Engineering Commons^™

3d Bionic Arm, Anny Baez Silfa

Publications and Research

Previous work had been done on what was an adaptation of a robotic arm for Roboqueen, which is a persistent research project of the Department of Computer Engineering Technology. This robotic arm consisted of removing the cardboard hands from the Roboqueen and being replaced by 3D printed fingers and wrists to add functionality that did not exist before. Servo motors connected to Arduinos hidden in the forearm will be used to move the fingers and pick up and hold objects in the hand. Currently, the Finger Myoware is an update of the robotic arm in order to understand how prosthetic ...

Understanding Students’ Global Interdependence In Science Instruction, Walter S. Smith

Journal of Global Education and Research

Multiple American educational organizations such as the National Education Association, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, and the Council of Chief State School Officers have advocated for globalizing the K-12 curriculum. The National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) in a position statement on international education and the Next Generation Science Standards have produced goals and standards for internationalizing the science curriculum by addressing topics such as climate change, environment, and disease that cross borders. In contrast to those pronouncements on the curriculum, this article views global science education through an instructional lens that focuses on a students’ global interdependence in science ...

Purification Of I-129 From Spent Pwr Fuel, Sydney B. Whitaker, Kaitlyn Pierson, Kaylie Richard, Samantha Cahill

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Motivation Dynamics For Autonomous Composition Of Navigation Tasks, Paul B. Reverdy, Vasileios Vasilopoulos, Daniel E. Koditschek

Departmental Papers (ESE)

We physically demonstrate a reactive sensorimotor architecture for mobile robots whose behaviors are generated by motivation dynamics. Motivation dynamics uses a continuous dynamical system to reactively compose low-level control vector fields using valuation functions which capture the potentially competing influences of external stimuli relative to the system's own internal state. We show that motivation dynamics 1) naturally accommodates external stimuli through standard signal processing tools, and 2) can effectively encode a repetitive higher-level task by composing several low-level controllers to achieve a limit cycle in which the robot repeatedly navigates towards two alternatively valuable goal locations in a commensurately ...

Mitigate Or Adapt?, Graham T. Reader

Thriving Through Climate Change and Pandemic 2021

Any changes in climate prior to the 19th century are attributed to natural causes, largely due to external factors. However, since 1992 such natural climate changes have been defined as climate variabilities by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Modern changes in climate, using the same framework, are presumed to be caused by human activities, especially from the emissions of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) generated from the combustion of fossil fuels. Subsequently, instead of humans finding ways to adapt to changes in climate by such measures as migration, precipitation harvesting, flood prevention, and irrigation, mitigation has become the ...

On-Chip Nanoscale Plasmonic Optical Modulators, Abdalrahman Mohamed Nader Abdelhamid

Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis work, techniques for downsizing Optical modulators to nanoscale for the purpose of utilization in on chip communication and sensing applications are explored. Nanoscale optical interconnects can solve the electronics speed limiting transmission lines, in addition to decrease the electronic chips heat dissipation. A major obstacle in the path of achieving this goal is to build optical modulators, which transforms data from the electrical form to the optical form, in a size comparable to the size of the electronics components, while also having low insertion loss, high extinction ratio and bandwidth. Also, lap-on-chip applications used for fast diagnostics ...

Stock Market Manipulation Detection Using Continuous Wavelet Transform & Machine Learning Classification, Sarah Youssef

Theses and Dissertations

Stock market manipulation detection is important for both investors and regulators. Being able to detect stock manipulation and preventing it gives investors the confidence in the market fairness and integrity. It also helps maintaining liquidity of the stocks and market efficiency. Implementing data mining algorithms in manipulation detection is a relatively recent technique but in the past few years there has been an increasing interest in it's applications in this domain. The benefit of monitoring manipulative trade behavior is that it can be implemented on live feed of stock data, which saves a lot of time in detecting stock ...

Waste To Phosphorus: A Transdisciplinary Solution To P Recovery From Wastewater Based On The Triz Approach, Anna Jama-Rodzeńska, Andrzej Białowiec, Jacek A. Koziel, Józef Sowiński

Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Publications

Phosphorus (P) is a limited yet essential resource. P cannot be replaced, but it can be recovered from waste. We proposed the TRIZ approach (Teoria reszenija izobretatielskich zadacz - Rus., Theory of Inventive Problem Solving - Eng.) to identify a feasible solution. We aimed at minimizing the environmental impact and, by eliminating contradictions, proposed viable technical solutions. P recovery can be more sustainable based on circular economy and 4Rs (reduction, recovery, reuse, and recycling). The TRIZ approach identified sewage sludge (SS) as waste with a large potential for P recovery (up to 90%). Successful selection and application of SS management and P ...

Integrated Mixing Machine For Sulfur Concrete Production, Maisa El Gamal, Khaled El-Sawy, Abdel-Mohsen O. Mohamed

All Works

The production of sulfur concrete (SC) from its ingredient materials requires controlled heating and mixing conditions at a temperature level of 130°-150 °C. Although this process considered to be common and applicable at the industrial level, it is difficult at the laboratory/research level. This paper presents the design and manufacturing details of a relatively inexpensive laboratory machine for heating and mixing sulfur concrete. The different components of the machine are described in detail to help researchers to produce high-quality sulfur concrete. In this work, the quality of the machine is verified through experimental testing of the physical and ...

Mathematical Modeling Of A Two Wheeled Robotic Base, Kathryn Remell

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis presents the concept of using a two wheeled robot on the moon and briefly explores the requirements for successful long term operation in a lunar environment. The mathematical model for the motion of a robot with two fixed wheels on a differential drive with in a global reference frame. The robot is assumed to be balancing a platform so the mathematical model to balance the platform with wheel motors is also developed and briefly evaluated.

How Structural Engineers Find Errors In Analysis And Design Results. Practice Periodical On Structural Design And Construction, James Hanson

Faculty Publications - Civil Engineering

Errors in structural analysis and design are inevitable, but finding them early in the design process saves time and money. Knowledge of the broad causes of errors and how experienced engineers identify the presence of errors can inform training for structural engineers thus empowering them to find their own errors early in the design process. Therefore, this study presents 145 pieces of information about errors in structural analysis and design compiled from structured interviews with 35 structural engineers. The strategies used to find errors have been classified into eight categories: Comparison, Rule of Thumb, Information Check, Visualization, Extreme Value, Previous ...

Development Of A Two-Level Warping Algorithm And Its Application To Speech Signal Processing, Al-Waled H. Al-Dulaimi

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In many different fields there are signals that need to be aligned or “warped” in order to measure the similarity between them. When two time signals are compared, or when a pattern is sought in a larger stream of data, it may be necessary to warp one of the signals in a nonlinear way by compressing or stretching it to fit the other. Simple point-to-point comparison may give inadequate results, because one part of the signal might be comparing different relative parts of the other signal/pattern. Such cases need some sort of alignment todo the comparison. Dynamic Time Warping ...

Sonic Boom Loudness Reduction Through Localized Supersonic Aircraft Equivalent-Area Changes, Troy A. Abraham

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The NASA University Leadership Initiative (ULI) titled “Adaptive Aerostructures for Revolutionary Civil Supersonic Transportation” looks to study the feasibility of distributed structural adaptivity on a supersonic aircraft for maintaining acceptable en-route sonic boom loudness during overland flight. The ULI includes a team of industry and university partners that are working together to develop and implement the systems necessary to accomplish this goal.

The Utah State University Aerolab is a member of this ULI team and has been tasked with developing and using low-fidelity supersonic aerodynamic and sonic boom predictions tools to rapidly study the effects of localized geometry changes on ...

Inspection Of Electronics Components For Cryogenic Temperature Operation, Navaneeth Poonthottathil, Frank Krennrich, Amanda Weinstein, Jonathan Eisch, Leonard J. Bond, Dan Barnard, Zhan Zhang, Lucas Koester

Aerospace Engineering Publications

Electronics operating at cryogenic temperatures play a critical role in future science experiments and space exploration programs. The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) uses a cold electronics system for data taking. Specifically, it utilizes custom-designed Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). The main challenge is that these circuits will be immersed in liquid Argon and that they need to function for 20+ years without any access. Ensuring quality is critical, and issues may arise due to thermal stress, packaging, and manufacturing-related defects: if undetected, these could lead to long-term reliability and performance problems. This paper reports an investigation into non-destructive evaluation ...

Effects Of Climate Forcing Uncertainty On High-Resolution Snow Modeling And Streamflow Prediction In A Mountainous Karst Watershed, Conor Tyson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Snow-dominated, karst watersheds present particular challenges to accurately modeling streamflow in response to differing climate conditions. This is due to the uneven distribution of snow within a basin, the varied melting rates due to terrain and climate, and the difficulty determining flow paths through karst conduits below ground. One possible solution to these challenges is to model snow at a fine scale, but climate variables are not available at these smaller spatial scales. The choices about which climate dataset to use, and how to downscale the data to a fine scale, will likely affect the accuracy of streamflow simulations. This ...

Three-Phase Unfolding Based Soft Dc-Link Converter Topologies For Ac To Dc Applications, Dorai Babu Yelaverthi

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plugin hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are more efficient than internal combustion-based vehicles. Adaption of EVs will help reduce the carbon emissions produced by the transportation sector. The charging infrastructure has to grow at a rapid pace to encourage EV adaption. Installing higher capacity fast chargers will help alleviate the range anxiety of battery electric vehicle customers. More public charging stations are required for the full adaption of EVs. Utility power is distributed as ‘alternating current.’ A battery requires ‘direct current’ (DC) source to charge it. Hence a power converter that converts AC source to DC ...

Sensitivity And Estimation Of Aerodynamic, Propulsion, And Inertial Parameters For Rudderless Aircraft Using Simulation, Jaden Thurgood

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A technique known as system identification is often used in aircraft design and testing to understand and validate the mathematical parameters that describe the aircrafts stability and handling characteristics. System identification can be thought of as the inverse of simulation. In the world of system identification, we have a physical system that we seek to understand in more detail by monitoring the system with an array of sensors. In short, we conduct tests of an aircraft while recording the inputs and response outputs. Then we take the input and output data and run it through an algorithm that seeks to ...

Biomethanation And Alkaline Wet Air Oxidation Of Water Hyacinth (Pontederia Crassipes) From Ozama River, Dominican Republic, Yessica A. Castro

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Obtaining valuable products from environmental remediation waste is a sustainable approach that contributes to the ecological well-being of developing countries. In the present work, the feasibility of the water hyacinth anaerobic digestion as a post-weed management practice in the Ozama River (Dominican Republic) was demonstrated. The estimated energy required for harvesting was lower than that produced during digestion. The biomethanation of water hyacinth was improved by Alkaline Wet Air Oxidation (AWAO), a thermochemical pretreatment process that almost doubled the methane production rate and increased the yield by 24% when conducted at high temperatures. At lower temperatures, the methane yield of ...

Reactive Planning For Mobile Manipulation Tasks In Unexplored Semantic Environments, Vasileios Vasilopoulos, Yiannis Kantaros, George J. Pappas, Daniel E. Koditschek

Departmental Papers (ESE)

Complex manipulation tasks, such as rearrangement planning of numerous objects, are combinatorially hard problems. Existing algorithms either do not scale well or assume a great deal of prior knowledge about the environment, and few offer any rigorous guarantees. In this paper, we propose a novel hybrid control architecture for achieving such tasks with mobile manipulators. On the discrete side, we enrich a temporal logic specification with mobile manipulation primitives such as moving to a point, and grasping or moving an object. Such specifications are translated to an automaton representation, which orchestrates the physical grounding of the task to mobility or ...

Atomic Layer Deposition Of Sodium Fluoride Thin Films, Sara Kuraitis, Donghyeon Kang, Anil U. Mane, Hua Zhou, Jake Soares, Jeffrey W. Elam, Elton Graugnard

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The need for advanced energy conversion and storage devices remains a critical challenge amid the growing worldwide demand for renewable energy. Metal fluoride thin films are of great interest for applications in lithium-ion and emerging rechargeable battery technologies, particularly for enhancing the stability of the electrode-electrolyte interface and thereby extending battery cyclability and lifetime. Reported within, sodium fluoride (NaF) thin films were synthesized via atomic layer deposition (ALD). NaF growth experiments were carried out at reactor temperatures between 175 and 250 °C using sodium tert-butoxide and HF-pyridine solution. The optimal deposition temperature range was 175–200 °C, and the ...