Scholarly Outputs
Research Output & Funded Initiatives
The applied research driven by the XR Lab bridges the gap between advanced cyber-physical system design and practical industrial deployment. Our team consistently contributes to peer-reviewed literature, regional conferences, and major federally funded grant initiatives.
8
Funded Federal & State Grants
15+
Peer-Reviewed Works & Presentations
3
Master's Theses Directed
Sponsored Research Grants & Funding
| Year | Project Title, Funding Agency & Investigators | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Parametric Optimization of Bolted Timber Joint Configurations to Enhance Residential
Structure Resilience under Varying Tornado Intensities NSF-EPSCoR-URE | Ahmed, F. A K M (PI), Sun M.A. (Co-PI) |
$14,977 | Pending |
| 2025 | CPS-FR: CSR: RUI: Development of Integrated Sensor Fusing and Artificial Intelligence
Frameworks for Optimizing Efficiencies in Connected Smart Manufacturing Environments. NSF-CISE Future CoRe | Galloway, J.M. (PI), Arbuckle, G.K., Ahmed, F. (Co-PIs) |
$847,021 | Pending |
| 2025 |
Climate Science Modeling Using Virtual Reality |
$21,791 | Funded |
| 2022 | Solar Eclipse Megamovie 2024. NASA Heliophysics Innovation in Technology and Science | Emslie, A.G. (PI), Arbuckle, G.K. (Co-PI), Galloway, J.M. (Co-PI) |
$100,452 | Funded |
| 2022 | Development of Autonomous UAVs for Environmental Mapping and Creation of a Virtual
Reality Experience. Internal RCAP | Galloway, J.M. (PI), Arbuckle, G.K., Simpson, M., Tran, T. (Co-PIs) |
$15,990 | Funded |
| 2022 | Testing and verification of the efficacy of Gamification Virtual Reality Training
Simulation for Robotics. NSF-EPSCoR-URE | Arbuckle, G.K. (PI) |
$21,301 | Funded |
| 2022 | Development of a Gamification Virtual Reality Training Simulation for Computer Numerical
Controlled Machining Centers. NSF-EPSCoR-URE | Arbuckle, G.K. (PI), Galloway, J.M. (Co-PI) |
$21,194 | Funded |
| 2022 | Process Development for Recreation of GPS Limited Environments in Virtual Reality
(Award 1 & 2). NSF-EPSCoR-URE | Galloway, J.M. (PI), Arbuckle, G.K. (Co-PI) |
$42,388 | Funded |
| 2021 | Development of a Multitenant Mixed/Virtual Reality Platform for Increasing Awareness
of Implicit Bias in Child Welfare Decision-Making: A Public Health Crisis. KYNETIC-NIH | Boamah, D. (PI), Galloway, J.M. (Co-PI) |
$33,333 | Funded |
| 2021 | Development of a Mixed Reality Training for Robotic Manufacturing. NSF-EPSCoR-RA | Galloway, J.M. (PI), Arnold, K. (Co-PI) |
$67,837 | Funded |
Peer-Reviewed Publications
- A Scalable and Fault-Tolerant Data Infrastructure for Smart Manufacturing Research.
Dixon, C., Gardner, M., Galloway, M., Arbuckle, G. (2026).IEEE SoutheastCon, March 13-15, 2026, Huntsville, AL. - Development of a Multi-Modal Sensor Fusion Framework for Digital Twin Synchronization
in Smart Manufacturing.
Gardner, M.,Dixon, C., Arbuckle, G.*, Galloway, M. (2026). IEEE SoutheastCon, March 13-15, 2026, Huntsville, AL. - SunSketcher: A Citizen Science Network Project for the Heliophysics Big Year.
Emslie, G., Hudson, H., Arbuckle, G., Galloway, M., Peden, T., May, S., Ferguson, T., Miller, K., Cline, T., Sawant, S., Florence, A., Gabbard, G., Unsled, J., Spalding, L., Simpson, M., Wright, E. (2026). Frontiers in Astronomy and Space SciencesDOI: 10.3389/fspas.2025.1724714 - A Real-Time Cyber-Physical Framework for Predictive Maintenance in Smart Manufacturing.
Gardner, M., Kennedy, J.,Gentry, I.,Galloway, M., Arbuckle, G., Ahmed, F. (2025). ACMMidSE 2025, November 14–16, 2025, Gatlinburg, TN, USA. - On Development of SunSketcher: A Heliophysics Citizen Science Project.
Galloway, M., Peden, T., May, S., Miller, K., Ferguson, T., Cline, T., Sawant, S., Florence, A., Gabbard, K., Gordon, E., Arbuckle, G., Spalding, L., Simpson, M., Hudson, H. (2025). ACM Southeast Conference (ACMSE 2025), April 24–26, 2025, Cape Girardeau, MO. - A Model for Success: How SciStarter’s Partnerships with Eclipse Soundscapes and SunSketcher Engaged Communities and Amplified Impact in Participatory Science. Severino, M., Perrett, K., Giles, E., Arbuckle, D., Emslie, A. G., Hudson, H. S., Nickerson, C., Moundalak, R., Arbuckle, G., Galloway, J., & Cavalier, D. (2025).Bulletin of the AAS, 56(9). https://doi.org/10.3847/25c2cfeb.5792d55f
- Piloting a Replicable Model for Undergraduate User Experience Education: An Interdisciplinary,
Capacity-Building Framework.
Spalding, L., Simpson, M., Galloway, M. (2025). ACMMidSE 2025, November 14–16, 2025, Gatlinburg, TN, USA. - Performance Profiling of Load Balancing Algorithms in a Cloud Architecture.
S. Salifu, N. Turlington and M. Galloway. (2021).2021 IEEE Cloud Summit, Hempstead, NY, USA, pp. 77-82. - On Development of Low Cost Autonomous UAVs for Generation of Topographic Maps. Galloway, J.M., Sparks, E., Galloway, M. (2020).2020 18th International Conference on Embedded Systems, Cyber-physical Systems and Applications (ESCS '20), Las Vegas, NV.
Symposiums & National Presentations
- Creation of a Machine Learning Supported Cell on an Academic Budget. — Kennedy, J. WKU Student Scholar Showcase 2026. Bowling Green, KY.
- Building a Real-time Digital Twin for Smart Manufacturing using Multi-modal Sensor Fusion. — Gardner, M. WKU Student Scholar Showcase 2026. Bowling Green, KY
- Industry 4.0: Establishing an IIoT Network for Smart Manufacturing. — Kennedy, J., Gardner, M., Galloway, M., Arbuckle, G., Gentry, I., Lozano, A.ATMAE Conference 2025, Memphis, TN.
- VR Climate Science Simulation: Extreme Heat. — Thompson, S., Miller, K., Simpson, E., Hendricks, L. (2025). ACMMidSE 2025, Gatlinburg, TN.
- UAV Cave Mapping and VR Experience. — Costello, A., Johnson, C., Putman, M., Clayton, N., Herring, W., Putman, A., Batts, Jo., Young, E., Mers, Z. (2022).ACMMidSE 2025 Cluster, Gatlinburg, TN.
- Virtual Reality Campus Tour Using 3D Modeling and Scanning. — Wheeler, C., Bowers, I., Reilly, J. (2022). ACMMidSE 2025 Cluster, Gatlinburg, TN.
- Eclipse Totality Megamovie Application. — Smith, J., Warfel, L., Peden, T., Jackson, J. (2022). ACMMidSE 2025 Cluster, Gatlinburg, TN.
- Utilizing Innovative Technology to Bring Specialized Museum Exhibits and Tech Optimism to Rural Communities. — Whittle, M., Batts, Jo., Batts, Ju. (2022). ACMMidSE 2025 Cluster, Gatlinburg, TN.
Master's Theses Directed
| 2025 | Brown, Trevor — DASHAR: An Implementation of Augmented Reality Technology for Automotive Applications. Western Kentucky University Graduate Thesis Repository |
| 2025 | Lockwood, Isaac — An Evaluation of Reinforcement Learning Algorithms in Video Game Development. Western Kentucky University Graduate Thesis Repository |
| 2022 | Bolz, Steffen — A Low-Cost and Low-Tech Solution to Test for Variations Between Multiple Offline Programming
Software Packages. Western Kentucky University Graduate Thesis Repository |
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