Darren K. Maczka, PhD

he/him/his

Zeanah Engineering Complex 260C

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Knoxville, TN 37996

About This Page

I have arranged content here in chronological order about my educational background, as well as several engineering projects I have worked on. Sections are grouped by location, each headed with a panorama of the local mountain range.

B.S. Computer Systems Engineering

Environmental Data:

  • Air temperature

  • Air pressure (altitude)

  • Ozone

Atmospheric Research Balloon

How can we accurately measure atmospheric chemistry over time?

M.Eng. Electrical Engineering (Control Systems)

Environmental Data:

  • water quality data

  • acoustic data (custom sensor design)

Control Data:

  • Vehicle position and velocity

  • Goal data (e.g. tracking environmental features)

  • Communication data between vehicles

Autonomous Surface Vehicle

environmental monitoring: how can we track plumes of interest (e.g. temperature, pH) as they mix and propagate in bodies of water.

open-terrain navigation: how can we navigate a complex river system with many loops, turns, and "traps"?

Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

multi-agent coordination: what is the minimum amount of data that needs to be shared between vehicles to execute coordinated maneuvers?

Ph.D. Engineering Education

Environmental Data:

  • Water quality

  • Water quantity

  • Weather measurements

Learning Enhanced Watershed Assessment System

A real-time data source to learn about water management topics.

Academic Records Data:

  • Courses taken

  • Grades earned

  • Semester GPA

  • Degree status

Student Experience Data:

  • Interview transcripts

  • Classroom observations

  • Screen-capture video

Investing in Instructors

How can we present historic academic records data to new instructors in a way that supports course planning and development?

Technically I was on the North Carolina side of the Great Smokey Mountains where I found myself for the 2017 full solar eclipse.

Engineering Fundamentals Program

  • Responsible for EF 105

  • Teaching EF 230 this Summer

  • Co-developing and teaching EF 141 in the Fall

260C Zeanah Engineering Complex

If my door is open, I'm free to chat.