SPIE Conference

On April 28, 2026, Islander student Omar Escudero ’26 and faculty mentor Dr. Ruby Mehrubeoglu represented Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi at the SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing Conference in National Harbor, Maryland.

Together, they presented their research project, AI and IoT Capabilities on a Raspberry Pi, a study focused on using artificial intelligence and Internet of Things (IoT) technology to improve real-time environmental monitoring in Corpus Christi waterways. Their system enables captured images to be automatically processed and organized in real time, significantly reducing the need for manual review.

As the only undergraduate presenter in his session, Escudero described the experience as both rewarding and motivating. He had the opportunity to engage with researchers, engineers, and industry professionals from around the world who are advancing work in image processing, aerospace imaging, sensors, and defense technologies.

“Being able to present technical research in English in a professional setting makes me really happy,” Escudero shared. “I did not only go to college — college took me to different places.”

In addition to presenting their research, Escudero and Mehrubeoglu attended sessions highlighting emerging innovations in imaging and real-time processing technologies. Escudero shared that the experience further strengthened his goal of pursuing a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and continuing research in real-time imaging technologies.