Digital Commons Network^™

Design Of Improved Distribution Panel For The Dc House, Nolan Joksch

Electrical Engineering

The DC House is a humanitarian project intended to provide electricity to rural areas that would benefit from electricity, but are too remote to have access to it. This particular project is to design and construct the feeder box for the electrical distribution system to distribute power to the system as well as protect it. Building an electrical panel that is easily maintained and, above all, safe for the user is key to this project.

Merry-Go-Round Human Powered Generator, Daniel Barnicle, Dario Romero

Electrical Engineering

This project entails the design and construction of a Merry-Go-Round Human Powered Generator for the DC House project. The Merry-Go-Round Human-Powered-Generator is a sustainable project focusing on utilizing renewable human mechanical energy. As young children play on the Merry-Go-Round, the generator converts the mechanical energy to electrical energy for the DC House. The Merry-Go-Round Generator boosts the generated voltage output to power a battery. This electrical energy then transfers from the battery to the DC House to provide power to it.

Buddy: A Breathalyzer For Iphone, Douglas Blaalid, Brandon Bevans

Electrical Engineering

Buddy is a Breathalyzer for the iPhone designed to be more a product than a project. Through proprietary hardware and a custom iOS application, Buddy provides users with a previously untapped link from the alcohol in their body to the display on their phones. Buddy uses an alcohol sensor connected to an Arduino Uno to accurately detect the BAC of the user’s breath. The BAC is then transmitted to an iPhone via the headphone jack where it is displayed and logged in a captivating app. The finished prototype successfully measured the approximate BAC of intoxicated users. The product website has …

Spread Spectrum Jamming - Part 2, Casey Burke, Christian Hume, Javier Meza

Electrical Engineering

Direct-sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) is a special modulation technique used in many telecommunication devices which uses a wide bandwidth relative to single-frequency carrier modulation techniques. Like the name suggests, the spectral content of wireless signals are spread across a range of frequencies to increase the security of transmitted signals by reducing the potential impact of outside interference (i.e. noise, jamming). This resistance against outside interference and jamming has particular application in the field of electronic warfare where spread spectrum jamming techniques may prove to be an effective way of shutting down remotely controlled enemy vehicles.

Last year, a group of …

Recognizing A Shift Toward Continued Secondary Orality: The Iphone's Contribution To The Development Of Human Communication, Heather Christina Parks

Communication Studies

No abstract provided.

The Deadliest School Shooting In American History: A Dramatistic Analysis Of The Virginia Tech Massacre, Natalie Susanne Zafis

Communication Studies

No abstract provided.

The Virtual Bulletin Board: A Feminist Critique Of Pinterest, Alexandra B. Davila

Communication Studies

No abstract provided.

Creating Pixel Luxury: Research And Design Of A High Quality Resource Website, Kendall Dea

Graphic Communication

The purpose of this study was ultimately to create a website featuring useful resources for designers and creative individuals. This paper examines past studies dealing with user interface and design fundamentals of web design, and then applies their results when planning the basic layout of the final website. The website was then coded and uploaded online with the name, Pixel Luxury. After finishing and uploading the first version of the website, some of the primary challenges that arose during the creation process were documented, as well as many of the useful tools that aided the overall design and coding process. …

Real Time Rendering Engine, Kevin Ubay-Ubay

Computer Engineering

Entertaining and playable content in computer graphics requires real time rendering. Real time rendering essentially demands that frames need to be rendered within milliseconds in order to deliver an interactive experience for the client. Video games are an example of such a medium that needs real time rendering. Without frame rates in the realm of real time, video games cannot deliver an enjoyable experience. Behind virtually every video game is an engine. The architecture of video game engines usually comprises of sub engines that are specifically designed to handle physics, audio, user input and rendering. The purpose of this project …

Programming Tools For Artificial Intelligence Classes, Christopher Mckee

Computer Engineering

This project was begun in Winter of 2013 at California Polytechnic State University by myself, Christopher McKee, and was advised by Foaad Khosmood. The main goal of this project was to create an alternative to a current program that was being used in the Artificial Intelligence course on campus. The previous program used Java to create a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for students to use when learning how to create the various intelligent agents. In the versions created within the scope of this project, one of the environments used Java as the programming language, while the other two environments leveraged …

Channels: Easy Video Content Consumption, Alexander R. Ledwith

Computer Engineering

The idea for this project is to take a user’s digital movie and television show library, and organize the individual videos into lists that will continuously and concurrently play like cable TV channels. This means that when a list of channels is switched to, video content will automatically start playing, possibly in the middle, based on a schedule. It should serve the needs of the user by allowing the user to quickly watch any of their existing channels, easily add a new channel based on chosen criteria or manual selection, and easily add new video content. In addition, the product …

Aurora: Experience Music Like Never Before, Jason Dreisbach

Computer Engineering

Choreographing musical light shows has previously required expensive professional equipment and experienced personnel. A Mac application, Aurora, was developed to control Phillips Hue Light LED light bulbs to emulate the effects of more complex professional lighting systems. Aurora makes it possible to choreograph dazzling lighting effects to musical tracks.

Autocad Course Book Update, Todd Sammons

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This project is a proposed updated version of the course book used in the BRAE 151 course. The book that is currently used is a product of Doug Phillips (BRAE ’03). Since Mr. Phillips designed the book currently used, many new features have been added and the user interface is drastically different. This purpose of this book is to bring the course book used in BRAE 151 up the current version.

Design And Cost Analysis Of A Wetland Project, Matthew Rolen

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This senior project discusses the cost and design of a thirty acre wetland habitat project. This project demonstrates the importance that wetlands play for waterfowl as well as wildlife. The project will also discuss the changes made to the habitat and the importance of that. Also the unique design of the habitat will be explained. The main purpose of the project is the cost analysis of it. The budget of the project and the funding it takes to develop or preserve such a project.

Escherichia Coli Strain Diversity In Humans: Effects Of Sampling Effort And Methodology, Emily R. Neal

Master's Theses

Studies investigating Escherichia coli strain diversity and demographics in human hosts are frequently inconsistent regarding sampling effort and methodology while current strain typing methods are often expensive or laborious. To rectify these inconsistencies, sampling effort was investigated by comparing the diversity of 15-isolate collections to 100-isolate collections from 3 human subjects. Temporal variation in E. coli strain diversity was also studied by collecting 15 isolates once every 6 months. Additionally, strain identification and diversity collected by different sampling methods (fecal swabs vs. anal swabs collected at different times around defecation) were compared to identify any inherent biases in sampling method. …

Computer Sketch Recognition, Richard Steigerwald

Master's Theses

Tens of thousands of years ago, humans drew sketches that we can see and identify even today. Sketches are the oldest recorded form of human communication and are still widely used. The universality of sketches supersedes that of culture and language. Despite the universal accessibility of sketches by humans, computers are unable to interpret or even correctly identify the contents of sketches drawn by humans with a practical level of accuracy.

In my thesis, I demonstrate that the accuracy of existing sketch recognition techniques can be improved by optimizing the classification criteria. Current techniques classify a 20,000 sketch crowd-sourced dataset …

Cplop: The Cal Poly Library Of Pyroprints, Jan Lorenz Villaceran Soliman

Master's Theses

To date, microbial source tracking (MST), i.e. determining the source of microbial contamination based on the specific strains observed in the environment, often uses methods that are time-consuming, expensive and not always reliable. The biology department at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo has developed a new method for MST called pyroprinting. Pyroprints can be used as DNA fingerprints for identifying sources of fecal contamination and studying bacterial populations in host animals. The MST method consists of two parts: the pyroprinting process and a database of pyroprints. The Cal Poly Library of Pyroprints (CPLOP) was developed to provide a database application …

Computational Modeling To Evaluate Helical Electrode Designs For Use In Vagus Nerve Stimulation, Anthony W. Cowley

Master's Theses

An estimated 0.5% of world’s population has been diagnosed with epilepsy. Of these patients 20-30% will be unable to achieve seizure control with anti-epileptic drugs. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) may be an appropriate treatment option for some patients with pharmaceutically refractory, partial-onset seizures.

VNS therapy uses a helical electrode to interface between the implantable pulse generator and the vagus nerve. While there have been several studies related to the mechanical and electrical safety of such electrodes, little work has been done toward understanding the effectiveness of the helical electrode in nerve stimulation. A better understanding of the voltage field and …

Business Plan For Lemon Production In California, Henry Sinanta

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Design, Construction And Cost Analysis Of Manufacturing Horse Bits, Erica L. Timmermans

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This report discusses the design, fabrication and cost analysis of two unique horse bits. On the market today, there are many different kinds of bits to serve a multitude of purposes. However, this project explored the option of having two different shanks types made of stainless steel in addition to three mouthpieces that are able to fit in both types of shanks.

When The Cradle Falls: The Subversion, Secrets, And Sentimentality Of Lullabies, Lauren R. Castro

Music

No abstract provided.

Food System Planning Benefits & Recommendations For The City Of San Luis Obispo, Ca, Tessa Salzman

City and Regional Planning

No abstract provided.

Dynamics Of The Fitzhugh-Nagumo Neuron Model, Zechariah Thurman

Physics

In this paper, the dynamical behavior of the Fitzhugh-Nagumo model is examined. The relationship between neuron input current and the firing frequency of the neuron is characterized. Various coupling schemes are also examined, and their effects on the dynamics of the system is discussed. The phenomenon of stochastic resonance is studied for a single uncoupled Fitzhugh-Nagumo neuron.

Meat Smoker, Rhianna Topp

Electrical Engineering

This Senior Project consists of designing and building a meat smoker. The design of this meat smoker incorporates knowledge of control systems, programming, hardware, and materials manufacturing. This smoker is made to allow the user an easy experience of smoking food. The smoker provides the user with a programmable temperature and timer. It also has an automatic wood chip loader as deemed necessary to keep the correct amount of smoke distributed. Lastly, this smoker has an automatic application of the user’s choice of liquid to the meat. By designing a smoker with these capabilities, an untrained person desiring to smoke …

Cal Poly Magazine, Summer 2013

Cal Poly Magazine

No abstract provided.

Arroyo Seco Parkway Reuse Of A Historic Freeway, Jeannette Nicole Finck, William James Kavadas

City and Regional Planning

No abstract provided.

Design And Modeling Of Centralized Distribution Network For The Dc House Project, Harpreet S. Bassi

Master's Theses

This thesis focuses on the design, modeling, simulation, and performance evaluation of Centralized Distribution Network for the DC House Project. Power System Computer Aided Design (PSCAD) is used to model a Centralized PV Source, Battery Bank, and Distribution Network for 25 DC Houses. Design and modeling of each component in the proposed system are described. For the performance evaluation, emphasis is on voltage stability and system reliability under different operating conditions. Results from the simulation demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed Centralized Distribution Network for the DC House Project to support the houses during non-generation periods and distribution network voltage …

Dairy Manure Flushwater Treatment By Packed-Bed Anaerobic Digesters, Neal Cary Adler

Master's Theses

Wastewater treatment performance of three pilot-scale packed-bed anaerobic digesters with walnut shell medium was researched for treating dairy freestall barn flushwater. Reciprocation mixing was evaluated as a means to lessen channelization in the media bed and to improve biogas production and organic matter removal at ambient temperatures. Reciprocation has been used in biological nitrogen removal systems to introduce air into the system to repeatedly oxygenate nitrifying biofilm along with mixing (Behrends et al. 2003), but the anaerobic systems benefit from mixing. Two tanks were used in each system, where one was full and one was empty at any given time. …

Spork: A Summarization Pipeline For Online Repositories Of Knowledge, Steffen Slyngbae Lyngbaek

Master's Theses

The web 2.0 era has ushered an unprecedented amount of interactivity on the Internet resulting in a flood of user-generated content. This content is often unstructured and comes in the form of blog posts and comment discussions. Users can no longer keep up with the amount of content available, which causes developers to start relying on natural language techniques to help mitigate the problem. Although many natural language processing techniques have been employed for years, automatic text summarization, in particular, has recently gained traction. This research proposes a graph-based, extractive text summarization system called SPORK (Summarization Pipeline for Online Repositories …

Establishment And Validation Of A Novel Fucci (Fluorescent Ubiquitination-Based Cell Cycle Indicator) In An In Vitro Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Model, Jane Marie Isquith

Master's Theses

The deregulation of the cell cycle is important in the leukemic transformation and in the continued discovery of more efficient targeted therapies. After elucidation of the role of the RNA editor ADAR1 in the malignant reprogramming of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) progenitors to leukemia stem cells (LSCs) during the chronic phase to blast crisis stages of the disease, current research seeks to uncover the mechanism of action of ADAR1 in this process. To study the potential role ADAR1 plays in the changes to cell cycle during this disease progression, a novel Fucci (fluorescent ubiquitination-based cell cycle indicator) system was introduced …