By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
Alabama A&M University graduate Taylor Pippins is advancing her research and cybersecurity career after completing her second summer in the Army HBCU-MI SPARK Program.
Pippins, a McDonough, Georgia, native, graduated magna cum laude in May with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and a concentration in cybersecurity. She first joined Army SPARK in 2024 and returned this summer for a 10-week research fellowship at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center in Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Her project, “Autonomous Defect Detection for Robotic Infrastructure Inspection,” used robotics, artificial intelligence, 3D LiDAR and digital imaging to help autonomous systems identify and measure cracks and exposed reinforcing steel in concrete structures.
The research could improve infrastructure inspections while reducing risks to personnel working in hazardous environments.
Pippins presented her work at the program’s symposium in Washington, D.C., where she also served as a featured guest speaker.
This fall, she will pursue a master’s degree in cybersecurity at Georgia Tech while working full time as a technology support analyst with AAMU’s Information Technology Services.
Her journey reflects AAMU’s impact.