Author: Yehyun Lee, Email: leey93@unlv.nevada.edu
Date Last Modified: 04/06/2025

I had a great chance to attend Aviation Nation at Nellis Air Force Base, and it was my first time seeing an air show. I was really surprised by how close I could get to many different kinds of aircraft. Some of the moves they performed were hard to believe—especially from aircraft that you don’t usually see in action. I couldn’t believe that helicopters could fly upside down, and the F-22 Raptor was so fast that by the time I heard the sound, it had already disappeared.

The best part of the event was the Thunderbirds' performance. Their group flying was amazing, and the sound and accuracy of their moves left a strong impression on me. Watching something like that right in front of me made me feel really lucky, and it reminded me how much I love aircraft. It’s a moment I will never forget.

I was deeply impressed by how strongly Americans express their pride in their country. When I went to the air show, I saw many people wearing clothes, hats, and bags with the american flag on them. It was not just a few individuals, but something that felt like a shared cultural expression. Also, while exploring different areas of the U.S., I noticed that the american flag is displayed almost everywhere, not only on national holidays. In Korea, it is quite rare to see someone hanging the national flag outside their home unless it is a special occasion. This visible pride and strong sense of national identity seem to be one of the things that bring unity to the country.

I realized that I’ve become less afraid of trying new things. Since coming here, everything has felt new, and even simple conversations with others used to make me nervous. At first, all of it felt overwhelming, and I was constantly worried about doing well. But now, that pressure has started to fade. Even if I’m not perfect and things feel a bit awkward, I’ve learned to enjoy new experiences and look forward to challenges. I try to take part in as many things as I can while I’m here. This is a big change from how I used to be, and I’m really glad to see this growth in myself.

This week, I successfully completed simulations to finalize the selection of motors and propellers for the LEGO drone. With the components now ordered, Koreen is finishing up the physical assembly. Meanwhile, I’ve been focusing on tuning the controller gains that will be used on the drone.

To enhance the controller’s performance, I revisited the fundamentals of PID control and began developing a method for gain tuning directly in Simulink. This process helped strengthen my understanding of control theory and how it applies in practice. In the coming days, I plan to test the tuned controller in simulation and prepare it for deployment once the drone is fully assembled.