Like New Jersey Native Wait Boarding School in Canada, Derek Chibuzor spent a lot of time on flight as a young student. The journey triggered a sustained interest in flight and when he signed up for the University of Southern California (USC), Chibuzor Thing in Aerospace Engineering.
Chibuzor is waiting for the prestigious Ridley College -Internskole in Ontario, Canada, and signs up for an international baccalaureater -examination program focusing on Voice. After graduating from Ridley, he was considering becoming a fighter pilot, but ultimately things to sign up for USCS Aerospace Engineering program – partly because it would give him access to future internships at large carriers.
His experience has already gone beyond the classroom. Through a unique summer scholarship in 2022, Chibuzor (who was their undergrad) in the real world gained experience in conducting research that could help change how the spacecraft dock with another.
What impressed me the most was his thirst for knowledge. He is a student in aerospace, but he wants to know about big language models, he wants to know about computer science – he really wants to know everything about everything.
Chibuzor is one of dozens of students who have signed up for the Amazon-sponsored Summer Survey Experience (Safe). Fellowship gives students from historically underreprecreated backgrounds with a unique research experience at top-tier universities included USC.
As a safe colleague in 2022, Chibuzor spent the summer after his first year at USC’s Space Engineering Research Center, which worked with a research project, with a visit to Amazon. As part of the program, he was also mentored by Gérard Medioni, Amazon Vice President and Distinguished Scientist and Emeritus professor at USC.
“What impressed me the most was his thirst for knowledge,” said Medioni. “He is a student in aerospace, but he wants to know about big language models, he wants to know about computer science – he really wants to know everything about everything.”
Medioni, who previously served as meat from the computer science department at USC, was able to offer Chibuzor advice on “A set of different options that he could follow while trying to get a double curriculum for aviation technique and computer science.”
“I’ve always been passionate about space and technique. But I think what program helps me realize is that I’m also interested in computer science and computer technology,” Chibuzor said.
Valuable research experience
During the USC’s 2022 SURE program at the Space Engineering Research Center, which is part of the school’s Information Sciences Institute and affiliated with the University’s Viterbi School of Engineering, Chibuzor participated in a project called “Cling-Es”. The Cling-Oors project goal was to develop an autonomous spacecraft docking solution for the International Space Station.
Chibuzor, who later joined two other trainees to take on the ambitious challenge, was tasked with developing a computer vision algorithm.
“To achieve Autoomous Rendezvous and Docking, every Cling-ES device is equipped with an infrared camra and a set of oven infrared LEDs,” Chibuzor explained. “By registering the rent and orientation of the IR -LEDs associated with the opposite device, each cling -RS unit is capable of determining its position, and intervals with regard to the other -coupling the couple to navigate against another and dock. To facilitate this IR -LED — detection developed my team algorithm using OPENCV.”
The team used Simpleblob Detector, a tool that can extract clumps – a region in an image that differs from the rest in terms of brightness or color. “When docking, the IR camera captures on each Cling-Ers device live video of the IR-LEDs associated with the opposite device,” he noted. “Our algorithm, which is continuously analyzed this live video to determine the position, attitude and intervals of the oven’s IR joints.
“This proved challenging for a few reasons, but one of the several interests I involved lens flare,” he continued. “As the clinging speed approached to the dock, the lens flame causes the light emitted by the IR Lights, distorts from circular to the rectangular power-limiting power cycle of the algorithm up close. To alleviate this, we developed a feature that dynamical tunomical progress.”
Chibuzor and his team took place their research and prototype solution at the safe faculty team and their peer trainees in August 2022.
Extension of Vote -Representation
Chibuzor’s experience as the USC sure of internal demonstrates the potential of exhibition developments from underrested groups to scientific research in the real world and Amazon’s culture for innovation.
“Amazon’s acidic program at the USC aims to perform the mission of diversifying pipeline for students in Stem, focusing on a number of projects, including machine learning, AI and other areas that Amazon is focused on,” said Andy Jones-Liang, associate director of Viterbic Services at USC’s Viterbi Schol from Engineering and the school’s secure program leader. “We had a less secure program at USC before Amazon’s partnership, but thanks to Amazon’s gift and sponsorship, we have been able to triple the number of students who sign up for the program.
While I’ve always been interested in computers and computer programming, I was definitely really amazing because I got exposure to a space research project in a professional research environment.
“Certainly is about purposefully seeing the talent in a very broad section of our society and understanding both how can we become more aware of this talent and also help these students realize that their talents are useful for companies like Amazon,” added Medioni.
Each year, the USC Faculty voluntarily reports to host safe students for the summer. Students apply for projects based on their personal and academic interests. The USC faculty and Jones-Liang then work together to choose students who match well with faculty projects based on their background and research potential.
Accepted students are working on their research projects for eight weeks and are preparing to place presentation with safe faculty and peer trainees. They also participate in weekly professional development events, participate in weekly lunch-and-teachers to hear about the possibilities of graduate fellowships and participate in social to build relationships, expand their networks and explore the local area. Fellowship includes the opportunity to visit Amazon’s local offices and receive direct mentorship from an Amazonian.
“Sure, and Amazon’s involved in it, helps tackle the wider societal goals to increase representation when it comes to solving the tribal problems we encounter in the world,” Jones-Liang said. “Students can see what a future in voice can be – where in academia or industry.
“For many of these safe students like Derek, this is typically their first second research experience,” he continued. “So much of the program is designed to make them familiar with the research environment and give them exposure to the real world research project.”
“While they have always been interested in computers and computer programming, it was definitely really amazing because I got exposure to an aviation research project in a professional research environment,” Chibuzor agreed.
SURE projects also help students understand the iterative, test-and-error character of research.
“Much of the program is about promoting the inherent motivation to want to read and get over the obstacles that always present themselves when you innovate and do something new,” Jones-Liang said.
As part of his safe community, Chibuzor also visited Amazon’s city office – met employees, listening to guest speakers from both Amazon and Academia and immersed himself in the Amazon environment.
“I was a strong myyself and as a stud you have a very limited visibility on the workforce and the environment where you might find yourself,” Medioni observed. “Sure, the windows open the experience of Amazon in a way that is useful for these students.”
In the summer of 2023, Chibuzor stranded his experience in aerospace technique through another acturium with Northrop Grumman. Chibuzor was recently admitted to USC’s Master’s Storage School to pursue a master’s degree in electrical engineering with emphasis on machine learning and data sciences. In the long term, he would like to exercise his entrepreneurial muscles and found a new business or start -up.
“The safe internship exposed me to a lot of computer science and computer technology and triggered an interest in me to promote it and create some of my own,” he said.