Current Researchers Profile
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David Billingsley Morpheus Start Date: May 2006 Phone: 443.223.0858 | Email Researcher |
Born and raised in Annapolis, MD, Mr. Billingsley has enjoyed a variety of activities that helped steer him to become an engineer. Free time was spent with LEGOs; family chores usually consisted of wood work and major construction projects in and around the house. This hands-on approach to learning instilled in him a sense of confidence to experiment and build.
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Middle Ground Lighthouse with |
While not researching or relaxing, David joins his friends and family in a massive endeavor to restore the Middle Ground Lighthouse in Newport News, Virginia. The United States Coast Guard entrusted the lighthouse to David and his extended family to bring it back to its original glory and to correct decades of decay and neglect. Built in 1890, the six-story structure stands in the middle of the James River in view of the Norfolk Naval Base and the Monitor Merrimack Memorial Bridge Tunnel. For more pictures of the family’s progress, please follow the link below.
Middle Ground Lighthouse Photos
Graduate Research
Title: Autonomous 3D Map Generation from Aerial Photography
A three dimensional terrain map may be generated by combining the information measured from video and motion sensors. While aerial observations have long been a key to situational awareness in military environments, search and rescue missions, and urban planning, these observations usually arrive in the cumbersome format of a large pile of two dimensional still frames. Each still frame provides a flattened perspective of the 3D terrain, but only for the moment in time in which that portion of the world is visible. By creating a 3D map, civil engineers, architects, military planners, robotic platforms, and rescue organizers could quickly and effectively understand the lay of the land to direct their missions.
Video Frame Merged with Motion Sensor Data.
(Artificial horizon from Procerus Tech. software)
Undergraduate Research with Morpheus
Title: Passive Wing Morphing
Reactive wings mechanically fold to reduce the air resistance of each upward wing flap, before extending to full sail area for maximum effectiveness on the downward wing cycle. Previous models suffered from an unfortunate downward lift. The modifications successfully increased lift to 400%, but reduced the thrust available to the ornithopter.
Professional Objectives
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle performance-testing, control, and implementation speak to the hands-on approach to aeronautical engineering. A profession that could integrate the remote piloting skill set with knowledge of sensor suites, vehicle dynamics, and artificial intelligence for tangible results would be a dream come true.
Personal Statement
“A careful inspection of our test vehicles will demonstrate a variety of breaks, repairs, and reinforcements revealing a pinnacle attribute of the Morpheus Lab: WE FLY!”
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