Brandon Stark

Brandon Stark is a Research Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering department at the University of California, Merced. His work focuses on advancing unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for remote sensing applications in agriculture, environmental monitoring, and cyber-physical systems. He leads research in optimizing UAS operations for precision agriculture, water resource management, and infrastructure inspection, with a strong emphasis on system integration and risk mitigation.

His research interests span drone technology, fractional-order control systems, and the development of rigorous protocols for safe UAS operations. His lab website highlights ongoing projects in aerial imaging systems, SWIR spectroscopy, and human factors in UAS piloting. Stark has contributed to over 30 peer-reviewed articles since 2010, with a focus on practical applications of UAS in real-world scenarios.

Stark's work bridges mechanical engineering principles with applied environmental science, addressing challenges such as crop water stress quantification, pipeline leak detection, and photovoltaic system optimization. His research also explores interdisciplinary areas like neurorobotics and biomedical signal processing, demonstrating a commitment to innovative cross-disciplinary approaches.