Exoskeletons and stress on the body have been recent research developments alongside the upcoming studies revolving around drones this coming fall at Keene State’s Technology Design and Safety (TDS) Center.
Brady Keene, the department chair for safety and occupational health applied sciences, explained how professors and students at TDS have been undertaking the research.
“We have been actively engaging with ARVR [Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality] for about five years at TDS,” Keene said. “The work we do at TDS is deployed across multiple majors at the school. The research we do will sometimes affect the local community as well.”
“We have been working with exoskeletons in the construction agency,” Keene went on. “Students will wear a bionic suit to look at how stress affects the body during those tests. We have also collaborated with local restaurants as of late to undergo chemical sampling as a way to test hygiene. At the moment, we also have a new faculty member joining in the fall who works with drones. Drones would be capable of being used as a damage assessment tool.”
Keene also explained why student involvement is important at TDS.
“I’ve worked with five research students,” Keene said. “Lito [Amit] has had about 10 to 15 in the last couple of years. Students interact more when they’re actively participating.”
Fernando Del Ama Gonzalo, the chair of the architecture department, shared his expertise and what he has been working on at TDS.
“I’ve been at Keene for seven years,” Del Ama Gonzalo said. “I teach about technical disciplines, such as heating and cooling. I was also teaching about 3D design. Since I became chair though; I’ve been teaching fewer courses.”
Del Ama Gonzalo also elaborated on the role of ARVR at Keene.
“Brady Keene has a lot of headsets for ARVR,” he said. “I’m working on making the software compatible with the headsets that he has. It won’t be ready by the fall, though, it will take a few semesters.”
Del Ama Gonzalo went on to explain how he has worked alongside students during some of his research and that the school tries to foster student interest.
“I’m also involved with studying radon gas which is capable of causing cancer,” Del Ama Gonzalo said. “When you dig to create something such as a basement, you may release the gas. I’ve conducted and measured this work alongside students. Also, at the ADU design competition this past week, a former KSC architecture student won, that being Andrew Schott. We all try to engage students with the work we do. In research such as this, you have to be patient and gather all the data.”
Del Ama Gonzalo expressed how those who work in the TDS Center want to improve the local community and the experiences of the students at Keene State.
“We are devoted to working for the community,” Del Ama Gonzalo emphasized. “We work to make housing more affordable and to help the local area. There are other faculty that have really done amazing things with students as well.”
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