 |
Celina Arellano Team Member Celina Arellano is a fourth-year student pursuing a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a member of the Unmanned Aerial Systems Engineering Service Learning team. Participating in this team enables her to partake in research and build her technical base and interpersonal skills. Academically, Arellano is interested in the research of alternative fuels and has researched 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 industry to actively help bring technology forward and deliver smart energy solutions for today’s greatest energy challenges. |
 |
Brendan Blasius Team Lead Brendan Blasius is a second-year student pursuing a B.S. in Computer Science and Engineering and is a team leader for the software team of the Unnamed Aerial Systems Engineering Service Learning team. He joined this team so he could experience the application of CSE intersecting with different majors working on a single project. Blasius joined the service learning team to gain experience applying computer science on real-world projects and seeing the impact it has on different fields. He is interested to see the use of drones as a large scale commercial product that would allow farmers and growers to use their pesticides more efficiently. |
 |
Nhan Cao Team Lead Nhan Cao is a second-year student pursuing a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. Cao is the lead hardware developer 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. |
 |
Donald Grondin Communications Officer Donald Grondin is a second-year student pursuing a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and is the Communications Officer for the Unmanned Ariel Systems Engineering Service Learning team. The team is developing a method to detect the early infestation of nematodes in walnut orchards. Grondin chose the UAS team because the idea of automating a drone to fly and perform tasks given was an intriguing experience that he wanted to know more about. Academically, Grondin hopes to graduate with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. Grondin hopes to become an engineer that is tasked with building components and operating machinery. |
 |
Michael Issa Assistant Project Manager Michael Issa is a fourth-year student pursuing a B.S. in Computer Science and Engineering. 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 codes to help the campus function more thoroughly. |
 |
Kevin Lopez Team Member Kevin Lopez is a fourth-year student pursuing a B.S. in Computer Science and Engineering. Lopez joined the Unmanned Aerial System Engineering Service Learning team to expand his knowledge on the various ways drone technology can be implemented to resolve real-world problems. In the service learning team, Lopez is working on developing a thermal imagery system that will aid in the early detection of nematodes on affected crops through the usage of drone technology. Lopez will use this experience to improve on his current skill sets and acquiring new skills that will prepare him for his career in software engineering. |
 |
Keerthana Madadi Team Member Keerthana Madadi is a third-year student pursuing a B.S. in Computer Science and Engineering. Madadiis a member of the Unmanned Aerial Systems Engineering Service Learning project where she is working to recognize and analyze the feedback of thermal imaging from agricultural drones. As an aspiring software developer, Madadi has joined the project in order to gain practical experience by creating applications for drones. Keerthana is also designing drone simulations in student-led research where the simulations account for drone and human accidents |
 |
Carlos Rocha Project Finance Officer Carlos Rocha is a fourth-year student pursuing a B.S. in Computer Science. Rocha is the Project Finance Officer to the Unmanned Aerial Systems Engineering Service Learning team. After graduating, Rocha wants to obtain a software engineering position in front and back-end development. Rocha recently finished a software engineering position at Sweep Energy where he worked on developing their desktop application. Drones have always been an interest to him and this project is the right fit to gain more experience with drones and software development. |
 |
Brandon Rodriguez Team Member Brandon is a third-year student pursuing a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. He became apart of the Unmanned Aerial System team at UC Merced’s Engineering Service Learning class with hopes to gain hands-on experience in both the professional and technical world of engineering. Academically, he is invested in aerospace; he is a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics club, specifically in the Rocketry Division. In the future, Rodriguez hopes to work in NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. |
 |
Alexander Roman Team Member |
 |
Jorge Solorio Team Member Jorge Solorio is a fifth-year student pursuing a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and is the Intellectual Property Officer of the Unmanned Aerial Systems Engineering Service Learning team. He chose this project because it gives him an opportunity to get hands-on experience drones. This project also allows him to obtain a greater understanding of what is like to be part of a professional setting. Solorio hopes to use his engineering skills to work in the aerospace industry using or designing drones. |
 |
Xaiver Vega Team Member Xaiver Vega is a second-year student pursuing a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and 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 the 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 experience the exposure he needs to fulfill his professional goal to innovate, design, repair, and build a healthier world. |
 |
Ryan Wong Project Manager Ryan Wong is a third-year student pursuing a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and is the Project Manager of the Unmanned Aerial Systems Engineering Service Learning team. Participating in this project provides him an opportunity to become familiar with drones, multispectral camera readings, and in conducting research on microorganisms within 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 skill set to help out the local community and sustainability on the planet |
