Kevin A Adkins

Associate Professor of Aeronautical Science
Aeronautical Science Department
Daytona College of Aviation
Daytona Beach campus

Areas of Expertise

Unmanned aerial systems (UAS)

UAS applications

Aircraft flight test

Atmospheric boundary layer meteorology

Aerodynamics

Turbulence

Geophysical and built environment fluid dynamics

Dr. Kevin A. Adkins holds bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees in aerospace engineering, along with advanced coursework in physics and atmospheric science. He is presently an associate professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and teaches within the College of Aviation. Professor Adkins’ research interests include using UAS and numerical methods to investigate near-surface (ABL) meteorology, UAS flight test, and using UAS to investigate flow within the built environment and over complex terrain. Prior to coming to Embry-Riddle, Kevin spent time flying in the Air Force and over a decade in engineering industry serving as both an aircraft system design and lead flight test engineer.

  • Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy in Aerospace Engineering, Mississippi State University
  • M. - Master in Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan System : Ann Arbor
  • B.S. - Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan System : Ann Arbor
  • Professional Certificate

AS-309: Aerodynamics

AS-310: Aircraft Performance

EGR-101: Introduction to Engineering

EGR-115: Computing for Engineers

AS-120: Introduction to Aeronautical Science

AS-121: Private Pilot Operations

AS-220: Unmanned Aerial Systems

AS-235: Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operation

AS-315: Unmanned Aircraft Systems Robotics

AS-390: Applications of Unmanned Systems Technology

WX-201: Survey of Meteorology

WX-261: Applied Climatology

SP-110: Introduction to Space Flight

SP-200: Planetary & Space Exploration

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Peer Reviewed

Adkins, K., “Urban flow and small unmanned aerial system operations in the built environment,” International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace, vol. 6.1, January 2019. doi.org/10.15394/ijaaa.2019.1312.

Adkins, K., and Sescu, A., “Analysis of near-surface relative humidity in a wind turbine array boundary layer using an instrumented unmanned aerial system and large-eddy simulation,” Wind Energy, Oct. 2018:21:1155-1168. doi:10.1002/we.2220.

Adkins, K., Bailey, C., and Taylor, A., "Integrating Unmanned Aerial Systems into the Crop Production System through On-Farm Research," Journal of Agricultural Science, vol. 10, no. 7, June 2018. doi:10.5539/jas.v10n7p10.

Adkins, K., Bailey, C., and Taylor, A., “The Next Step Beyond Identifying Field Variability: Integrating Unmanned Aerial Systems Into the Farm Management Workflow,” Proceedings of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International Xponential 2018, AUVSI, Denver, CO, May, 2018.

Adkins, K., and Sescu, A., "Observations of relative humidity in the near-wake of a wind turbine using an instrumented unmanned aerial system," International Journal of Green Energy, vol. 14, pp. 845-860, Aug. 2017. doi:10.1080/15435075.2017.1334661.

Adkins, K., Olds, J., and Ellis, C., “Development, testing and use of an instrumented unmanned aerial system to investigate changes to the near-surface meteorology within a wind farm,” Proceedings of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International Xponential 2017, AUVSI, Dallas, TX, May, 2017.

Adkins, K., “Quantifying the Aerodynamic Forces on Objects During a Vault,” SOARce: The Society of Accident Reconstructionists, Dec. 2007.

Doctoral Dissertation

Adkins, K., “Analysis of near-surface relative humidity in a wind turbine array boundary layer using an instrumented unmanned aerial system (UAS) and large-eddy simulation (LES),” Ph.D. dissertation, Dept. Aero. Eng., Mississippi State Univ., Starkville, MS, 2017.

Textbook

Adkins, K., “The Elements” in Mirot, A.J. (ed), Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Safety. Orlando FL: Unmanned Safety Institute (ARGUS International), ch. 7, pp. 135-156, March 2017.

Online Training Courses

Online sUAS Safety Certification Course for commercial operators, Module 7: UAS and the Elements. Unmanned Safety Institute (ARGUS International). www.unmannedsafetyinstitute.org. 2017.

PRESENTATIONS

K. Adkins, and C. Swinford, “Development of a Meteorological Sensor Suite for Atmospheric Boundary Layer Measurement Using a Small Multirotor Unmanned Aerial System,” International Society for Atmospheric Research using Remotely-piloted Aircraft Annual Meeting, Lugo, Spain, 2019. (accepted) (peer reviewed presentation at international conference)

K. Adkins, and P. Wambolt, “UAS Flight Operations in Complex Terrain: Assessing the Agricultural Impact from Hurricane Maria in the Central Mountainous Region of Puerto Rico and Developing New Data Science Tools,” Xponential 2019, AUVSI, Chicago, IL, 2019. (peer reviewed presentation at international conference)

J. Haywood, A. Sescu, and K. Adkins, “Humidity Variation in the Shadow of a Large Wind Farm: an LES Investigation,” Division of Fluid Dynamics, APS, Atlanta, GA, 2018. (peer reviewed presentation at international conference)

K. Adkins, C. Bailey, and A. Taylor, “The Next Step Beyond Identifying Field Variability: Integrating Unmanned Aerial Systems into the Farm Management Workflow,” Xponential 2018, AUVSI, Denver, CO, 2018. (peer reviewed presentation at international conference)

K. Adkins, “Application of UAS for Environmental Sustainability,” anchor lecture for multiday Informatics Days event hosted by the School for Environment & Sustainability at The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. 2017. (invited guest lecture)

K. Adkins, and A. Sescu, “Observations of Near-Surface Relative Humidity in a Wind Turbine Array Boundary Layer Using an Instrumented Unmanned Aerial System,” Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, CA, 2016. (peer reviewed presentation at international conference)

K. Adkins, O. Elfajri, and A. Sescu, “Analysis of Near-Surface Relative Humidity in a Wind Turbine Array Boundary Layer Using an Instrumented Unmanned Aerial System and Large-Eddy Simulation,” Division of Fluid Dynamics, APS, Portland, OR, 2016. (peer reviewed presentation at international conference)

K. Adkins, J. Olds, and C. Ellis, “Development, Testing and Use of an Instrumented Unmanned Aerial System to Investigate Changes to the Near-Surface Meteorology within a Wind Farm,” Xponential 2017, AUVSI, Dallas, TX, 2017. (peer reviewed presentation at international conference)

K. Adkins, “UAS: An Overview and Case For,” Civil Air Patrol: Florida Field Leadership Exercise (FLeX), March 2016. (invited guest lecture)

K. Adkins, “Effect of Derating and Shutting Down of Turbines on the Extracted Power of Large Wind Farms in Thermally-Stratified Atmospheric Boundary Layer,” Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, CA, 2015. (peer reviewed presentation at international conference)

Senior Aero/Thermo Flight Test Engineer.  2008-2011.

Chief Aircraft Performance Flight Test Engineer for the S-76D.  2009-2011.

Sikorsky Aircraft.  West Palm Beach, FL.

Flight Test Engineer.  2008.

Piper Aircraft.  Vero Beach, FL.

Aircraft Systems Engineer and Technical Group Manager.  2000-2007.

Smiths Aerospace/GE Aviation.  Grand Rapids, MI.

Engineering Consultant Co-Op.  1996-1997.

CADSi.  Consulting Services Department.

ISARRA: International Society for Atmospheric Research using Remotely piloted Aircraft

AMS: American Meteorological Society

AIAA: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Senior Member

APS: American Physical Society

AGU: American Geophysical Union, Associate Member

AIP: American Institute of Physics

AHS: American Helicopter Society

AUVSI: Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International

CAP: Civil Air Patrol

EAA: Experimental Aircraft Association

AOPA: Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association


National Board Member: American Meteorological Society (AMS) Board on Education and Outreach, 2019-2022.

Reviewer for the Department of Energy’s (DOE) congressionally mandated Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF) program

Invited Reviewer: International Journal of Green Energy

                              Atmosphere

                              Renewable Energy

                              Fluids

                              Collegiate Aviation Review International

                              International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Current Grants:

Principal investigator. $500,000 USDA grant.
• Fusing Satellite and Drone Data with GIS to Create New Analytical Decision Support Tools for Varying Farm Types

Miscellaneous:

Inaugural Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Gaetz Aerospace Faculty Member of the Year Award (2016)

Distinguished Teaching Award: Honoring Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring. St. Lucie County ERAU Student nominated (2018)

Unmanned Safety Institute (USI)

  • SME: Aerodynamics and Meteorology
  • Small UAS Safety Certificate
  • Small UAS Safety Instructor Credential
  • Small UAS System Training

USI Top Performing Faculty Member Award (2016)

FAA Remote Pilot Certificate with small Unmanned Aircraft Systems rating (Part 107 Remote Pilot)

FAA Private Pilot Certificate

FAA Advanced Ground Instructor

UAS Night Operations Training Course.  Rupprecht Law.  2017.

High Altitude Physiology Training Program. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. 2019.