CEAS Professor Works With NASA to Solve Complex Issues

From ensuring the safety of unmanned aerial systems for NASA to working on the air traffic control system, University of Cincinnati researcher Kristin Yvonne Rozier solves the some of the nation’s most complex mathematical puzzles.

Rozier is an assistant professor of aerospace engineering and computer science in the College of Engineering and Applied Science. UC landed the superstar researcher in January, following her 14-year career at NASA. While Rozier will continue her work with NASA, she said she’s already feeling at home during her first semester at the university.

The Office of the Provost assisted in more than 15 new minority, STEM faculty hires in eight months. Under the leadership of Provost Beverly Davenport, more than $800,000 will be invested in the next three years.

“I love the strength and vision of the research program here,” Rozier said. “It’s a very cutting-edge place to be, and so many people here are looking forward and setting the agenda. All the way up the administration from the provost to the deans, they all have a real commitment to the same philosophy – a strong commitment to research and excellence.”

Forward thinking research defines the way Rozier works. She solves the nation’s most complex mathematical problems to ensure safety for U.S. citizens.

As a research scientist at NASA, Rozier held civil service positions at NASA Ames Research Center and NASA Langley Research Center in Virginia. Rozier earned her PhD in computer science from Rice University and MS and BS degrees from the College of William and Mary.

During her tenure at NASA, she contributed research to the Aeroacoustics, and Safety-Critial Avionics groups at NASA Langley and to the Robust Software Engineering, and Discovery and Systems Health groups in the Intelligent Systems Division at NASA Ames.

“I finished my PhD while I was a NASA employee,” she said. “I looked at all sorts of different protocols and tools for NASA.”

Rozier is the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Inaugural Initiative-Inspiration-Impact Award from Women in Aerospace, the 2014 NASA Group Achievement Award, the Howard Hughes Award from the American Helicopter Society, and the Lockheed Martin Space Operations Lightning Award.

Though mathematical equations and formal methods may seem complex to the average person, Rozier thrives on the impact of her work.

Her research includes looking at what NASA calls the “functional allocation question,” or how the U.S. air traffic control system could be updated to accommodate more flights but still ensure safety.

“Under the current design, the air space is actually full,” she said. “We can’t add any more planes. We’re relying on human air traffic controllers, and there’s a limit to what humans can keep track of at the same time. They’re smart people, but even they have limits.”

Rozier and UC students are attempting to prove mathematically that an automated air traffic control system can be just as safe as the system used now.

“The way we increase our air space is to automate parts of air traffic control,” she explained. “How do we do that in a way that is just as safe as it is right now? It’s adding a much more crowded air space with a complex system that still keeps all the planes at a safe distance apart.”

She’s also researching the safety of autonomous unmanned aerial systems, which are powered aerial vehicles with no human operator.

Her research explores the question, “How do we give unmanned aerial systems enough reason to be aware of their own mechanical and system health while accomplishing a mission?” 

Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have the capability of helping mankind, Rozier said. The missions of a UAS include surveying natural disasters, like earthquakes and wildfires. Rozier and her team want to make sure unmanned aerial systems don’t end up doing more harm than good.

“If a UAS ends up with an issue of some kind, it has the potential of damaging something or hurting someone,” she said. “My lab is looking at how they can operate while also maintaining a sense of awareness about their own system health. This makes sure they don't create more harm wherever they go.”

In addition to her cutting-edge research, Rozier designed a one-of-a-kind course for formal methods in her first semester at UC. She’s also built up her lab and hired graduate students as research assistants.

Rozier is interested in potential collaborations with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Department of Defense. She was recently invited to give the keynote speech at the 2015 Air Force Research Laboratory sponsored Safe and Secure Systems and Software Symposium in Dayton, Ohio.

“I’m so passionate about this job. I get to solve incredibly awesome puzzles,” she said. “It’s not just the thrill of it. It helps make people’s lives better. This is one of the best way I can think of to contribute to the world.”