Kevin A Adkins

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 aerodynamics, aircraft performance, and special topics in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) within the College of Aviation. Professor Adkins’ research interests include UAS and their applications, using UAS and numerical methods to analyze changes to near-surface (ABL/UBL) meteorology, micrometeorology, advanced air mobility (AAM) [UAM], and UAS flight test. Prior to coming to Embry-Riddle, Kevin served as an officer and pilot in the USAF and spent over a decade in engineering industry, working as both an aircraft system design and lead flight test engineer. Dr. Adkins holds numerous professional memberships and is an elected Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

AS-309: Aerodynamics

AS-310: Aircraft Performance

AS-399: UAS for Atmospheric Investigation

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

Other Institutions

• Physics I for Engineers
• Physics I and II
• Conceptual Physics

Research Projects

• Fusing Satellite and Drone Data with GIS to Create New Analytical Decision Support Tools for Varying Farm Types
• GUMP: General Urban Area Microclimate Predictions Tool

User Publications

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Akbas, M., Adkins, K., and Compere, M. (2021). Real-Time Urban Observations for Aviation, Proceedings of the 2021 AIAA Aviation Forum. doi: 10.2514/6.2021-2359.

Adkins, K., Albelo, J., and Bowyer, S., Exploring the Impact of Early Exposure to Research on Dual Enrollment Students: A Qualitative Single-Case Study, Journal of Applied Learning & Teaching, 2021, 4(1). doi.org/10.37074/jalt.2021.4.1.2.

Adkins, K., Akbas, M., and Compere, M., Real-Time Urban Weather Observations for Urban Air Mobility, International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace, 2020, 7(4). doi.org/10.15394/ijaaa.2020.1540.

Adkins, K., Wambolt, P., Sescu, A., Swinford, C., and Macchiarella, N., Observational Practices for Urban Microclimates Using Meteorologically Instrumented Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Atmosphere, 2020, 11, 1008. doi.org/10.3390/atmos11091008.

Adkins, K., Swinford, C., Wambolt, P., and Bease, G., Development of a Sensor Suite for Atmospheric Boundary Layer Measurement with a Small Multirotor Unmanned Aerial System, International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace, 7(1), 2020. doi.org/10.15394/ijaaa.2020.1433.

Macchiarella, D., Adkins, K., and Wallace, R., Using Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Remote Sensing and Data Collection: Aerospace Education and Service Learning. Proceedings of the 2020 AIAA SciTech Forum, 2020. doi.org/10.2514/6.2020-1771.

Haywood, J., Sescu, A. and Adkins, K., Large-Eddy Simulation Study of the Humidity Variation in the Shadow of a Large Wind Farm in Stable Conditions, Wind Energy, 2019. doi:10.1002/we.2434.

Compere, M., Adkins, K., Legon, O., and Currier, P., MoVE: A Mobility Virtual Environment for Testing Multi-Vehicle Scenarios, Proceedings of the 2019 NDIA Ground Vehicle Systems Engineering and Technology Symposium, 2019. (Best Paper Award)

Adkins, K., Urban Flow and Small Unmanned Aerial System Operations in the Built Environment, International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace, vol. 6.1, 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, 2018, 21:1155-1168. doi.org/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, 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, 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, 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, 2017.

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

- 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. ISBN-10: 0998729515; ISBN-13: 978-0998729510.

- Online Training Courses

Online sUAS Safety Certification Course for commercial operators, Unit 8: UAS and the Elements. Unmanned Safety Institute (ARGUS International). www.unmannedsafetyinstitute.org. 2017.

- 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.

PRESENTATIONS

Akbus, I., Adkins, K., and Compere, M. (2021). Real-Time Urban Observations for Aviation, AIAA Aviation 2021, Washington D.C.

Adkins, K., Compere, M., and Krishnan, A., “MoVE: A Mobility Virtual Environment for Planning, Rehearsing, Collecting and Visualizing Atmospheric Observations Using Multiple Mobile Sensors,” 21st Symposium on Meteorological Observation and Instrumentation, American Meteorological Society Annual Meeting 2021, New Orleans, LA. (peer reviewed presentation at international conference)

Adkins, K., Albelo, J., and Harrison, S., “Exploring the Impact of Early Exposure to Research on Dual Enrollment Students,” STEMinar 2020. (peer reviewed presentation at national conference)

Adkins, K., Sescu, A., Wambolt, P., Swinford, C., and Rentzke, N., “High-Resolution In Situ Measurement of an Urban Boundary Layer Using Instrumented Unmanned Aerial Systems,” 15th Symposium on the Urban Environment, American Meteorological Society Annual Meeting 2020, Boston, MA. (peer reviewed presentation at international conference)

Macchiarella, D., Adkins, K., and Wallace, R., “Using Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Remote Sensing and Data Collection: Aerospace Education and Service Learning,” American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics SciTech, Orlando, FL, 2020. (peer reviewed presentation at international conference)

Adkins, K., Rebensky, S., Plotnikov, M., and Vance, S., "Concurrent Sessions: Session 7B - UAS - Operational Applications," National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS), Daytona Beach, FL, 2020. (session lead)

Adkins, K., Sescu, A., Swinford, C., and Rentzke, N., “Nocturnal Observations of Thermodynamic and Kinematic Properties in a Wind Turbine Array Boundary Layer Using an Instrumented Unmanned Aerial System,” Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, CA, 2019. (peer reviewed presentation at international conference)

Compere, M., Adkins, K., Legon, O., and Currier, P., "MoVE: A Mobility Virtual Environment for Testing Multi-Vehicle Scenarios," 2019 Ground Vehicle Systems Engineering and Technology Symposium, Warren, MI, August, 2019. (peer reviewed presentation at international conference)

Adkins, K., Swinford, C., and Wambolt, P., “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 World Congress, Lugo, Spain, 2019. (peer reviewed presentation at international conference)

Adkins, K. and Wambolt, P., “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)

Haywood, J., Sescu, A., and Adkins, K., “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)

Adkins, K., Bailey, C., and Taylor, A., “The Next Step Beyond Identifying Field Variability: On-Farm Investigations Using an Unmanned Aerial System to Accurately Diagnose Crop Disease,” Xponential 2018, AUVSI, Denver, CO, 2018. (peer reviewed presentation at international conference)

Adkins, K., “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)

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,” Xponential 2017, AUVSI, Dallas, TX, 2017. (peer reviewed presentation at international conference)

Adkins, K., “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)

Adkins, K., and Elfajri, O., “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)

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

Adkins, K., “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)

Faculty mentored student presentations:

Bowles, J., Krishnan, A. M., Compere, M. El-Sayed, M., and Adkins, K. (faculty advisor), “New Air Quality Measurement Method: Low-Cost Sensors on UAV’s,” Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Discovery Day, Daytona Beach, FL, 2021.

Bowles, J., Krishnan, A. M., Compere, M. El-Sayed, M., and Adkins, K. (faculty advisor), “The New Air Quality Measurement Method: Low-Cost Sensors on UAV’s,” Florida Undergraduate Research Conference, FL, 2021.

Bowles, J., Krishnan, A. M., Compere, M. El-Sayed, M., and Adkins, K. (faculty advisor), “Low-cost sensors on unmanned aerial vehicles: an advancement in air quality measurement," Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Student Research Symposium, Daytona Beach, FL, 2020.

Krishnan, A. M., Adkins, K., and Compere, M. (faculty advisor), “Real Time Data Downlink Device for Live Telemetry from Instrumented Vehicles," Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Student Research Symposium, Daytona Beach, FL, 2020. (graduate student project winner)

Swinford, C., Oreo, A., and Adkins, K. (faculty advisor), “Development of a Three-Dimensional Wind Measurement Solution Hosted on a Small Unmanned Aerial System,” Florida Undergraduate Research Conference, Jacksonville, FL, 2019.

Oreo, A., Swinford, C., and Adkins, K. (faculty advisor), “Development of a Telemetry System for a Meteorologically Instrumented Small Unmanned Aerial System,” Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Discovery Day, Daytona Beach, FL, 2019.

Swinford, C., Oreo, A., and Adkins, K. (faculty advisor), “Development of a Three-Dimensional Wind Measurement Solution Hosted on a Small Unmanned Aerial System,” Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Discovery Day, Daytona Beach, FL, 2019.

Swinford, C., Oreo, A., “Development of a Meteorologically-Instrumented Small Unmanned Aerial System,” Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Industry Expo Reception, Daytona Beach, FL, 2019.

Professional Experience

Subject Matter Expert & Small Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS) Safety Instructor.  2015-Present.

Unmanned Safety Institute (USI).  Orlando, FL.

- USI subject matter expert (SME) in aerodynamics and meteorology

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.

Memberships and Credentials

ISARRA: International Society for Atmospheric Research using Remotely piloted Aircraft

RAeS: Royal Aeronautical Society, Elected Fellow

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

AUVSI: Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International

NBAA: National Business Aviation Association

FPAW: Friends and Partners in Aviation Weather

CAP: Civil Air Patrol

EAA: Experimental Aircraft Association

AOPA: Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association

CUR: Council on Undergraduate Research

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

NASA Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Ecosystem Working Group member

NASA ATM-X Project Participant

NBAA Weather Subcommittee member

ASTM International F38 Committee Member on Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Awards, Honors and Recognitions

Current Grants:

Principal investigator. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). $500,000.
• Fusing Satellite and Drone Data with GIS to Create New Analytical Decision Support Tools for Varying Farm Types

Principal Investigator. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) SBIR with Intelligent Automation, Inc. (IAI) and AvMet, Inc.
• GUMP: General Urban Area Microclimate Predictions Tool
       - Development of algorithms that can predict safe fly zones for sUASs in cityscape and rural environments. Algorithms use historical and live weather data and results from offline CFD simulations.

Co-Principal Investigator. Northrop Grumman and Brevard County Zoo.
• Development of a concept of operations and remote sensors for nearshore sea turtle tracking

Co-Principal Investigator. FIRST.
• LADME: Low-Altitude Drone Monsoon Experiment

Miscellaneous:

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s College of Aviation Researcher of the Year. 2020.

Elected Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. 2019. Elected for having made outstanding contributions over a long period of service in the profession of aeronautics.

Winner (team), The PIEoneer Awards 2020, Real Life Learning Award category. Showcasing excellent work in international education, Kosovo, 2019.

Best Paper Award: National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) 2019 Ground Vehicle Systems Engineering and Technology Symposium.

Summer 2019 Significant Research Award. ERAU College of Aviation.

Distinguished Teaching Award: Honoring Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring. St. Lucie County ERAU Aerospace Institute student nominated. 2018.

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

Unmanned Safety Institute (USI) Top Performing Faculty Member Award. 2016.

Unmanned Safety Institute (USI):

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

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.