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Date Available

8-6-2026

Year of Publication

2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Masters in Aerospace Engineering

College

Engineering

Department/School/Program

Mechanical Engineering

Faculty

Sean Bailey

Jonathan Wenk

Abstract

The study of atmospheric particulates plays a crucial role in both climate change studies and the improvement of hypersonic travel. The current issue at hand is a lack of knowledge of stratospheric particulate content and the high cost that is associated with conducting research at these altitudes. This project focuses on the development of an Atmospheric Particle Imaging System (APIS) to be a low-weight, low-cost optical payload. The goal is to make a device that can be mounted onto an uncrewed aerial system that has the capability of imaging particulates moving at steady flow velocities, and thereby characterize the individual particulates for a better understanding of stratospheric particles. Using wind tunnel testing to simulate typical flight speeds, a prototype system was created that contains a sampling system that can capture a volume of air for imaging before venting and capturing a successive volume of air. This system was required to help slow and trap particulates to allow their sampling using a low-cost industrial camera. Through the testing, it was discovered that the system was successful in detecting the presence of particulates, but the selected imaging system, which used a rolling shutter, was not capable of accurately capturing particulate images. Due to the incapability of retrieving clear particulate images, the only aspect of particulate data that could be collected is the number of particulates and their location in each image. This research creates the foundation for the future APIS with a solid Particle chamber, proper lenses, and initial particle detection code.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2026.420

Archival?

Archival

1st Funding Information

NASA Kentucky EPSCoR

Development of SPECTR: A stratospheric particulate characterization apparatus

80NSSC22M0034

2nd Funding Information

NASA Kentucky Space Grant

Development of a Lightweight Sensor to Quantify Particulate Characteristics

80NSSC20M0047

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