Ryan Wong - Project Manager
Ryan Wong is a 3rdyear Mechanical engineering Student and the Project Manager of the Unmanned Aerial Systems Engineering Service Learning Team. Being part of this project provides him an opportunity to become familiar with drones, multispectral camera readings, as well as conducting research on microorganisms within the soil. Academically, Wong is interested in robotics, drones, sustainability, and has been working in his robotics club to build a robot at MESA labs. Wong plans on using his skillset to help out the local community as well as the sustainability of Earth as a whole.
Michael Issa - Team Member
Michael Issa is a fourth year Computer Science and Engineering student. Issa is a passionate assistant project manager of the Engineering Service Learning team Unmanned Aerial Systems. He proudly picked this project because it gave him the opportunity to help the community detect nematodes. Currently, he is working on an app that uses augmented reality that scans trash and displays whether it goes in recycling or composting. Academically, Issa is interested in coding and using his codes to help the campus function more thoroughly. In his spare time, you can find Issa playing soccer or coding his own programs that are geared towards assisting others.
Alexander Roman - Team Member
Alexander Roman is a second-year Computer Science and Engineering major. Roman plans to use his background in Computer Science to help the team create an automated drone that can detected nematode pests in walnut orchards. Through this opportunity, Roman hopes to refine his team –working skills by constantly collaborating with a team. He also wishes to increase his knowledge in software development.Currently, Roman is working on a personal website in hopes to one day become a web developer. He hopes to use web development toprovide small startups or small businesses with greater online visibility.
Donald Grondin - Communications Officer
Donald Grondin is a second-year Mechanical Engineering student and the Communications Officer for Engineering Service-Learning part of the UAS team under Dr. Chen, developing a way to detect the early infestation of nematodes in walnut orchards. Grondin chose Unmanned Ariel Systems (UAS) as his Engineering-Service Learning because the idea of automating a drone to fly and perform tasks given was an intriguing experience, and wanted to know more about it. Academically, Grondin hopes to graduate with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. Grondin hopes to become an engineer that is mainly tasked with building components and operating machinery.
Brandon Rodriguez - Team Member
Brandon is a third year Mechanical Engineering student with the intent to work at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena. Academically, he is invested in the field of Aerospace, while UC Merced does not offer classes on aerospace engineering, he is a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics club, specifically in the Rocketry Division. In this division he is learning the fundamentals of rocket propulsion by constructing and launching his own rocket. He has received his Level 1 Certification and is currently constructing his Level 2 rocket. He became apart of the Unmanned Aerial System team at UC Merced’s Engineering Service Learning class with hopes to gain hands on experience on both the professional and technical world of engineering.
Brendon Blasius - Team Lead
Brendan Blasius is a second-year Computer Science and Engineering major and a team leader for the software team of Unnamed Aerial Systems in Engineering Service Learning. He joined this team, so that he could see the application of C.S.E. coupled with different majors working on one project. Brendan joined UAS to gain experience applying computer science on real-world projects and seeing the impact it has on differing fields. He is interested to see the use of drones as a large scale commercial product thatwould allow farmers and growers to use their pesticides more efficiently.
Nhan Cao - Team Lead
Nhan Cao is a second-year student pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Cao joined the team to lead hardware development for the Unmanned Aerial Systems Engineering Service Learning team. Through this project, he plans to learn more about aerial data collection and working in a team environment. He is interested in pursuing a career in developing astronautics and aerospace technologies. Additionally, Cao is working to become level two certified in high power rocketry and to restore World War II aircraft at Castle Air Museum. One of Cao’s goal is to gain experience for an internship at JPL this summer.
Celina Arellano - Team Member
Celina Arellano is a fourth-year Mechanical Engineering student and a member of the Unmanned Aerial Systems Engineering ServiceLearning Team. Being a part of this team enables her to partake in researchand build her technical base and interpersonal skills.Academically, Arellano is interested in the researchof alternative fuels and has conducted research in the Combustion Laboratory at UC Irvine, where she worked on the development of a gaseous fuel composition sensor. Arellano envisions herself ultimately working in the renewable energy industryto actively help bring technology forward and deliver smart energy solutions for today’s greatest energy challenges.
Xaiver Vega - Team Member
Xaiver Vega is a second-year Mechanical Engineering student at UC Merced who is a team member in the Unmanned Aerial Systems Engineering Service Learning Team. With the interest of pursuing a career in the aerospace industry, Vega is working with his team to determine early nematode detection for agricultural farmers using drones. Vega is looking forward to learning valuable experience while acquiring skills that are essential to his career in the aerospace industry. This project will allow Vega to the exposure he needs to fulfill his professional goal to innovate, design, repair, and build a healthier world.
Keerthana Madadi - Team Member
Keerthana Madadi is a third year Computer Science and Engineering major with minors in Applied Mathematics and Business Economics. Madadiis a member of the Early Nematode Detection System, Engineering Service Learning project, where she is working to recognize and analyze feedback of thermal imaging from agricultural drones.As an aspiring software developer, Madadi has joined the Unmanned Aerial System Engineering Service Learning team to gain practical experience by creating applications for drones . Keerthana is also designing drone simulations in a student -led research where the simulations account for drone and human accidents.
Jorge Solorio - Team Member
Jorge Solorio is a fifthyear mechanical engineer studentand the Intellectual Property Officer at the Early Nematode Detection.He chooseUAS Early Nematode Detection projectbecause it gives him an opportunity to get hands on work with a drone project.Not only that, but also to get a greater sense of what is like to be part of a professional setting. Jorgehopesto use his engineering skills to workin the aerospace industryusing or designing drones.Additionally, Jorge is helping map the Vernal Pools through The Long Range Drone Project with Dr. Stark.
