Author: Yehyun Lee, Email: leey93@unlv.nevada.edu
Date Last Modified: 03/16/2025

This week, I traveled to Chicago for spring break. I had been feeling a bit exhausted from my studies, so this trip came at the perfect time to recharge. At times, I find it hard to fully enjoy the moment when I think about all the assignments waiting for me back in Vegas. However, I try to see this break as a chance to refresh myself so that I can return with more energy and focus. I hope to experience many new things in this different environment and take those memories back with me.

To celebrate Arim’s birthday, the lab members and I went to a sushi restaurant. Zahir mentioned that there would be a special guest, and it turned out to be Nick, a former member of DASL. From the moment we met, his energy was undeniable—it was almost contagious. Throughout the meal, he kept us entertained with his stories, making it impossible not to laugh. Zahir, Nathan, and Tommy also seemed extra energetic, whether it was because of Nick’s presence or just the excitement of seeing an old friend again. He shared a lot of unique business and product development ideas, some of which seemed a bit far-fetched but were also undeniably creative. Even though it was my first time meeting him, I could immediately tell how intelligent and innovative he is.

I quickly realized how different the East and West Coasts of the U.S. can be as soon as I arrived at Chicago O’Hare Airport. In Las Vegas, I was used to seeing a diverse mix of people, especially many from Hispanic and Black communities. However, in Chicago, I was surprised to find that nearly everyone around me was white. In Vegas, the diversity made me feel less like an outsider, as people from various backgrounds coexist in the same space. But here, with most people looking similar and my presence standing out more, I felt a stronger sense of being in a foreign country.

To further validate the reliability of the mambo drone simulation, I conducted additional flight tests with added weight. I attached a small payload to the drone to simulate different mass conditions and applied the same step input pattern used in previous tests. The real-world behavior closely matched the simulation results, reinforcing confidence in the accuracy of the simulator. With this validation complete, I am now preparing to adapt the simulator for a custom lego-based drone by inputting its specific frame parameters. The goal is to estimate the appropriate motor specifications for the lego drone based on simulation data.