Humans exhibit an abrupt switch from walking to running in Earth gravity, suggesting at different gaits being modulated by different neuronal networks. This abrupt change is indicated in significant changes in muscle activity during a gait transition. However, in partial gravity the transition between classically defined walking and running does not exhibit an abrupt change, suggestive of a continuous shift of oneset of central pattern generators. This thesis investigates gait transitions in partial gravity using the Dynamic Systems Theory as a basis.

Adapting Phase Change Material closed loop microgravity cooling system for liquid cooled garment found in spacesuits.

-Skills: Microsoft Word, Excel, Matlab Programming, Verbal Communication, Foundational Engineering -Acts as teacher assistant to intro level engineering course required for all NMSU engineering students-Hosts own office hours to help students with a wide array of issues from homework to project design-Facilitates a Lab for the engineering class and substitutes in for professor if necessary handling class-Relates personal experiences to get students to start networking, and honing team work skills for future classes and projects

-Skills: 3D Printing and Prototyping, Project Management, Verbal and Technical Communication, Aerospace Manufacturing and Design-Leads a team of students ranging from Seniors to Freshmen Undergraduate to completely design a drone wing for the international AIAA drone competition -Acts as a liaison between the Lead Engineer, Project Manager, Senior project staff and general members-Uses skills as a Student Pilot to apply real world experiences to assist in building and designing drone-Communicates objectives and constraints of competition and aerospace engineering ideas and fundamentals so that all levels of experience can understand and participate in manufacturing and designing.

-Skills: 3D Printing, Microturbomachinery, Modeling with NX10, AutoCAD, Soldering, Small Pipe Manufacturing, Matlab ProgrammingWorked with a team of professors and students to create and test an innovative cooling system that works in zero gravity to supplement existing, not as efficient space and laser systems.The complete engineering design process occurred over several semesters and summers from design and research to prototyping, redesigning and client service as funding from NASA is handled by the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium. The beginning and final stages of the process involved using matlab to make predictions about the effects of heat on the payload and plot the data gained from the experiment. Siemens NX 9 and AutoCAD were used to completely model the system and conduct FEA analysis. A majority of the difficult to manufacture modules are 3D printed from designs we made. Manufacturing involved using hand tools and soldering.The basic configuration and premise of creating a more efficient cooling system revolved around keeping the system refrigeration flowing to transfer heat to a phase change material. To keep the fluid flowing in a vacuum and continuous free fall, conditions similar to the International Space Station, the micro-pump circulating the fluid had to be kept at atmospheric conditions. The pump is contained in a Poly-carbonate tube and is connected to the system by copper tubing. The tubing is ran through a micro-channel in a heater block to transfer heat and then to a coil in the module containing the phase change material. Bubbling is also a major point for the experiment. In the conditions of gravity bubbles will rise to the top of a system and can be allowed to escape. Bubbling in a zero gravity environment is dramatic as the bubbles will begin to cling to pipe walls and impede the flow of fluid. An experiment such as this has been done only a handful of times and out of those times the results have been inconclusive.

A significant portion of human factors spacesuit testing concerns movement limitations and suit reactions to astronaut movement. We focused on suit motion and reactions caused by internal impacts to the lower extremities of spacesuits. Conducting this human-suit interaction testing in a simulated computer model would save resources as well as allow for testing prior to suit manufacturing . A material reaction computer program, Summit, is being retrofitted to calculate reactions for spacesuit impacts but must be validated by physical testing. The physical testing or benchtop testing revolves around a mock leg and impact rig, representing the impacts an astronaut might receive while in walking motion. This benchtop test setup was used to collect synchronized data on the force of impact with a Novel pressure sensor, velocity of impact with Vicon motion capture, and deflection of the leg due to impact with APDM inertial measurement units. Four conditions are tested at multiple velocities of impact: a rigid leg with a rigid impact and spring impact, and a flexible leg with rigid impact and spring impact. The data collected from the four different conditions is used for running Summit with validated boundary conditions. Once established the program can calculate kinetics and kinematics with known material covering of the mock leg, such as a spacesuit. Further work was also done to establish a wireless testing system for validation within the Demonstrator spacesuit. Though physical testing is a luxury with spacesuits it is necessary for validation and the future of simulated spacesuit testing.

-Engineering and design everyday with building and maintaining structures for livestock, such as barns and fences.-Critical thinking with livestock management and operation, including branding, feeding, and vaccination of cows.-Years of experience networking with other ranchers and local government to improve agricultural output.-Direct hands on work with a wide array of tool sets from air compressors, crescent wrenches, screwdrivers, hand-drills, and hydraulic lifts.-Operated heavy equipment including bulldozer and wheel tractors.