Meet the UTEP Student Team Competing at U.S. Army Drone Design Competition
UC STAFF | April 16, 2019
of Texas at El Paso’s NASA MIRO Center for Space Exploration
and Technology Research (cSETR), speaks to students from the
College of Engineering who are part of the team that will compete at the
U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s (CCDC)
inaugural student UAV design competition at Sun Bowl Stadium.
Photo: Ivan Pierre Aguirre / UTEP Communications
The University of Texas at El Paso will host the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s (CCDC) inaugural student unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) design competition Tuesday, April 23 and Wednesday, April 24, 2019, at Sun Bowl Stadium.
A team of eight students from the College of Engineering will represent UTEP at the competition. The team includes, Kristtian Busquets, John Gamboa, Rocio Lopez Terrazas, Moises Navarro, Zack Nieto, Dania Orozco, Jacquelin Prieto and Richard Reyes.
Organizers offered the competition challenge to more than 1,700 U.S. universities before the top 11 were selected to travel to El Paso for the finals. Each team will present its concepts and fly prototypes that address UAV technology gaps based on real-world challenges faced by Army researchers.
The first day of the competition on Tuesday, April 23, will be devoted to staging and team practice sessions at Sun Bowl Stadium. A poster showcase and welcome reception will close the day at 5:30 p.m. at the Larry K. Durham Sports Center Hall of Champions.
On Wednesday, April 24, Sun Bowl Stadium will open from 9 a.m. to noon, and the competition itself is scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon on the field. A technology expo will take place concurrently with the competition.
Read more about the competition.
Learn more about the UTEP students below:
Are you originally from El Paso? What high school did you go to? Can you provide a brief synopsis of how you arrived here at UTEP? What attracted you initially?
So, I was born in Chester, Virginia, but when I was 2 years old my family and I moved to Oklahoma. I remember moving around a lot when I was younger but I would consider Tulsa, Oklahoma, my hometown as it is where I spent the majority of my time. It was there that I graduated from Thomas Edison Preparatory High School and was part of a dual-enrollment program, Tulsa Technology Center, where I completed the pre-engineering program. I enjoyed the program and decided to pursue a career in Mechanical Engineering so from there I attained my Associate Degree in Mechanical Engineering at Tulsa Community College. After that, I was looking for a university to transfer to and was planning to attend Oklahoma State University. However, at the time my mother had been living in El Paso for a few years as it was where my stepdad was born and raised. She had told me about UTEP and after doing some research I had no doubt that it was a great engineering school with many opportunities to get involved outside of class. There were many factors that led to me attending this school. The main one was to be closer to my parents as I had been away from them for a few years. Another was an effort to get out of my comfort zone. Moving to a new state has challenged me in ways only traveling can. I have been here for less than a year and I have not only met new people but I have discovered a lot about myself.
How did you first become involved in the UAS program at UTEP?
First off, I want to say that it is a great honor to be involved in a program such as this one. Dr. McGee is brilliant and very passionate and excited about it which reflects in us students. As far as how I got involved in the program, I give credit to God; to Jesus. He put me in the right place at the right time, with the right people. When my first semester at UTEP started, I was looking for any way to get hands-on learning experience. So, I joined the Aero club as part of the Society of Automotive Engineers. On top of that, my mother had told me about a friend she had from church who was building his own full-sized aircraft so I did not hesitate to offer him my free labor in exchange for a valuable learning experience. He invited me to attend an event at the War Eagles Air Museum in Santa Teresa. After hearing about the Aero club I was in, which involves building an RC aircraft, he introduced me to a man named Tom Holmsley who has been modeling aircraft for over 50 years and he actually ended up sponsoring our club. After talking with him he invited me out to Patriot Field, an RC airfield here in El Paso. There, he introduced me to the man in charge who called himself Fritz. It was he who began to tell me about the UAS program, as he had previously assisted Dr. McGee in piloting some of the aircraft. Seeing as I was interested, he offered to email Dr. McGee my contact information in hopes that he would contact me. The very next day I received a call from Dr. McGee and after meeting with him in person, he offered me a spot on this team. What drew me into this realm was simply the opportunity to learn from experienced people and have access to high-end technology. I did not have much to offer the team as far as knowledge, I only came in with a humble attitude and a willingness to learn. Before this program I was not the least bit familiar with drone technology. It has been a challenge since the beginning and I have been able to learn more and more each day as the competition inches closer.
What does the Army’s decision to hold the competition here say about UTEP?
I can’t say enough good things about UTEP. This school has exceeded my expectations since Day 1. Its recent promotion to the top tier ranking in terms of research is well-deserved and I believe the UAS program played an evident role in that. It is an extreme privilege to be a part of this competition and I am grateful to Dr. McGee for choosing me to be a part of this team as I know there were many other students interested in joining. It is a daunting task, but it has given me the opportunity to grow by placing me in a real-world scenario, something that will benefit me later on when I enter the industry. The Army’s decision to hold the competition at UTEP, like the R1 designation, speaks volumes about the school’s recognition across the nation. It is just another reflection of the hard work that the faculty of this school have been conducting. Having access to high-quality academic and research experiences is incredible. There is no better way to learn than to get involved in projects and meet fellow colleagues, of whom many may be more experienced than yourself. This is one of many reasons I came to UTEP and it has proven to be true since day one.
Can you tell me a little about your work as it pertains to the competition? What are you responsible for?
I can’t really narrow my responsibility with the team down to one particular task. I simply help where I am asked to help, and aid in any way that I can. If the professor asks me to perform calculations for the drone such as maximum lift, I do that. When there are any problems with the drone, I assist in troubleshooting. During quality control I have been able to perform computational analysis using Fusion 360 and input ideas where solutions are needed. When it comes time to assemble the drone you can find me doing anything from configuring the wires, soldering them to the power board, and mounting motors/arms and any other pieces. One area where I have been relied on is ground control. Using a program called QGroundControl, I have been left with the task of calibrating the drone and handling the program anytime the drone needs to be operated for testing, whether on the ground or in the air. I am also the backup pilot. Having very flexible responsibilities gives me the opportunity to learn many different things. Going forward I hope to continue in the same way, carrying out the overall task of completing the drone and winning the competition.
What is next for you? Plans after graduation?
My plans after graduation are up in the air. The obvious plan is to get a job, preferably in the aerospace industry. However, depending on where this program leads me, it is possible that I could attend graduate school in order to attain a master’s. Either way, the plan is to keep learning and growing wherever I am.
Are you originally from El Paso? What high school did you go to? Can you provide a brief synopsis of how you arrived here at UTEP? What attracted you initially?
Yes, I am from El Paso I went to Irvin High School located in the northeast part of town. While there, I had heard that UTEP had a great engineering school so I was more than excited to come here.
How did you first become involved in the UAS program at UTEP?
It started when I took Dr. McGee’s special topics class and I ended up getting my part 107 FAA license to pilot UAS. Before that class, all I really knew about drones was that they crafts you could control remotely and look around with. It was this semester that Dr. McGee asked me if I was interested in joining the team and I gladly did.
What does the Army’s decision to hold the competition here say about UTEP?
You definitely feel the pressure, but at the same time it is exciting and a privilege to be involved in such a competition. Again, it is a privilege to be able to have access to this expensive and high-tech equipment and I think we are all grateful for it. The fact that the Army is having the competition here just goes to show how great of a university UTEP is.
Can you tell me a little about your work as it pertains to the competition? What are you responsible for?
I am the primary pilot for the team since I have my part 107 certificate as well as assisting on the build of the drone. We have been going out to the field and having flying sessions with Dr. McGee to get us prepared and familiarized with the controls of different types of drones, so it is just a matter of practice to be ready for competition.
What is next for you? Plans after graduation?
I’m planning to start working as soon as I graduate, which will be in December 2019. I don’t know exactly where yet, but I do have some prestigious companies in mind!
Are you originally from El Paso? What high school did you go to? Can you provide a brief synopsis of how you arrived here at UTEP? What attracted you initially?
I was born at El Paso, but I was raised in Ciudad Juárez. I went to Tecnológico de Monterrey, Prepa Tec in Juárez. My mother always tried to convinced me to study in El Paso, and when the time came to apply for college, she told me it was my opportunity to study here. I remember I came to the Orange and Blue day and I liked the school.
How did you first become involved in the UAS program at UTEP?
Last semester I was enrolled in a class called Systems Engineering and the professor, Dr. Smith told me that Dr. McGee was looking for a systems engineer student to be part of a team that would participate in a competition. That’s how I started to get involved in the UAS program. I did not know a lot about drones before that, but I have been learning about them for the past few months — about its technology, components, systems — because developing drones is very complex.
What does the Army’s decision to hold the competition here say about UTEP?
I feel honored about being selected to be part of this competition, it is a great opportunity to start involving myself in the engineering field and research area. The fact that UTEP is going to host this national UAS competition made by the U.S. Army makes me think that UTEP has developed its competitiveness to match any other university in the country. Because of that, I feel prouder to be a UTEP engineering student.
Can you tell me a little about your work as it pertains to the competition? What are you responsible for?
As a systems engineering student I am responsible for performing risk analysis and looking for potential failures in the drone. A very important part is that the drone is safe to fly. Dr. Smith has helped me to develop the different analyses. Also, we as a team are trying to get involved not only on a specific area, but in different tasks so we can cooperate more with the project and help each other out.
What is next for you? Plans after graduation?
Right now, I am a junior student and I only have one year left to finish my bachelor’s degree, so I am planning to apply for the Fast Track Program to start taking graduate classes. After graduation, I would like to complete a master’s in Systems Engineering and get a job in the field.
Are you originally from El Paso? What high school did you go to? Can you provide a brief synopsis of how you arrived here at UTEP? What attracted you initially?
I am a senior in electrical engineering and will be graduating in fall 2019.
How did you first become involved in the UAS program at UTEP?
I volunteered last semester with Dr. McGee in one of his projects then he asked me if I wanted to be part of the competition. At the time I had no idea how drones worked at all. I didn’t know all the components, parameters and protocols needed to operate a drone.
What does the Army’s decision to hold the competition here say about UTEP?
I feel very excited to be in this competition. And I think UTEP hosting the competition it’s a great opportunity to network with potential hiring managers.
Can you tell me a little about your work as it pertains to the competition? What are you responsible for?
Most of the work that I have done is the electronic parts of the drone, the electrical connections and some of the communications from the user to the flight controller.
What is next for you? Plans after graduation?
After this competition is done, I will be working on my senior project. After graduation, I hope to find a job with a defense company.
I feel honored to be working with my teammates. They are some of the brightest students I have ever worked with. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. But we always find a way to help each other out. I admire Dr. McGee, he is such a great leader. We don’t always have a good outcome in the lab, but he has a lot of patience and he’s determined to help us achieve success.
Are you originally from El Paso? What high school did you go to? Can you provide a brief synopsis of how you arrived here at UTEP? What attracted you initially?
I’m originally from Dallas. I received my GED through home-schooling. When I was considering colleges, some colleges were a little hesitant about accepting students that don’t have a GPA. UTEP isn’t one of those places. I was attracted to the engineering program.
How did you first become involved in the UAS program at UTEP?
I was in Maryland in summer 2018 doing work as a student for U.S. Army Research Laboratory South. While I was there, I got a heads-up that there was going to be a competition through UTEP. When I came back in fall 2018, I was signing up for senior design with Dr. McGee and he sent an email about the drone team. It started off with finding out last semester through him. He said, “We’re going to choose eight students out of all these applicants. It’s going to be a team that will cover all bases, be multidisciplinary.” That was exciting.
What does the Army’s decision to hold the competition here say about UTEP?
I was really stoked when I found out we became an R1 institution. I’m hoping to do my Ph.D., and previously I was talking to Johns Hopkins and Georgia Tech. When I found out that UTEP was now an R1 after joining the team, it made me want to stay here for my Ph.D. It’s been fun for me. It’s nice to know we’re one of the big names. And it’s nice that our team is going to be there. It’s one of those we’re just focusing on ourselves to make sure we have our stuff ready.
Can you tell me a little about your work as it pertains to the competition? What are you responsible for?
The scope of the competition changed frequently. We had a body ready a couple months ago. We went off a general basis of just trying to make sure it was perfect for the Army in what they could use in the field. In the beginning, we were keeping work pretty separate. It was, “If you know this about your field, then you work on that. If you’re systems, you’re working on failure safety analysis.” We were sticking explicitly to our groups. I was more 3D printing and design. But quickly, as crunch-time came, we realized we don’t have this time to keep this happy little separation. So, we started combining our efforts and now, we have people that are working on the circuits that hadn’t done soldering before. So, everyone is starting to learn and work together.
What is next for you? Plans after graduation?
I’d like to complete my Ph.D. before moving into research. For me, research is generally private contracting. I haven’t really decided where to move into but that’s the industry I’m looking at after I’m done with school. I think being in this competition has given us a sense of what we’ll be doing in our careers. A mechanical engineer won’t stay a mechanical engineer throughout his lifetime.
Are you originally from El Paso? What high school did you go to? Can you provide a brief synopsis of how you arrived here at UTEP? What attracted you initially?
I am originally from El Paso, graduated from Americas High School in 2014. After high school I went to New Mexico Military Institute on a volleyball scholarship then after graduating from there I transferred to UTEP and finished my two years of eligibility here.
How did you first become involved in the UAS program at UTEP?
I took one class with Dr. McGee and that’s when I started to be interested in drones. Before joining the ARL Team I was a little familiar with drones because of that class I took, but working on a real drone is way more challenging than taking just one class.
What does the Army’s decision to hold the competition here say about UTEP?
I feel very grateful to be a part of this team and to be able to represent UTEP in this competition. Army picking UTEP reflects what good job professors do in bringing assets to UTEP and that’s why we have to do a good job to back up all the professors’ hard work. Again, I am grateful to be at UTEP because of all the opportunities we have to do different kinds of research with great professors, to work with high quality equipment, and to learn from not only my professors but from my classmates as well.
Can you tell me a little about your work as it pertains to the competition? What are you responsible for?
I am the team lead so I coordinate meeting times, write out meeting updates, and try to work with the different sections to ensure we can come together smoothly. I feel like everyone helps out a lot and does a great job contributing to the team as a whole.
What is next for you? Plans after graduation?
After graduation I am moving to Fort Worth Texas. I have a job lined up at Lockheed Martin and I am very excited to see what’s to come in this next step of my life.
Are you originally from El Paso? What high school did you go to? Can you provide a brief synopsis of how you arrived here at UTEP? What attracted you initially?
I am born and raised in El Paso. I attended middle school and high school at a school called Harmony Science Academy which is a charter STEM school in the state of Texas. I decided to attend UTEP because of its great engineering program and because it allowed me to stay in the city that I love most. I am currently studying mechanical engineering because it is the engineering branch that is most diverse in which you study a little bit of each of the other engineering disciplines.
How did you first become involved in the UAS program at UTEP?
I had initially known about the UAS program at UTEP because of the different courses that Dr. McGee teaches regarding UAS. I registered for Dr. McGee’s senior design course which led to the opportunity to join the ARL drone team. Without having prior experience in UAS I was very grateful to have this opportunity because of how much I knew I would be able to learn through the process. I have been a part of various teams where we work together to build different types of robots but I had never been a part of a drone creation before.
What does the Army’s decision to hold the competition here say about UTEP?
Being able to take part in this competition shows me that there are a lot of opportunities that UTEP offers to be able to grow as engineers and have more hands-on experience on projects outside of our coursework. The fact that the ARL competition is being held at UTEP shows how much work all of the staff and students have put in towards the growth and mobility of our campus. UTEP will be competing against some of the top universities in this country and this is just another opportunity to put UTEP on the map once again.
Can you tell me a little about your work as it pertains to the competition? What are you responsible for?
Although I am a mechanical engineer, a lot of my work pertaining to the drone has been related more towards the electrical side. I have worked on the soldering/wiring build for the iterations that we have come about as a team. I am also currently working alongside my teammates on the usage of a dual-extrusion 3D printer that will enhance the creation of the arms in our drone. Using a dual extrusion printer will hopefully give us a lead on our design.
What is next for you? Plans after graduation?
I am currently a senior that will be graduating in May 2019. After graduation I plan on continuing with my education.
Are you originally from El Paso? What high school did you go to? Can you provide a brief synopsis of how you arrived here at UTEP? What attracted you initially?
My name is Richard Reyes. I’m originally from El Paso and attended Eastwood High School. I decided to go to UTEP because my parents before me attended UTEP, and it’s also close to home so I can go home whenever I want
How did you first become involved in the UAS program at UTEP?
I first got involved in this UAS program last semester during my first year in college. The cool structures of drones and my curiosity about the way they work attracted me. In the beginning, I did not know much about drones. But the program helped me out a lot in getting me ready and raising my level of knowledge to where it needed to be.
What does the Army’s decision to hold the competition here say about UTEP?
I am truly blessed and very excited to have this opportunity as a freshman to participate in this huge competition held at UTEP, a top tier research university. I feel like I have a better chance at getting more experience in the field to go along with the education I'm receiving in the classroom.
Can you tell me a little about your work as it pertains to the competition? What are you responsible for?
The work is quite fun and very exciting to see results of building your own drone with a group of people that represent UTEP. I'm responsible for soldering wires together on the electrical aspects of the drone as well as being the third pilot of the drone.
What is next for you? Plans after graduation?
As for what’s next for me in my educational career, it’s quite a blur. But the drone program and this competition are guiding me into aspects of aeronautics. I previously planned to go to graduate school to obtain my masters in biomedical engineering, but I still have a long way to go to decide what I want to do for the rest of my life.
