancements that have driven societal improvements have led to tightly coupled engineered systems that exhibit complex component interactions. Assessing and working within the confines of these interactions will be fundamentally important for the next generation of engineers who will face challenges in energy, environmental management, food and water shortages, housing, health, and transportation. While current curricula often encourage and provide an analytical approach to problem solving, capabilities related to system design, integration, and synthesis are what industry now requires of graduating engineers. Recent graduates are also discovering that technical skills can more quickly become obsolete as markets become more international. To maximize the competitiveness of US engineering students, the National Science Board identifies that the context of engineering education must change to ensure students more directly meet today's industrial needs. Adopting a systematic process provides the necessary, regimented guidance that students need when gaining experience with engineering design. However, this is not a "silver bullet" solution. Students in the early phases of their engineering education are novices who have core competencies in science and math. From a design perspective, this competency obtained from their theoretical courses allows them to solve highly structured, and highly constrained, problems involving formal concepts. To become proficient and fluent in engineering design, engineering education research has shown that students must build an ability to solve less structured, more uncertain kinds of problems. We propose that software, specifically in the form of computational "modules", provides an effective approach to facilitate a student's transition from competency to proficiency in engineering design.

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Advancement of Thermal Sensing and Centering Algorithms

US Navy-Office Of Naval Research(1/01/10 - 5/15/10)

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Advancement of Thermal Sensing and Centering Algorithms

Sponsor: US Navy-Office Of Naval Research

Start Date: 1/01/10

End Date: 5/15/10

Abstract

This effort builds on Dan Edwards' studies and ongoing efforts that he is undertaking to lay a foundation in autonomous soaring. In this effort, Dan is perfecting a generalizing soaring algorithm, making it more robust with respect to the irregularity of the velocity distributions that are typically found in thermals. The algorithm relaxes the simple shape of the algorithm, allowing for elliptical cross-sections, variation in time, and general three-dimensionality. The results will be documented in a journal article that will be submitted to the AIAA Journal of Aircraft during the period of this grant.

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Principles of Autonomous Soaring

US Navy-Office Of Naval Research(1/01/09 - 12/31/09)

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Principles of Autonomous Soaring

Sponsor: US Navy-Office Of Naval Research

Start Date: 1/01/09

End Date: 12/31/09

Abstract

This effort builds on Dan Edwards' pioneering studies into the feasibility of autonomous soaring and other ongoing efforts that he is undertaking to lay a foundation in autonomous soaring. Through this grant, the results will be documented in a seminal paper to appear in the AIAA Journal of Aircraft. The paper will address, among the different topics, the basics of thermal sensing and centering algorithms, speed optimization, system implementation details, and flight testing results.

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Autonomous Soaring Algorithm

US Navy-Office Of Naval Research(10/01/07 - 12/31/08)

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Autonomous Soaring Algorithm

Sponsor: US Navy-Office Of Naval Research

Start Date: 10/01/07

End Date: 12/31/08

Abstract

The general goal of the Autonomous Locator OF Thermals (ALOFT) project is to show that capturing atmospheric energy is possible with an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) and can be used together with intelligent path planning to travel a great distance and/or stay on station for an extended duration. The specific goal is to break the 1988 140.7 mile cross-country world record for model glider flight using the UAS. The project addresses issues of remote geo-location of convective air updrafts, efficient flight trajectory utilization of updrafts, path-planning a safe and effective search along the course, real-world application of optimum speed control theory, and system integration across the cross-country soaring framework.

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