The management department at Vaughn College welcomed Terry Kilby to its Industry Insights Speaker Series, sponsored by ATL Partners. Hosted by Dr. Maxine Lubner and Adjunct Professor Loretta Alkalay, the live presentation by Kilby—who is a renowned aerial photographer and 3D specialist—focused on drones and the use of 3D scanning for historical preservation and Web3. The event showed Vaughn students new and exciting ways where they can apply their degrees in engineering and technology. Additionally, focus was given to the future direction of the industry as it pertains to the metaverse, Web3, NFT and the blockchain.
About Terry Kilby
For over a decade, 3D capture artist Terry Kilby has been recognized as a leading international expert—both as an aerial photographer and pioneer in the specialties of photogrammetry (3D scanning), panoramic photography (VR photography) and time lapse. Through the use of drones and the application of photogrammetry, Kilby has mastered the higher-level technique of capturing contemporary history and artfully creating photorealistic 3D models for historic preservation, film sets, archaeological sites—and beyond. His groundbreaking work in the documentation of historical sites and monuments is a mind-blowing experience that brings the past to life. Before Kilby found his passion for drones and aerial photography, he worked as mobile software developer and technology lead with a Fortune 50 company.
Aircraft design
Growing up as an avid radio control (RC) hobbyist, Kilby explained how he saw the beginning of the civilian drone industry as a continuation of the RC hobby world. Over the years, he navigated through the drone industry where he witnessed and experienced groundbreaking technology which set the stage for the fascinating work he is known for today.
STEM education
Sharing his love and knowledge for drones and 3D technology led Kilby to become an educator in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). His involvement with foundations and children’s camps was instrumental in spreading the word about drones to the younger generation. Part of his passion with the children was teaching them how to build their first quad copters through the application of 3D printing.
Advanced drone techniques
Blending his creative talents with his experience in software and web development, Kilby developed advanced drone techniques that continue to make a mark in the corporate and historical preservation arenas. Here are some of them:
- 360o Panoramas: By capturing several 360o panoramic photos and architectural models, Kilby is able to create a working model for a project.
- Photogrammetry: Through the recording, measuring and interpreting of the images he captures with drones, Kilby is able to obtain reliable information about the object—or environment—to use for his projects.
3D scanning
The highlight of Kilby’s presentation centered on the amazing capabilities of 3D scanning technology. Here are the types of scanning he uses in his work:
Structured Light
Described as an extremely accurate method of 3D scanning, Kilby shared how this technique assisted in extracting a fingerprint from a 3,000-year-old artifact.
LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and Photogrammetry
LIDAR is a method of 3D scanning that measures distance through the use of beams of light. For years, it has been used in aviation, being placed under small aircrafts such as Cessnas and terrestrial LIDAR.
Notable projects using 3D scanning
By using photogrammetry, Kilby showcased some of his unique techniques in working with historic structures, one of which was the Berlin Wall. Here are some other fascinating projects that Kilby featured via the use of photogrammetry:
Plantation House
Kilby used a Phantom 4 Pro Drone to capture images that were eventually used to create a 3D animated rendering of a plantation house that had been built in the 1600s. His work was used to help in the restoration project of this historical building.
Mayfield Theatre
Kilby was tasked to create a captivating visual of the Mayfield Theatre in Baltimore—the first African American-owned theatre in the U.S.—which fell into disrepair after undergoing a fire. Through his amazing talents, Kilby created a visual that told the story of the theater, and which ultimately gained the attention of an interested developer who restored the building’s facade.
Slave House
Over the course of three years, a team of archaeologists, historians, engineers and artists used Kilby’s 3D scans of a dig site in Annapolis, Maryland to uncover unique features of slave’s quarters from years ago. They then used that information to recreate an accurate depiction of the building’s interior and exterior.
Who uses 3D scanning?
Kilby addressed the three main areas he works in when it comes to drones and 3D scanning. These are:
- Architecture Engineering and Construction (AEC)
- Museums
- Archaeologists/Historic Preservationist
Unique ways to present projects
Just when attendees of the Industry Insights Speaker Series thought they’d seen the coolest applications that used drones and 3D scanning technology, Kilby went on to describe the different forms of asset presentation. Here is the variety of platforms he uses for asset presentation:
- Sketchfab/Web: Considered by Kilby to be the “YouTube of the 3D,” Sketchfab is leading the way to becoming the go to 3D platform for the web.
- Virtual Reality (VR) and the Metaverse: Kilby built a virtual reality museum in the Metaverse, where those in the “world” can view his exhibit and communicate with each other.
- Augmented Reality (AR): Unlike VR—where one is “sunk” into the experience without any situational awareness of what’s going on around him or her—augmented reality merges assets into the real world around the viewer.
- In Real Life (IRL) Museums: This fascinating form of asset presentation allows 3D exhibits to be “transported” and shared at museums worldwide.
Technology that is influencing the future
Kilby concluded by discussing how his work will fit into the future of the internet – including the blockchain, NFTs and the metaverse.
Blockchain
This decentralized ledger allows multiple individuals to store records or information on a “block” in the chain that’s secured by cryptography—which is the storing and transmitting of data in encrypted formats.
Kilby’s thoughts on the cultural impact of blockchain technology are that it:
- Democratizes the recording of history
- Is a fundamental shift in how history is recorded and will be understood moving forward
NFTs
Non-fungible tokens—or NFTs—are digital assets that are bought and sold online. In 2021, the NFT market was valued at $41 billion dollars.
Vaughn’s certificate and degree programs
The excitement surrounding Kilby’s work with the use of drones and 3D scanning technology is fueling interest in these futuristic career-driven fields. As a leading institution in engineering and technology, aviation and management, Vaughn College is setting the pace by providing its students with the necessary skills to land jobs in these fascinating industries. Which programs interest you? Check each of them out:
Certificate programs
Associate degree
Bachelor’s degrees
Are you ready to pursue your futureproof career? Discover the possibilities of an amazing career with one of our programs. Apply today!
The engineering and technology department at Vaughn College hosted its Seventh Annual Manufacturing Day Conference which took place virtually on October 29, 2021. Participants—which included the Vaughn community, students, and industry advisory members—were enlightened by a diverse group of six industry leaders who discussed the latest innovations in the fields of biomedical manufacturing, aerospace virtual reality and manufacturing, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, and 3D scanning and precision measurement tools.
About the conference
In celebration of National Manufacturing Day, the conference focused on the advancements in the engineering and technology industries and showcased the opportunities for manufacturers to highlight their work while raising awareness about the advantages of pursuing a career in manufacturing.
The presenters
As part of Vaughn’s ongoing commitment to the futureproof education of its students, we were honored to host this year’s presenters, who discussed how the latest cutting-edge technologies are proving to be solutions to some of today’s modern-day challenges. Here is a quick recap of what the six presenters discussed:
Diogo Roquette Osorio: Director of Engineering at East Coast Orthotic and Prosthetic Corporation
Osorio, the Director of Engineering at East Coast Orthotic and Prosthetic Corp., discussed the challenges of producing surgical masks during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to the demand and short supply of masks, Osorio explained how he and his team established a local automated production line that quickly and efficiently produced masks while maintaining ISO standards and compliance. Their ingenuity and rapid response enabled them to produce masks two years ahead of competitors.
Jefferson Maldonado ‘16: Senior Robotics Engineer at ArcBest Technologies
As a Vaughn graduate and former robotics club president, Maldonado is a perfect example of how hard work and an engineering degree from Vaughn—is a winning combination to a futureproof career. As senior robotics engineer at ArcBest Technologies, Maldonado’s presentation focused on autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), along with a variety of robot deployment regimes that relate to manufacturing and logistics. He discussed the progress of emerging technologies such as AMRs and their advantages in comparison to automatic guided vehicles (AGVs). Additionally, he addressed concerns such as path planning, cybersecurity and efficient deployment. Maldonado closed his presentation with the exciting announcement that ArcBest is hiring new engineers for career opportunities in robotics development.
Christian Gerbick and Dan McConnell: Territory Managers at EMS3D (Engineering and Manufacturing Services)
Industry experts Gerbick and McConnell from EMS3D presented information about metrology-grade advanced 3D scanners. They gave an informative overview of scanning technology, followed by an impressive demonstration that featured several high-profile 3D scanning case studies in the military and consumer aerospace fields. The scanners featured had the power to scan a variety of objects that ranged from small tabletop items to full-scale aircraft interiors and exteriors at high resolution.
Dr. George Kyriakou: Cofounder and Chief Operating Officer at BotFactory
BotFactory produces circuit board 3D printers. Dr. Kyriako spoke about his extensive work in the development of amplitude modulation (AM) for electronics and explained how this new aspect of the 3D printing landscape is changing the way printed circuit board (PCB) and electronics design is conducted. The use of his 3D PCB printing technology allows fully functional prototypes to be developed in rapid sequence, in contrast to traditional PCB related electronics development—which can take weeks to design and iterate.
Michael Nager: Co-founder of The Solution Center at Festo Didactic
Nager delivered an intriguing presentation about cybersecurity and artificial intelligence in the field of manufacturing engineering. As an industry 4.0 expert, he led the discussion, and identified career opportunities in 4.0 manufacturing, which include collaborative robotics experts and lead engineers who deliver solutions in modern manufacturing by leveraging robotics and management experience. In terms of cybersecurity, Nager explained how programmable logic controller (PLC) devices and interconnected network devices were seen as a venerable attach surface in the industry’s 4.0 manufacturing infrastructure. He showed how network security tactics—such as a demilitarized zone (DMZ), subnetting and proper sub-segmenting of networks—are viable methods to protect factory PLCs from attack. An important takeaway was his explanation of how the maintenance of secure manufacturing networks has grown beyond “on-the-job training” that now requires a focused educational program to deliver results. Nager’s company, Festo Didactic, has developed a comprehensive curriculum and courseware training product to properly prepare engineers in cybersecurity.
Olesya Kopteva: Training and 3D Scanning Team Leader, Artec 3D
Kopteva continued on the topic of 3D scanning with her presentation on Artec 3D scanner hardware, which included the new Space Spider and Eva range of scanners. She presented post-processing of 3D scans using Scan Studio 16. The results revealed this as an asset in post-processing 3D scans for consumer, medical, reverse engineering and entertainment computer graphic industries. Artec scanners feature high-quality, best-in-class 3D scanning technology—and comparative low pricing—for the education and engineering markets. Since 2015, Vaughn faculty and staff have utilized Artec scanners for work in club activities, technology presentations, degree projects, outreach activities and course offerings.
Q&A with Dr. Hossein Rahemi, Chair of Engineering and Technology Department at Vaughn
We sat down with Dr. Hossein Rahemi, department chair of Vaughn’s engineering and technology department, for his insight into the future of manufacturing and how these latest advancements are leading to excellent job opportunities for Vaughn engineering students.
Q: Virtual reality and artificial intelligence are playing big roles in today’s manufacturing industries. In your opinion, what does the future look like?
A: Today, we are learning through data collection, programming, AI, and virtual reality that functionality, safety, and productivity can be facilitated and further enhanced. As a matter of fact, the AI contributed to the advancement of manufacturing process through automation and autonomous mobile robots. Virtual reality in manufacturing is used for training environments, product development, visualization, and product configuration simulators. This sort of visualization speeds up safety and the product development process through robust interactive experience that facilitates rapid decision making and approvals.
Q: What are the best engineering degrees offered by Vaughn to prepare for today’s most in-demand jobs?
A: All of our engineering degrees meet the specific needs of today’s industry employers. For manufacturing and automation, specifically, our mechatronic engineering and mechanical engineering degrees, along with additive manufacturing—or 3D printing—are proving to be excellent degrees to pursue. Our students are receiving job offers prior to graduation from prestigious companies such as Lockheed Martin, SpaceX, Volvo and others.
Q: This year, high school students also attended the conference. Were there any specific topics that resonated with them?
A: Yes! The high school students loved the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and robots. It’s not only cool to see and learn about, but it resonates with an appreciation for the engineering field and development process. The students love the challenge. It’s a hands-on field where they can compete against each other and see their efforts put into action.
Do you have a passion for engineering? Discover how an engineering degree from Vaughn College will set you on a futureproof path to some of today’s most sought-after careers. Apply today.
