By Javier Chagoya

Lt. Ryan Beall, a student in NPS' Department of Systems Engineering, is one of three university students selected for attendance at the National University of Singapore (NUS) Temasek Defence Systems Institute (TDSI). Established in 2001, TDSI is a strategic alliance between NUS and NPS that brings together international military members and defense technologists in an education and research environment.

"I'm really grateful for the opportunity to earn a dual degree in the defense technology and systems program," said Beall. "And I'll be learning more about sensors technology and simulation with the systems engineering and analysis track at NPS.

"National University of Singapore is seen as a premier institution in a culture that identifies with meritocracy and rewards academic efforts 100 percent. It's a fantastic learning environment and a once in a lifetime chance," added Beall.

A former MH-60 pilot, Beall has spent countless hours in his off-time studying remote-control (RC) Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft, building and flying his most recent design just a few weeks ago at Camp Roberts' McMillan Airfield. Beall is something of an expert in RC aircraft control algorithms, making his mark in the field as a student at the Naval Academy.

"In 2008, I wrote the [algorithm] as a Naval Academy student," Beal explained. "There was nothing like it before in such a small package. In it I could pack controllers for air speed, altitude and three-axis accelerometers, gyro magnetometers and attitude estimators with bank angle hold capability."

His basic open source control algorithm has been improved upon by several others since, but continues to be used internationally in the RC world.