April 3, 2025

TXU 2-444-239. 

That registration number won’t mean much to most people. But for Georgia Southern University Mechanical Engineering Professor Valentin Soloiu, Ph.D., and alumnus David Ortegon (‘23), it is a step toward safer runway navigation and validation for countless hours spent in the laboratory.

The two were awarded a patent by the U.S. Copyright Office, recognizing them as the creators of a technical system that offers advanced safety features for aircraft systems monitoring runway navigation.

“We started working on this years back, when Dr. Soloiu launched the Intelligent Vehicles Laboratory,” explained Ortegon. “He was very interested in finding a way to decrease collisions or accidents for airplanes during runway navigation and taxiing, something that is now extremely relevant.”  

The system uses data output from integrated sensors that constantly record data from the surroundings and the aircraft’s envelope. This data generates safety warnings or can take proactive measures if any obstacles are detected, helping the pilot to avoid potential collisions. 

Soloiu credits Ortegon with the heavy lifting on the research. The two worked together for three years, fulfilling Ortegon’s childhood dreams of making such a big heavy craft stay up in the sky. 

“I’ve always wanted to understand the engineering behind this,” he said. “It’s always been a dream of mine to figure out aircraft work.”

Ortegon, originally from Colombia, came to Georgia Southern in 2017 to pursue a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. Soloiu, impressed by Ortegon’s tenacity and dedication to his studies, mentored him as he acclimated to his new home. 

“English is not my first language,” explained Ortegon. “I had a lot of trouble trying to understand everything in a technical way because there was a lot of terminology that, for me, was completely abstract. Doctor Soloiu supported me in everything.” 

When the project began in 2020, Ortegon had to balance numerous research responsibilities with an ever-increasing workload.    

“The process was slow, but very thorough,” he explained. “But I’m very proud to say that we were able to accomplish what we wanted.”

Ortegan and Soloiu developed painstakingly intricate algorithms focusing on advanced driving assistance features. This allowed them to make sure that the landing gear system didn’t just detect obstacles but also took corrective actions in the event of an emergency.

“The next step is to develop a product or service that will incorporate this new technology,” explained Soloiu. “We will work to meet the market needs by making this technology ready for commercialization.”

Ortegon has since graduated and moved to Detroit, Michigan, where he works in research and development of automated/intelligent navigation technologies at FEV North America, a leader in the American automotive industry. He credits his career success to his advanced research in Dr. Soloiu’s Labs. 

“Research is what really helped me to move to the next level as an engineer,” he explained. “But Soloiu prepared me to work in this industry. He supported me in every project I took on. It’s because of his mentorship that I got simulation and hands-on experimental experience in the laboratory. And to this day, it still feels like I never left the lab at Georgia Southern.”