Projects per year
Personal profile
About
Dr. Kevin A. Adkins holds bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees in aerospace engineering, along
with advanced coursework in physics and atmospheric science. He is a professor at Embry‑Riddle
Aeronautical University and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in aerodynamics,
aircraft performance, and topics in uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) within the College of Aviation.
During the spring of 2023 he delivered the first collegiate course on Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)
in the United States. Professor Adkins’ research interests include UAS and their applications, using
UAS and numerical methods to analyze near-surface (ABL/UBL) meteorology, micrometeorology,
advanced air mobility (AAM), and UAS flight test. Dr. Adkins is the Director of the Unmanned
Vehicle and Atmospheric Investigation Lab (UNVAIL) at Embry‑Riddle. Prior to coming to
Embry‑Riddle, Kevin served as an officer and pilot in the USAF and spent over a decade in
engineering industry, working as both an aircraft design and lead flight test engineer. Dr. Adkins
holds numerous professional memberships and is an elected Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical
Society.
Related documents
Education/Academic qualification
Aerospace Engineering, Ph.D., Mississippi State University
… → 2017
Department of Atmopsheric Science and Meteorology, Cert., Pennsylvania State University
… → 2011
Aerospace Engineering, M. Eng., University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
… → 1999
Aerospace Engineering, B.S., University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
… → 1997
External positions
Subject Matter Expert & Small Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS) Safety Instructor, Unmanned Safety Institute
Jan 1 2015 → …
Chief Aircraft Performance Flight Test Engineer for the S-76D, Sikorsky Aircraft
Jan 1 2009 → Jan 1 2011
Flight Test Engineer, Piper Aircraft
Jan 1 2008
Senior Aerodynamics/Thermodynamics Flight Test Engineer, Sikorsky Aircraft
Jan 1 2008 → Jan 1 2011
Aircraft Systems Engineer and Group Manager, GE Aviation / Smiths Aerospace
Jan 1 2000 → Jan 1 2007
Disciplines
- Aerospace Engineering
- Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics
- Aeronautical Vehicles
- Atmospheric Sciences
- Meteorology
- Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
- Atmospheric Boundary Layer
Projects
- 4 Finished
-
GUMP: General Urban Area Microclimate Predictions Tool Principal investigator. NASA SBIR with Intelligent Automation, Inc. (IAI) and AvMet Applications, Inc.
Adkins, K. A. (PI)
8/1/20 → 8/1/22
Project: Research project
-
Portable Traffic Management Tool Co-principal investigator. NASA SBIR with Improving Aviation, Inc.
Adkins, K. A. (PI)
1/1/20 → 1/1/21
Project: Research project
-
Using stationary and mobile low-cost sensors on UAS to assess air quality Co-principal investigator. EPA.
Adkins, K. A. (PI)
1/1/20 → 1/1/24
Project: Research project
-
Fusing Satellite and Drone Data with GIS to Create New Analytical Decision Support Tools for Varying Farm Types
Adkins, K. A. (PI)
1/1/19 → 1/1/21
Project: Research project
-
A simple mechanism for uncrewed aircraft bioaerosol sampling in the lower atmosphere
Adkins, K. A., Li, K., Blasko, M. N., Cabrera, J. L., Neal, B. H., James, T. Y., Hajian-Forooshani, Z., Brines, S. & Perfecto, I., Aug 2024, In: Landscape Ecology. 39, 8, 133.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Farmer Perceptions of Land Cover Classification of UAS Imagery of Coffee Agroecosystems in Puerto Rico
Klenke, G., Brines, S., Hernandez, N., Li, K., Glancy, R., Cabrera, J., Neal, B. H., Adkins, K. A., Schroeder, R. & Perfecto, I., Jun 2024, In: Geographies. 4, 2, p. 321-342 22 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Multi-Modal Atmospheric Data Collection using Low-Cost Particulate Matter Sensors
Nails, K., Smith, L., Liebergall, E., El-Sayed, M., Adkins, K. & Compere, M., 2024, AIAA Aviation Forum and ASCEND, 2024. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc, AIAA, (AIAA Aviation Forum and ASCEND, 2024).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
-
The mobility virtual environment (MoVE): an open source framework for gathering and visualizing atmospheric observations using multiple vehicle-based sensors
Compere, M. D., Adkins, K. A., Muthu Krishnan, A., Schroeder, R. & James, C. N., Jan 12 2024, In: Environmental Science: Atmospheres. 4, 2, p. 214-232 19 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Go with the Flow: Estimating Wind Using Uncrewed Aircraft
Compere, M. D., Adkins, K. A. & Muthu Krishnan, A., Sep 2023, In: Drones. 7, 9, 564.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access
Activities
- 7 Membership of network
-
American Geophysical Union (External organization)
Adkins, K. A. (Member)
2000 → …Activity: Membership › Membership of network
-
International Society for Atmospheric Research using Remotely piloted Aircraft (External organization)
Adkins, K. A. (Member)
2000 → …Activity: Membership › Membership of network
-
American Institute of Physics (External organization)
Adkins, K. A. (Member)
2000 → …Activity: Membership › Membership of network
-
Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (External organization)
Adkins, K. A. (Member)
2000 → …Activity: Membership › Membership of network
-
American Meteorological Society (External organization)
Adkins, K. A. (Member)
2000 → …Activity: Membership › Membership of network
Grants and Awards
-
Best Paper Award: National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) 2019 Ground Vehicle Systems Engineering and Technology Symposium
Adkins, K. A. (Recipient), 2019
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
-
2018 Distinguished Teaching Award: Honoring Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring
Adkins, K. A. (Recipient), 2018
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
-
2016 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Gaetz Aerospace Faculty Member of the Year
Adkins, K. A. (Recipient), 2016
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
-
2016 Unmanned Safety Institute (ARGUS International) Top Performing Faculty Member
Adkins, K. A. (Recipient), 2016
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)