Utkarsh Pandey Email & Phone Number

Hawthorne, California, United States

West Lafayette, Indiana, United States

Created and trained supervised neural network on attitude commands to optimize hypersonic trajectories.Achieved less than 10% loss in training and validation between neural network and trajectory optimizer.

Villanova, Pa

-Helped students build robots with LEGO Mindstorms kits to teach programming logic and mechatronics.-Formulated engineering lesson plans combining design, build, and testing while teaching fundamentals of statics, mechanics, electrical circuits, and rocketry.-Ran activities for 43 high school students with $1200 of supplies.

Designing and analyzing a high-pressure combustion test rig to ensure its thermal, structural, and acoustic characteristics match that of a real annular combustor for a gas turbine engine. The rig will be used to test a novel probe that will be mounted inside the combustor to determine its flame transfer function:-Attached holes for hoist rings within 3D CAD model of test rig in SolidWorks. Hoist rings will be used to securely mount test rig during a test.-Conducted modal acoustic… Show more Designing and analyzing a high-pressure combustion test rig to ensure its thermal, structural, and acoustic characteristics match that of a real annular combustor for a gas turbine engine. The rig will be used to test a novel probe that will be mounted inside the combustor to determine its flame transfer function:-Attached holes for hoist rings within 3D CAD model of test rig in SolidWorks. Hoist rings will be used to securely mount test rig during a test.-Conducted modal acoustic analysis in COMSOL on pressure vessel of rig to determine acoustic eigenfrequencies characteristic of rig geometry. Show less

Greater Atlanta Area

Analyzed performance of green-propellant thruster:-Client had previously designed and tested a thruster with novel method of using electrical energy to add kinetic energy to exhaust.-Worked with research advisor and client to determine if added energy increased thrust and specific impulse.Designed and implemented a system to monitor the conditions of lab's graphite ion beam dump-a key component of one of the two vacuum test facilities: -Physically integrated the signals… Show more Analyzed performance of green-propellant thruster:-Client had previously designed and tested a thruster with novel method of using electrical energy to add kinetic energy to exhaust.-Worked with research advisor and client to determine if added energy increased thrust and specific impulse.Designed and implemented a system to monitor the conditions of lab's graphite ion beam dump-a key component of one of the two vacuum test facilities: -Physically integrated the signals, power sources, data acquisition devices, and other hardware components into one central location. -Used Modbus protocol to collect temperature readings of the beam dump and flow readings of the beam dump coolants. -Made a LabVIEW interface to easily display this data. Result: Eliminated twenty wired connections between the beam dump and test PCs by transmitting all data through a single Ethernet cord. Designed and built an anchoring system to prevent oscillations of an ExB plasma sensing probe that lay inside vacuum test facility: -Designed a series of brackets to secure the base of the tower.-Sourced components, manufactured parts, assembled brackets.Result: System reduced oscillation damping time from thirty seconds to five seconds. Show less

Huntsville, Alabama Area

Developed control system requirements for RL10-CX upper-stage liquid rocket engine:-Tasked with supporting control system requirements for internal use and for flow down to valve supplier.-Created master list of logic development constants built into controller.-Created master list of engine specific logic constants.Developed real-time simulator for solid rocket motor to verify test control software:-Test engineers needed to verify test controller with external… Show more Developed control system requirements for RL10-CX upper-stage liquid rocket engine:-Tasked with supporting control system requirements for internal use and for flow down to valve supplier.-Created master list of logic development constants built into controller.-Created master list of engine specific logic constants.Developed real-time simulator for solid rocket motor to verify test control software:-Test engineers needed to verify test controller with external, real-time simulator. -Created simulator with real-time capability in LabWindows to model solid rocket motor.-Simulator received commands from controller, calculated motor properties, and sent chamber pressure feedback to controller.-Displayed inputs, settings, and motor states and outputs on GUI. Show less

Savannah, Georgia Area

Developed Python program to automate post-processing of Rolls-Royce engine deck data*: -Created Python scripts to run cases through engine decks-Integrated all analysis functions into a single user interface.Result: Automated several hours of manual post-processing activities per engine deck run.*Engine decks are codes used to determine aircraft engine performance at conditions along an aircraft's entire flight envelope.Other tasks:-Validated 50 requirements in… Show more Developed Python program to automate post-processing of Rolls-Royce engine deck data*: -Created Python scripts to run cases through engine decks-Integrated all analysis functions into a single user interface.Result: Automated several hours of manual post-processing activities per engine deck run.*Engine decks are codes used to determine aircraft engine performance at conditions along an aircraft's entire flight envelope.Other tasks:-Validated 50 requirements in Technical Requirements Document for Integrated Power-Plant System (IPPS) using Rational DOORs. This document details high-level requirements that must be followed by supplier(s) for the aircraft engine and interfacing systems. -Determined the factors required to transition the calculation of thrust from EPR (engine pressure ratio) mode to N1 (fan speed) mode in the event of a pressure sensor failure during an aircraft go-around maneuver. Show less

Savannah, Georgia Area

-Updated parameter names to standard conventions on twelve Simulink models for G500 and G600 Integrated Test Facilities and Iron Birds.-Integrated Pratt and Whitney engine Simulink models for Factory Acceptance Testing.-Created MatLab scripts to automate Simulink and hardware I/O testing and data collection.-Created installer in Python for Out-the-Window X-Plane software. Reduced software configuration time by twenty minutes per installation.

Exton, Pa

-Used shop tools to design and assemble test apparatuses.-Documented over 20 reports for structural and component cycle and limit tests. -Built cushioning and strapping mechanism for seats with discontinuous (spring-loaded) back frames to prevent injury to R&D engineers. -Created laser protection device to stop a test apparatus if engineers entered hazardous area.

The Hill School

-Worked for Tennis Farm's On the Rise camp for low-income children from a local school district.-Planned tennis lessons and directed 10 junior counselors. -Taught over 60 children from local school district.

The Hill School

Coached tennis to children ages 6-12 at beginner and intermediate levels. Showed basic stroke technique and point play strategies. Worked with USTA Quickstart format. Collaborated with other assistant coaches as well as head coach to run streamlined tennis clinics.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Aeronautical And Astronautical Engineering, 3.91

Thesis: Kinetics of Nitrous Oxide Decomposition on Heterogeneous Catalysts National Defense Science & Engineering Graduate Fellowship.

Master'S Degree (Non-Thesis), Aerospace, Aeronautical And Astronautical Engineering, 3.83/4.00

Relevant Coursework: Rocket Propulsion, Combustion, Heat Transfer, Analysis of Thermal Systems, Computational Aerodynamics, Fatigue.

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Aerospace Engineering

GPA: 3.86/4.0

Education record

Class Rank: 1/348 GPA: 3.9/4.0 (Unweighted)