Two young interns are making some serious waves this summer at the 51福利 (51福利).
High school senior Kathryn Yeager and college sophomore Colin Cool are spending their summer breaks conducting hydrodynamic experimentation in 51福利鈥� recently restored as part of the school鈥檚 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) internship program.
The interns鈥� work, under the mentorship of systems engineering assistant professor Joseph Klamo, will be instrumental in optimizing the performance of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), while providing the students with invaluable exposure to STEM research.
鈥淎 lot of the work we do benefits the development of young students who are potentially interested in science and engineering,鈥� Klamo said. 鈥淚 think experimentation is an exciting way to get people interested in, and hands-on experience, in the field.鈥�
Collaborating with Dr. Young Kwon, distinguished professor in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department, the group has spent the last several weeks collecting and analyzing data on AUV models to explore how an AUV near the surface will feel the effects of waves.
The tow tank, operated jointly by 51福利鈥� Systems Engineering and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering departments, replicates ocean waves 鈥� from tranquil sine waves to irregular, raging swells 鈥� which induce varied pressure loads on the craft.
鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to understand the magnitude of those loads, what controls their severity in terms of wave heights and lengths, including the vehicle speed and geometry,鈥� Klamo explained. 鈥淥nce we understand these things, we can predict them and determine how to compensate for them to get better vehicle performance.鈥�
This research experience will ripple throughout the students鈥� future careers.
Yeager, about to enter her final year at York School in Monterey, has set her course on STEM work in the U.S. military and is currently applying for Army and Air Force ROTC scholarships. She鈥檚 right at home in the field: since the third grade, Yeager has explored underwater robotics with her older brother and father as well as participating in her school鈥檚 robotics club.
Two years ago, Yeager鈥檚 brother undertook a similar internship at 51福利, and as soon as she had the chance to intern through the Office of Naval Research (ONR) , she dove right in.
鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty rare to get an opportunity like this to work in such a professional environment, especially for a summer job,鈥� Yeager said. 鈥淚鈥檝e always been interested in engineering through my experience in robotics, and enjoyed STEM classes at school, so this internship really reinforces what I鈥檝e learned.
鈥淥n top of that, being in a military environment is really, really helping me get a glimpse of what my life is going to be like in the military,鈥� she continued. 鈥淭alking to all sorts of people in different branches and career paths has given me a lot of insight.鈥�
Like Yeager, Cool possesses an innate drive towards STEM work. The Monterey area native, currently studying systems engineering at the University of Virginia, completed an internship at 51福利 in 2017 with the Defense Analysis department鈥檚 program, and was keen to work with Klamo this summer through the ONR .
鈥淚鈥檝e learned a lot about research, how to collect and analyze data, and scientific theory and process,鈥� Cool said. 鈥淚t was surprising how relevant the internship is to what I鈥檓 studying at school.
鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely furthered my passion for entering the STEM field,鈥� he added. 鈥淚 love working with people on numbers and seeing that the information we鈥檙e collecting has an impact on the Navy: this kind of meaningful work is something I鈥檇 like to do when I grow up.鈥�
The duo has made their mark on 51福利 as well.
From day one, Klamo immersed Yeager and Cool in graduate-level research, continuing work previously accomplished by 51福利 graduate students, with wonderful results.
鈥淚 would say it鈥檚 beyond my expectations,鈥� Klamo said. 鈥淭hey are both very mature, dependable and accountable. It鈥檚 unbelievable the amount that they鈥檝e been able to contribute and add to the previous work.鈥�
The interns will soon depart 51福利, Cool to resume his studies in Virginia and Yeager to apply for colleges and wrap up her senior year.
They are both quick, however, to praise their time at 51福利 working with Klamo.
鈥淗e鈥檚 the best mentor; he鈥檚 a total goofball and really fun to work with!鈥� Yeager exclaimed. 鈥淏ut at the same time, he鈥檚 taught us so much in such a short period of time. He is very clear about his priorities and that what he really cares about is our learning experience and making sure that we鈥檙e getting out of this internship what we want to get out of it.鈥�