The University of Texas at Arlington has awarded funding to research teams to launch new investigative projects. The Research Enhancement Program (REP), administered by UTA's Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation, offers seed funding to investigators to help them test new ideas and explore new directions that could lead to future innovations and more competitive proposals for external funding from federal agencies and nonprofit foundations.
In this research series, we are highlighting six of these grants.
Researcher: Dianqi Han, assistant professor, Computer Science and Engineering Department, College of Engineering
Project title: "Remote Diagnosis of Drone hardware Malfunctions Using mmWave Sensing"
What's the idea?
Dr. Han is developing a remote diagnostic system using millimeter-wave radar to detect early warning signs of drone malfunctions. The goal is for the system to identify subtle mechanical issues—like changes in propeller speed or unusual vibrations—that often indicate problems before they become critical.
Why it matters:
As drones take on larger roles in logistics and operations like delivery networks, aging hardware and general wear and tear can pose serious safety risks. Issues like failing sensors and propeller damage can lead to crashes if not caught early. Han's system aims to detect these problems in advance, helping prevent accidents and reduce costly downtime and repairs.
Real-world use:
Once developed, the system could be applied in drone delivery, performance monitoring, and surveillance operations. It's designed to work with low-cost, widely available millimeter-wave radars and requires minimal computing power, making it easy to deploy across different types of drone fleets.
Next steps:
The team has successfully tested the system in lab settings, showing that millimeter-wave radar can reliably detect signs of malfunction. Next, the researchers will focus on making the system more robust so it can handle the unpredictable challenges of real-world environments.
In their words:
"We're using high-resolution millimeter-wave radar to spot tiny mechanical irregularities in drones before they lead to serious failures. Our goal is a lightweight, cost-effective solution that keeps drone fleets operating safely and efficiently—even at scale."
Other Research Enhancement Program news:
May 27: Studying how bacteria grow to fight infections
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
Celebrating its 130th anniversary in 2025, The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of the thriving Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With a student body of over 41,000, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation's top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.
