Digital Commons Network^™

Custom Animatronic Puppet, Jake Schuman, Fredy Herrarte, Madison Reedy, Jackson Reynolds

Mechanical Engineering

This project involved the design, fabrication, and implementation of a custom audio-animatronic puppet modeled after Dr. Brian Davis for the California Polytechnic State University Mechanical Engineering Department. The objective was to create an expressive, lifelike character capable of synchronized speech, head movement, arm gestures, and seated-to-standing motion while demonstrating the integration of mechanical design, controls, manufacturing, and artistic fabrication.

The final system consists of an 18-degree-of-freedom animatronic platform utilizing servo-driven facial and upper-body actuation combined with a pneumatic standing mechanism. A modular aluminum and 3D-printed structural framework was developed using SolidWorks and validated through engineering analysis. Character shells were digitally …

Forged Carbon Fiber Adventure Project, Timothy Villafana, Victor Javadoff, Nathan Pittiglio, Cooper Starr

Mechanical Engineering

Forged carbon fiber compression molding remains a relatively under-researched manufacturing process. While there are documented processes online, the options are few and far between. Our sponsor and case-study user, Dr. Mello, tasked us with the goal of researching and developing a process for forged carbon fiber compression molding through means of modifying his prototype of a bike pack handlebar cradle (figure 3). This prototype will allow us to create tooling which will be used to manufacture a handlebar cradle that can withstand larger loads and more extreme environments using our developed process. A handlebar cradle is a structural support for …

Raytheon Rtx Autonomous Vehicle Competition (Avc) - Unmanned Ground Vehicle (Ugv), Bryant Jonathan Martinez-Bautista, Geovanni Lara, Jared Herrera, Jose Barrera

Mechanical Engineering

Raytheon RTX has four universities participating in a competition to successfully complete various challenges with a UAV and UGV including navigation and landing. The students must work collaboratively to integrate and manufacture a working UGV that is compatible with the UAV.

Our sponsor is Raytheon, more specifically Mr. Luis Esparza. Important stakeholders also include Cal Poly and the entire team of ME & CPE working on the project. Raytheon and Luis are looking for innovative solutions that can be applied for real world scenarios where UAV’s and UGV’s are applied. Cal Poly is gaining recognition, and the team is gaining …

Peltier-Based Hydration Accumulation Terminal (P.H.A.T.), Jenner Mucher, Ethan Pace, Renee Robolledo, Sabrina Luo, Taehoon Lee, Tarsem Pal

Mechanical Engineering

The objective of this project is to design an innovative potable water dispenser capable of safely delivering hot, ambient, and chilled water on demand for human lander missions. The system will support astronauts’ hydration and food rehydration needs while minimizing mass, power, maintenance, and contamination risks in microgravity and partial-gravity environments. Current spacecraft dispensers, such as the International Space Station (ISS) system, provide only heated water and have limited temperature control, cleaning accessibility, and microbial resilience. Building on NASA heritage designs and lessons learned from the ISS Potable Water Dispenser, this project advances a lighter, simpler, and more energy-efficient concept …

Mass - Modular Acoustic Suppression System, Julia Megargle, Michael A. Milner, Lucas Kaemmererer, Jonathan Corvera, Gabriel Choi, Emmi Cayer

Mechanical Engineering

The Modular Acoustic Suppression System (MASS) is a mass tuned damper that reverberates a membrane atop a cavity to absorb select acoustic frequencies produced by the Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) within NASA's Artemis Human Lander. The height of the reverberation chamber is adjusted to mitigate a range of varying tonal frequencies within the human lander.

Mechanical Jump Rope, Mary Harrington, Naail Lalani, Lucas Nathan, Guy Kalach

Mechanical Engineering

This Mechanical Jump Rope Senior Project was performed by four Mechanical Engineering students. This project was for the Cal Poly Kinesiology and Public Health Department, to be used by Cal Poly Friday Club, a collaboration between the San Luis Obispo Special Olympics and Kinesiology students. The purpose of the project was to allow those with different mental and physical abilities to learn and practice the timing of a jump rope at slow and adjustable speeds.

Electronic Bike Chopper, Caleb S. Bermack, Joey Lederer, Ethan Dea, Evan Herrera, Fred Agregado

Mechanical Engineering

Our sponsor, David Royce, built an initial e-bike chopper prototype and desired an improved, next generation version. Our team designed and manufactured an electric bicycle to achieve the rugged visual style of a classic chopper motorcycle while improving stability and usability. The team built a functional E-Chopper prototype using a 4130 steel frame, custom dropouts, a long front fork, wide rear tire, ape-hanger handlebars, and prebuilt electric components such as the battery, hub motor, controller, throttle, and display. The design focused on reducing excess weight, improving frame rigidity, and meeting California e-bike regulations.

Me3328 Buckling Lab, Willem Bitterolf, Samantha Flores, Jacy Gonsalves, Brooke Thompson

Mechanical Engineering

The objective of this senior design project is to design and develop an instructional buckling apparatus (hereafter referred to as a “buckling tester”) to enhance student comprehension of column buckling behavior through direct experimental investigation. The apparatus is specifically intended to bridge the gap between theoretical predictions and observed physical response of structural column members subjected to axial compressive loading. In particular, the system will allow students to examine how column behavior transitions between Euler’s elastic buckling theory, which governs long, slender columns, and the Johnson parabolic formula, which more accurately describes intermediate and shorter columns influenced by material yielding. …

Xylem: A Comparative Analysis Of Gpu Dispatch Pipelines For Large-Scale, Procedural Environments, Srinivas Sundararaman

Master's Theses

The real-time rendering of large-scale, procedural scenes presents a significant performance challenge for traditional CPU-bound rendering pipelines. The high volume of draw calls and the need for complex culling and level-of-detail management create bottlenecks that limit scene complexity and visual fidelity. This thesis investigates the evolution of GPU-driven rendering paradigms via the Xylem renderer within NVIDIA’s Donut rendering framework as a solution to these challenges.

A comprehensive benchmarking framework is developed to implement and quantitatively analyze three distinct rendering strategies for a procedurally generated, parameterizable, large-scale forest scene. The evaluated pipelines include: (1) traditional instanced rendering, (2) compute-driven indirect rendering …

Pet Mobility Project, John Shelby, Lily-Rose Jolie Bacon, Andrea Yasmine Reyes

Biomedical Engineering

The Pet Mobility Project, sponsored by Terri Smith and Jasper Jackson, is an initiative aimed at providing a custom mobility aid to a pet in the San Luis Obispo community. Amber Rappozo’s young German Shepherd, LeDoux, was selected as the project’s recipient. LeDoux suffers from hindleg weakness and, as a result, has limited mobility. This document provides a comprehensive overview of the Pet Mobility Project, detailing the motivation, background, and design approach behind the development of a LeDoux’s custom mobility aid.

Cardiac Twitch Force Measurement System, Tara Hoffman, Sebastian Carrascal Gómez, Julian Macdonald

Biomedical Engineering

The goal of this project is to develop a low-cost and accurate force measurement system and method of measurement to be used in the testing of grown cardiac tissue samples. The primary stakeholder in this project is Dr. Luke Perreault, a biomedical engineering professor at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo who is studying grown cardiac tissue rings, and any of his student lab personnel. Other stakeholders include other researchers in the tissue engineering field who require a similar form of testing to the methods developed in this project.

This document will introduce the identified problem and background as …

Design And Implementation Of An Intelligent Wearable Health Monitoring System Using The Shimmer Platform, Christopher Tu, Rafael Martinez

Computer Engineering

This report goes over the wearable health monitoring system that we built that uses an activity classification system to tell what you are doing real time. We used a Shimmer3 sensor to collect accelerometer data and streamed it via Bluetooth to our laptops where we processed the data and ran a machine learning classifier to detect if someone is resting, walking or running. We collected our own data to train the Random Forest classifier that we used from scratch and ended with 98% accuracy. The system has a live dashboard implemented into it that shows sensor data and the current …

Los Banos Martial Arts Academy: A Web Platform For Structured School Communication And Enrollment, Vince Thanh Doan, Kayla Le

Computer Engineering

The Los Banos Martial Arts Academy communicates with its families through a combination of Instagram messages, WhatsApp group chats, emails, and phone calls that leads to missed messages and an unprofessional experience, made worse by an audience of parents who are not comfortable with technology. This project designed and built a centralized web platform that doubles as the academy’s public marketing site and as a private portal for enrolled families. The system uses invite-only, passwordless magic-link login, enforces structured communication rules that allow family-to-staff and group messaging but block private parent-to-parent messaging, and keeps a non-destructive data model so deactivating …

Autonomous Vision-Based Litter Collection Rover, Dante Michael Benedetti, Benjamin Scott Tavares, Nathan Heil

Electrical Engineering

This report documents the design, implementation, and testing of an autonomous litter-collection rover developed as a Senior Project Design Lab (EE 460/463/464) at California Polytechnic State University. The rover integrates autonomy, computer vision, embedded real-time control, mecanum-wheel omnidirectional mobility, and a two-degree-of-freedom robotic arm to detect, approach, and collect small ground-level litter such as bottles, wrappers, and paper fragments.

The system uses a two-layer compute architecture: an NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano running ROS 2 for perception, SLAM, and path planning, paired with an STM32L4A6ZG microcontroller for real-time motor control and odometry. The robot is built on a multi-level aluminum frame …

Elevate Grill, Brady Alexander

Electrical Engineering

The Elevate Grill Senior Project is a Santa Maria style grill with an electrical lifting/lowering mechanism and temperature sensor feedback. The grill allows for a dynamically controlled cooking surface, able to be automatically set or manually set by the user. The grill’s user interface informs the user about the temperature in different zones on the grill and alerts the user when the target temperature is hit. Additionally, the user can program preset temperature ranges and apply them to the grill’s control system. The system incorporates safe failure modes in the event of a power outage and also allows the user …

Solving Linearly Constrained Quadratic Programs Using Field Programmable Analog Arrays, Tyler Wynn, Alonzo Arroyo

Electrical Engineering

This paper presents a field-programmable analog array (FPAA) implementation for solving linearly constrained quadratic programs (LCQPs) directly in the analog domain. The solver is based on a continuous-time primal-dual control architecture with integral action, anti-windup compensation, and a piecewise-linear nonlinearity for enforcing affine inequality constraints. A switched-capacitor implementation using three AN231E04 FPAAs is developed, and coefficient scaling methods are introduced to keep internal and output signals within the voltage limits of the hardware. A global scaling factor is used to reduce internal signal excursions, while solution-space scaling is shown to modify the implemented optimization coefficients and alter the local closed-loop …

Autonomous Rover Solar And Battery Management System: Team B, Karla Jazmin Lira Gonzalez, Paige Ambriz, Kunj Shah, Elhom Delasa Sheykhi

Electrical Engineering

This project focused on the software and printed circuit board (PCB) integration for Poly1Rover’s battery management system (BMS). Poly1Rover is a student organization dedicated to building a low-cost autonomous rover designed to operate on Mars. Since solar availability, temperature, and other conditions on Mars vary, the rover requires a reliable battery management system that accurately monitors battery health and status. This team’s work included the communication and control side of the BMS. The subsystem was designed around the Renesas ISL94202 battery monitor and the MSP430 controller. Battery information was read from the ISL94202 registers through I2C communication, converted from raw …

Stella: A Narrative Exploration Of Artificial Intelligence, Grief, And Human Consciousness, Alyssa Grace Gerardo

Computer Science and Software Engineering

STELLA is a narrative-driven 2D puzzle adventure game developed in Unity that explores themes of grief, memory, human connection, and artificial intelligence. Players assume the role of Luna, a young woman searching for a missing friend who becomes trapped within a mysterious garden overseen by a mysterious entity known as STELLA. Through exploration, environmental storytelling, dialogue, and a series of puzzles, players uncover a deeper narrative centered on loss, obsession, and the pursuit of artificial immortality.

Lesson Plan: Sr. Levadura (Mr. Yeast), Kali Elise Rye

World Languages and Cultures

This project addresses critical microbiology misconceptions concerning microbes and fermentation. Alongside Nuestra Ciencia’s lesson development team, this activity was researched and tested to demonstrate ideal fermentation conditions for yeast. In addition to the hands-on experiment, this project also required an interactive worksheet to be completed alongside the activity. With feedback from undergraduate students, researchers, and professors, the content was shaped to create an engaging, easily comprehensible activity that introduces microbiological concepts to students. As it has progressed, the Sr. Levadura (Mr. Yeast) activity has been implemented in two quarters of SCM 302 (Learn by Doing Lab) where over 400 elementary …

Voces Del Exilio Cubano, Jesenia Alvear

World Languages and Cultures

This project examines how Cuban immigrants, particularly those who fled the Fidel Castro regime, developed political perspectives after migrating to the United States. By focusing on Cuban immigrant communities, this project seeks to understand how experiences under a communist government and migration have shaped political beliefs. Within the United States, Cuban-Americans have become one of the most politically active Latino communities. As a Spanish and Political Science double major with Cuban family ties, this project represents both my academic interests and my own family experiences. Growing up, I listened to political conversations at family gatherings that seemed to consume the …

Semi-Automated Wine Barrel Filler, Elliot Jason Dejong, Carlo Caesare Deianni, Brady Emerson J. Leib

Mechanical Engineering

The proposed project is a semi-automated wine barrel filler. Currently, there is no streamlined and affordable method for smaller wineries to fill wine barrels without dedicating complete focus to the task. The primary use is controlled filling for white wine fermentation, during which an air gap must be left in the barrel to allow for expansion of the wine during fermentation. Tom Greenough, Saucelito Canyon’s head winemaker, and associate winemaker Bodie Ringhofer are the primary stakeholders in our project and want to consistently fill barrels at their winery to a fluid volume of approximately 50 gallons each. This project serves …

25-26 Mecc: Magnetic Thread Wave Energy Converter, Adolfo Torres Flores, Maya Malay, Grayson Houghton, Chase Eavis, Ramyasree Kaja, Tyler Chin, Malia Merager, Chad Haines, Noah Borkum, Raina Moore

Mechanical Engineering

Remote coastal Alaskan villages face significant challenges accessing reliable and affordable electricity due to their geographic isolation and limited connection to central energy grids. These communities often depend on expensive and environmentally unsustainable diesel generators which are difficult to supply and operate. They require a new renewable, affordable, minimal maintenance power solution to decrease their reliance on fossil fuels and promote sustainable development in the region. Although several wave energy converters exist, none adequately suit the needs of these coastal villages, therefore a new design is required to support them. This project will be undertaken by three interdisciplinary teams made …

Smart Sleeve, Evan Abalos, Bright Jung, Owen Bowling, Wyatt Eberhart

Mechanical Engineering

Quantifying human arm muscle activity is essential for understanding human movements and helping individuals who suffer from motor or neurological impairments such as stroke or traumatic brain injuries. Today, these individuals, as well as clinicians, researchers, and athletes, face many challenges when using the traditional surface electromyography (sEMG) systems to monitor muscle activities, including complex setup, restricted mobility, discomfort, inconsistent placement of electrodes, and lack of accuracy. Therefore, a comfortable EMG sleeve device that accurately measures arm movement without interfering with daily tasks is needed, which the team will be designing, manufacturing, and testing as their senior project. In addition, …

Me Department Bespoke Coffee Cabinet, Mickie Clyne, Stephen Tamacheepjaroen, Samuel Johnson, Willem Gray

Mechanical Engineering

This senior project involved the design, fabrication, and testing of a custom coffee cabinet for the California Polytechnic State University Mechanical Engineering Department. The project addressed challenges associated with appliance organization, storage efficiency, accessibility, and maintenance within the department’s shared breakroom space. A human-centered design process was used to identify stakeholder needs and develop engineering specifications for the final product.

The completed cabinet integrates custom woodworking, steel pipe frame construction, dedicated K-Cup storage, organized appliance placement, and a rack-and-pinion sliding platform that improves access to the Keurig coffee maker for refilling and maintenance. Design decisions were informed through stakeholder feedback, …

Mobile Transfer Assist (Mta) Device, Ashley Homuth, Garrett Schnack, Will Bruner, Jacob Flores

Mechanical Engineering

The Mobile Transfer Assist (MTA) device was developed to assist caregivers with seated-to-seated transfers while reducing physical strain. The device uses a manually operated hand winch and pulley system to raise a user into a semi-standing position, allowing safe transfer between locations. The final design emphasizes portability, affordability, ease of use, and user safety through a modular frame, transfer sling, knee supports, and locking caster wheels. A verification prototype was fabricated and tested, demonstrating successful operation and compliance with project requirements established by VTC Santa Maria.

Hydropower Collegiate Competition 2026, Andres R. Arreola, Sammy D. Taporco, Kathryn E. Tinney, Ahmer S. Dhillon

Mechanical Engineering

The Hydropower Collegiate Competition (HCC) is sponsored by the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) and is meant to offer university students an opportunity to solve complex hydropower challenges, build industry connections, explore career connections, and obtain a greater knowledge of hydropower’s potential in the United States. For this year’s competition, our team investigated a potential in-conduit hydropower site in California. Our work included creating a design package for a crossflow turbine related to our selected site and completing the community connections challenge. We also completed a siting and design report, community connections report, design and siting …

Process Improvement For Thermal Barrier Coating Masking Applications, Katherine Meezan, Aiden Senn, Saksham Giri, Katelyn Perez

Mechanical Engineering

Solar Turbines, a gas turbine manufacturer, needs a more efficient method to prevent the application of a thermal barrier coating (TBC) to select areas of their combustion liners during manufacturing. Currently, the process is labor, material, and time intensive: reusable masking tools should increase the efficiency of the TBC process.

This project is sponsored in full by Solar Turbines, and is under the guidance and administration of three Solar Turbines engineers: Chris Noone, Rick Rogers, and Carson Roff. The project is mentored by Cal Poly senior design Coach, Rick Lasko. This project will be completed by a team of four …

Me3328 Combined Loading Beam Bending Lab, Alejandro Islas, Viswesh Vancheeswaran, Owen Spencer, Henry Andrews

Mechanical Engineering

Serving as a new laboratory experiment for ME 3328 (Design for Strength & Stiffness), strain gauges were adhered, wired, and calibrated on a cantilever beam lab apparatus capable of undergoing pure bending, pure torsion, and combined bending.

Design And Evaluation Of An Open-Source Ac/Dc Power Converter For Microgrid Applications, Ryan J. Rayos

Master's Theses

This thesis presents the design, implementation, and evaluation of an open-source bidirectional power conversion platform intended for microgrid applications. As distributed energy resources, battery storage systems, and hybrid AC/DC architectures continue to increase in adoption, there is a growing demand for flexible, low-cost, and programmable power electronic platforms capable of interfacing between DC and AC subsystems. Existing commercial solutions are often proprietary and expensive, limiting their accessibility for educational, research, and rapid prototyping applications. This work expands upon the existing open-source Atinverter platform by increasing its operating voltage capability, integrating bidirectional power flow, and implementing telemetry systems suitable for microgrid …

Integration Of Robotic Arm And Conveyor With Programmable Logic Controller, Drake A. Small

Master's Theses

To meet new curriculum demands brought on by Cal Poly's upcoming switch to semesters, a new, cross-disciplinary lab module was developed for EE 435 (Industrial Power Control and Automation). The module emphasizes career-applicable skills, preparing students for the field of controls engineering within the manufacturing industry. These skills include robotic control, computer networking and configuration, and embedded systems. The work focused on integrating a collaborative robot arm to pick-and-place boxes on a conveyor. A myCobot 320 Pi and an Ultimation Powered Roller MDR Conveyor were integrated with the existing PLC system using Modbus RTU and EtherNet/IP communication protocols, respectively. A …