Electrical and Computer Engineering Commons^™

Multi-Year Arctic Sea Ice Classification Using Quikscat, Aaron M. Swan

Theses and Dissertations

Long term trends in Arctic sea ice are of particular interest with regard to global temperature, climate change, and industry. This thesis uses microwave scatterometer data from QuikSCAT and radiometer data to analyze intra- and interannual trends in first-year and multi-year Arctic sea ice. It develops a sea ice type classification method. The backscatter of first-year and multi-year sea ice are clearly identifiable and are observed to vary seasonally. Using an average of the annual backscatter trends obtained from QuikSCAT, a classification of multi-year ice is obtained which is dependent on the day of the year (DOY). Validation of the …

Neural Network Based Edge Detection For Automated Medical Diagnosis, Dingran Lu, Xiao-Hua Yu, Xiaomin Jin, Bin Li, Quan Chen, Jianhua Zhu

Electrical Engineering

Edge detection is an important but rather difficult task in image processing and analysis. In this research, artificial neural networks are employed for edge detection based on its adaptive learning and nonlinear mapping properties. Fuzzy sets are introduced during the training phase to improve the generalization ability of neural networks. The application of the proposed neural network approach to the edge detection of medical images for automated bladder cancer diagnosis is also investigated. Successful computer simulation results are obtained.

Modeling Of A Gyro-Stabilized Helicopter Camera System Using Artificial Neural Networks, Nicholas Layshot, Xiao-Hua Yu

Electrical Engineering

On-board gimbal systems for camera stabilization in helicopters are typically based on linear models. Such models, however, are inaccurate due to system nonlinearities and complexities. As an alternative approach, artificial neural networks can provide a more accurate model of the gimbal system based on their non-linear mapping and generalization capabilities. This paper investigates the applications of artificial neural networks to model the inertial characteristics (on the azimuth axis) of the inner gimbal in a gyro-stabilized multi-gimbal system. The neural network is trained with time-domain data obtained from gyro rate sensors of an actual camera system. The network performance is evaluated …

Blood Vessel Segmentation In Magnetic Resonance Angiography Imagery, Samuel Peter Kozaitis, Raghu Chandramohan

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications

Small blood vessels may be difficult to detect in magnetic resonance angiography due to the lack of blood flow caused by disease or injury. Our method, which uses a block-matching denoising approach to segment blood vessels, works well in the presence of noise. We examined extended regions of an image to determine whether they contained blood vessels by fitting a Gaussian mixture model to a region's histogram. Then, dissimilar regions were denoised separately. This approach was beneficial in low-contrast settings. It can be used to detect higher-order blood vessels that may be difficult to detect under normal conditions.

Denoising Medical Imagery Using A Novel Framework, Samuel Peter Kozaitis, Jeetkumar M. Mehta, S. Ponkia

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications

We proposed a novel framework that allows a method optimized for white noise to be used for denoising CT imagery. We considered low-dose x-ray CT imagery where lowering the dose of x-rays results in an increase in quantum noise. We first denoised an image independently several times using different parameters. Then, we selected pixels from those denoised images to form a final composite image. We produced results using blockmatching denoising, but in principle other methods could work within this framework, as well. The proposed method was able to better reproduce regions of low-contrast than the conventional BM3D approach.

A Novel Implementation Of Discrete Complex Image Method For Layered Medium Green's Function, Yongpin P. Chen, Weng Cho Chew, Lijun Jiang

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A novel implementation of discrete complex image method (DCIM) based on the Sommmerfeld branch cut is proposed to accurately capture the far-field behavior of the layered medium Green's function as a complement to the traditional DCIM. By contour deformation, the Green's function can be naturally decomposed into branch-cut integration (radiation modes) and pole contributions (guided modes). For branch-cut integration, matrix pencil method is applied, and the alternative Sommerfeld identity in terms of kz integration is utilized to get a closed-form solution. The guided modes are accounted for with a pole-searching algorithm. Both one-branch-cut and two-branch-cut cases are studied. Several numerical …

Change In Carbon Nanofiber Resistance From Ambient To Vacuum, Shusaku Maeda, Patrick Wilhite, Nobuhiko Kanzaki, Toshishige Yamada, Cary Y. Yang

Electrical and Computer Engineering

The electrical properties of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) can be affected by adsorbed gas species. In this study, we compare the resistance values of CNF devices in a horizontal configuration in air and under vacuum. CNFs in air are observed to possess lower current capacities compared to those in vacuum. Further, Joule heating due to current stressing can result in desorption of gas molecules responsible for carrier trapping, leading to lower resistances and higher breakdown currents in vacuum, where most adsorbed gaseous species are evacuated before any significant re-adsorption can occur. A model is proposed to describe these observations, and is …

Development Of Wearable Sensors For Body Joint Angle Measurement, Saba Bakhshi Khayani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents the development of three different methods for body joint angle measurement using wearable sensors. Continuous monitoring of patients' movements and activities has recently become one of the active research areas in the field of body sensor network and telehealth monitoring. For many medical and rehabilitation applications, a continuous monitor of the patients' daily activities at home without visiting the hospital is desirable. This type of monitoring is beneficial for the therapists and physicians as it does not require patients' physical presence. Traditionally, measuring the range of motion (ROM) is performed in hospitals by utilizing standard tools such …

Design, Fabrication, And Testing Of An Electromagnetic Rail Gun For The Repeated Testing And Simulation Of Orbital Debris Impacts, Jeff Maniglia, Jordan Smiroldo, Alex Westfall, Guy Zohar

Aerospace Engineering

An Electromagnetic Railgun (EMRG) was designed, built, and tested, capable of firing a projectile a 1 gram projectile at 650 m/s muzzle velocity. The EMRG utilizes an injector, a high voltage power supply, a capacitor bank, inductors and rails. The injector fires 2300 psig Nitrogen gas into the system to provide an initial velocity. The high voltage power supply charges the capacitor bank. The capacitor bank discharges the electric potential built up through the projectile while inside the rails in order to create the EMRG’s force. The inductors are used to pulse form the capacitor bank in order to get …

Final Design Review: Design Of An Integrated Solar Cell Array To Power A Solar Ear Hearing Aid Battery Recharger, Christina (Chrissa) Blattner, Scott Carey, Jared Myren, Faye Siao

Materials Engineering

As the energy of fossil fuel supplies are fast depleting due to high consumptions of energy by human beings, the need for other sources of energy, such as solar energy, has become a viable option. By creating solar cell arrays the desired voltage can be generated. The overall goal of the Solar Ear project is to create an array of photovoltaic cells connected with aluminum tracings to recharge batteries that are specifically used for hearing aids. The goal embodies two main areas: the design of a processing method to connect the cells during a micro-fabrication process and the creation of …

San Luis Obispo Transit Tracker System Back-End Server, Daryl Alan A. Dimalanta

Computer Engineering

This document gives the rationale, design process, technical implementation, testing procedures, and testing results of a back-end server used for the San Luis Obispo (SLO) Transit Tracker System. The SLO Transit Tracker System (SLOTTS) includes client software installed on mobile devices and a back-end server. The purpose of this system is to encourage SLO residents to utilize the transit system by having the client software present current bus location, navigation instructions, and bus schedule in a simple, fast, and easy to use mobile application.

Due to the limited central processing unit (CPU) and limited power supplied by the battery, route …

Automatic Merging Of Lidar Point-Clouds Using Data From Low-Cost Gps/Imu Systems, Scott E. Budge, K. Von Niederhausern

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Stationary lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) systems are often used to collect 3-D data (point clouds) that can be used for terrain modelling. The lidar gathers scans which are then merged together to map a terrain. Typically this is done using a variant of the well-known Iterated Closest Point (ICP) algorithm when position and pose of the lidar scanner is not accurately known. One difficulty with the ICP algorithms is that they can give poor results when points that are not common to both scans (outliers) are matched together. With the advent of MEMS (microelectromechanical systems)-based GPS/IMU systems, it is …

Current Tracking Power Supply For Sensor Calibration, Joshua Brookley

Electrical Engineering

This report highlights the steps taken to design and develop a constant 5V power supply capable of tracking load current. The background of its previous design, its necessary specifications and steps taken to achieve specifications are highlighted throughout the report. The report also contains conclusions and final recommendations for the design chosen, including its strengths and drawbacks.

Imu Integration To The Cal Poly Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics Simulator Power System, Wayland Chan

Electrical Engineering

The Cal Poly Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics Simulator mimics the rotation dynamics of a spacecraft in orbit and acts as a test bed for spacecraft attitude control system development and demonstration. Prior to this project, the simulator measured its attitude dynamics from a total of seven sensors mounted on to the platform, including three micro-electromechanical system (MEMs) gyroscopes, and four motor encoders. This project entails the installation of an LN-200 high performance gyroscope, which will provide a greater measure of accuracy. The goal of this project is to design a power circuit that will integrate the LN-200 inertial measurement unit onto …

Dyl-Light: An Acn Controlled, Rgbw Led Light Fixture, Dylan Pavelko

Electrical Engineering

The Dyl-Light is a LED lighting fixture that is controlled with a recently released suite of entertainment technology protocols called A.C.N. This new protocol has a number of advantages to its use over the existing protocol, DMX512, used for controlling entertainment lighting fixtures. This project attempts to use this new protocol to directly control a light fixture, something that currently is not available on the market.

The project includes several aspects of engineering from electronics, embedded systems, applications, networking, power electronics, and computer interfacing.

Heart-Rate Monitoring Control System Using Photoplethysmography (Ppg), Wesley Nguyen, Ryan Horjus

Electrical Engineering

No abstract provided.

Discrete Alarm Clock, Travis Moore, Collin Barth

Electrical Engineering

The standard alarm clock, as used daily by millions worldwide, has clear room for modification and improvement.  This paper documents an implementation that rectifies many of these flaws.  Improvements include adjustable snooze length, an IR remote for ease of use, and an RF headset for discrete alarm use or potential incorporation into a device much like a hearing aid.  The processes involved in creating a digital alarm clock, as well as the obstacles met in the implementation of the enhanced design, are detailed within.

Mp3 Player System Design, Eric Wu

Electrical Engineering

The purpose of this project is to design and build a portable audio player that reads music files off an SD card, decodes the music file and outputs the music through a headphone jack.  A microcontroller running FreeRTOS will facilitate the data transfer between an SD card and the decoding chip.  The decoded audio will then be sent to a high-end DAC chip that outputs the sound.

Wireless Sensor Network For Energy And Environmental Monitoring: Helping Old Buildings Go Green, Jacob Power

Electrical Engineering

Today, the rising cost of energy and social trend of “going green” has put increasing pressure on commercial property owners to improve the efficiency of their investments.  There is good reason for this, too.  In the State of California, office buildings represent the single largest user of energy in the commercial sector.  This project consisted of the design, implementation, construction, testing, and deployment of a wireless sensor network for energy and environmental monitoring in retrofit commercial office installations.  The analyzed data generated by this system can be used by building management and owners to identify areas of inefficiency within the …

Rfid Home And Office Automation System: Based On Localized Room Entry, Nolan Clark

Electrical Engineering

Design and build a proof of concept model demonstrating an application of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for use in a home or office lighting automation system. The system provides new means for reducing energy consumption through active light switching based on simplified location tracking. Often lighting systems use motion sensors and timers to determine when a person enters or leaves a room, but these platforms are based purely on motion meaning “no motion, no light.” The RFID based system utilizes medium range RFID readers and tags located at doorways or narrow passageways in the environment to provide a general …