Digital Commons Network^™

Total Sky Imager Project, Ryan D. Maier, Benjamin Jack Forest, Kyle X. Mcgrath

Mechanical Engineering

Solar farms like the Gold Tree Solar Farm at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo have difficulty delivering a consistent level of power output. Cloudy days can trigger a significant drop in the utility of a farm’s solar panels, and an unexpected loss of power from the farm could potentially unbalance the electrical grid. Being able to predict these power output drops in advance could provide valuable time to prepare a grid and keep it stable. Furthermore, with modern data analysis methods such as machine learning, these predictions are becoming more and more accurate – given a sufficient data set. The …

Interactive Lego Girl Scout Arm, Chris Suzuki, Emi Okuyama, Bryson Shores, Karina Sandoval

Mechanical Engineering

This Senior Project Report document outlines the senior design project for Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast (GSCCC) led by a team of four Mechanical Engineering students at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. The project encompasses the researching, designing, prototyping, and testing of a LEGO robotic arm for the Girl Scouts to learn more about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and provide support to each Girl Scouts cookie sales in their stores. Their goal was to build a LEGO robotic arm that will interact with customers at the Girl Scout stores and promote the girl scouts' interest …

Improved Wheelchair Propulsion System, Kent Makoto Van Belleghem, Cesar Ventura Santana, Arturo Mario Flores, Tyler Edward Allen

Mechanical Engineering

This document will serve to encompass the work done throughout the year by senior design group F45. The first portion of this document consists of our team’s Statement of Work which serves to provide a roadmap for the senior design project being carried. It describes the background research and further describes the objectives of the project as we continue moving forward. The next portion consists of or team’s Preliminary Design Report and describes the design justification and further describes how our team arrived at the design that was constructed as the concept prototype. Additionally, we will discuss what our next …

Galilean Cannon, Mariah Kirkham, Marcus Beloney, Jonas Honeyman, Joshua Pratt

Mechanical Engineering

This comprehensive report details our team’s senior capstone design project, which involved the design, construction, and installation of a Galilean Cannon exhibit—a linear momentum experiment involving rebounding balls—for the San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum.

This report is split into four parts, as follows. Part One describes the needs of our sponsor and target market, as well as background research on the concept. Part Two details the ideation, decision making, and proofing process leading to our Preliminary Design concept. Part Three discusses the preliminary analysis and plans for the final prototype. Part Four describes construction and testing of the operational exhibit …

Tholos - Eva Sample Location Calibration Device, James Verheyden, Kat Gipson, Julia Rios, Ben Trust

Mechanical Engineering

To support NASA’s upcoming Artemis missions, an extravehicular activity (EVA) photometric calibration scale was developed to replace the Apollo-era Gnomon device. The Gnomon was a gimbaled stadia rod mounted on a tripod which provided color and reflectivity photo calibration, vertical orientation, and solar shadow direction, to include in photos of lunar geologic samples and features. With over 50 years of innovation since the first Gnomon deployment on Apollo 11, this redesign of the photometric calibration scale will support NASA’s missions in the modern day. The Tholos™, named after the ancient Greek repository of standardized measures, consists of a quadrupedal design …

Mechanized Theatre Turntable, Chloe Huiyi Chou, Ethan Lee Stroh, Ruodolf Reller Quelnat Rumbaoa, Davide Lanfranconi

Mechanical Engineering

This project aimed to create a remote-control and drive system for a theatrical turntable that was constructed by the Theatre and Dance Department of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Over the course of three quarters, the team successfully designed and manufactured a working verification prototype. This verification prototype was then tested, and the project sponsor verified that it met all specifications. The current iteration of the verification prototype can support up to a load of 1400 lbf, rotate a 12 ft diameter turntable clockwise and counterclockwise with a speed range of 1 to 4 rpm, and is able …

Multifamily Complex Smart Locks For Property Management And Tenant Security, April Mills, Allen Chen, Dana Kumamoto, Michael Cook

Mechanical Engineering

Maintaining and managing hundreds of locks and physical keys for an apartment complex can be time consuming and costly, especially when the apartments turn over to new tenants. Our goal was to develop a smart door lock that is compatible with Obodo’s management app for apartment complexes to make accessing apartments secure and simpler for tenants and easier to manage for owners.

We designed and manufactured one smart door lock that is powered with four AA batteries and utilizes a dynamic NFC device and Bluetooth technology. The board can enter a sleep mode which reduces power consumption. The dynamic NFC …

Polygait Conveyor Upgrade, William J. Schafer, Carolyn E. Palmer, Carly A. Tudor, Bryan C. Cordutsky

Mechanical Engineering

The PolyGAIT Conveyor Upgrade Mechanical Engineering Senior Project consisted of the complete design process to construct an operational “smart” control system for the conveyor belt loop on Cal Poly’s campus. As requested by project sponsor Dr. Tali Freed, an Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering professor at Cal Poly, the control system requirements included connecting existing conveyor components together, such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader tunnels, photo eye motion sensors, motor powered rollers, and diverting elastic bands. The main design problem is when packages with RFID tags are moving at industry high speed (10 ft/s) they are occasionally not scanned by …

Demonstration Triple Spool Turbine And Controls, Synnovea Alaina Wood, Marco Eston Salguero, Michael Bruce Megna, Wyatt Scott Conner

Mechanical Engineering

The demonstration triple-spool turbine and controls project consisted of the conceptualization, design, analysis, build, and test of a demonstration model of three concentric driveshafts, such as those used in conventional turbofan (or power generation turbine) engines. Specifically, our team focused on building a basic, portable, mechanical model of such a driveshaft assembly, while also developing the backend firmware/control and user interface software used to control it. This model was developed with the initial intent of use in the Cal Poly engines lab with a goal of remotely controlling the motors driving the driveshaft model by means of a USB cable …

Flow Data Acquisition System, Samuel Chapman Maxwell Iv, Nathaniel Peter Werdmuller Von Elgg, Jameson Robert Spitz, Jason Jia-Shing Hu

Mechanical Engineering

Data acquisition is an essential part of the research and development process of water valves and fittings at Zurn Wilkins. In Fall 2021, Zurn Wilkins approached our senior project team with a goal of creating a modular data acquisition system that streamlines their design and testing processes for new products. Our team determined that a microcontroller-based system was the optimal way to deliver this goal and designed our system around a Raspberry Pi. We chose twelve sensors that were compatible with existing taps in the Zurn Wilkins facility. The sensors send their signal through waterproof receptacles into the Polycase waterproof …

Construction Industry Hesitation In Accepting Wearable Sensing Devices To Enhance Worker, Harrison M. Fugate

Master's Theses

The construction industry is one of the most unsafe industries for workers in the United States. Advancements in wearable technology have been proven to create a safer construction environment. Despite the availability of these devices, use within the construction industry remains low. The objective of this research is to identify and analyze the causes behind the reluctance of the construction industry to implement two specific wearable safety devices, a biometric sensor, and a location tracking system. Device acceptance was analyzed from the perspective of the user (construction field labor) and company decision makers (construction managers). A modified unified theory of …

The Impact Of High-Anthocyanin Berry Supplementation On Cardiometabolic Markers In Humans: A Systematic Review Meta-Analysis Of Randomized Control Trials, Mia M. Abram

Master's Theses

Relevance: Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. Observational and experimental evidence has shown that fruits high in polyphenols can reduce morbidity and mortality of heart disease. Introduction: This systematic review meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the current evidence for anthocyanin-rich fruit supplementation amelioration of hypertension. Methods: Articles were identified, collected, screened, then data were analyzed via CMAv.2 for overall effect on blood pressure, nitric oxide, flow mediated dilation and pulse wave velocity. Results: The analysis showed a small, significant effect on diastolic blood pressure. No moderator groups had significant effects, though some individual subcategories showed significant effects. …

Visionaire Branding Company, Toni Joy Forsythe

Graphic Communication

It has been a goal of mine to one day launch my own branding and marketing agency, therefore this opportunity has allowed me to ideate what the agency would look like in terms of branding and business. I developed Visionaire Branding Company, a branding and marketing agency located in Central California. Creativity has always been at the forefront of my ambitions and Visionaire is a reflection of my passion for taking businesses to the next level and doing it with a vision.

Chez Henri Cookbook Redesign, Izzy Kelly

Graphic Communication

Chez Henri is a redesigned version of a cookbook that Bonnie Henry, my grandmother, has curated over the past 50 years. The original book was entitled “A Collection of Recipes From Friends and Family”, but I decided to rename it to “Chez Henri”, a phrase that was written on a sign outside of her home for almost 20 years. Bonnie Henry is an excellent cook and her recipes include many salads, soups, entrees, and dishes that most people don’t see everyday. Chez Henri contains photography that depicts these recipes, notes from the chef, and clear cut instructions that are easy …

Solutions To Accessibility In Art & Design: A Multi-Sensory Art Installation, Olivia M. Robertson

Graphic Communication

For my Senior Project, I wanted to explore possible solutions to accessibility in Art & Design while narrowing my focus specifically towards visual impairments by applying techniques commonly used in printed electronics methodology. I wanted to further showcase the impact of how designers enhance the overall user experience when they choose to center their focus on designing for accessibility.

To tackle accessibility challenges in Art & Design when it comes to visual impairments, I would have to extend Art’s visual impairments to include senses other than sight– tactile and auditory. The final product would then be an interactive art piece …

Converting Horizontal Media For Vertical Platforms, Eric A. Hernandez

Graphic Communication

Today, most media is viewed on mobile phones and seen on a vertical screen. There are very few methods for converting horizontal media into vertical media for vertical platforms. This manual shows new ways to redesign horizontal content so that it looks better on vertical displays; I imagine watching things like the Super Bowl or the The Grammys on TikTok or Instagram with a new broadcast design that is more attractive.

Mars Rover Mechanical Arm & Turret, Kendall C. Chappell, Kyle D. Peterson, Rodrigo Gonzalez, Sam Cole

Mechanical Engineering

The Rover Mechanical Arm and Turret (RAT) team was originally tasked with designing and building a mechanical arm to attach to the Exo Mars rover: a project headed by Cal Poly professor, Rich Murray. The rover will be the 3rd in a series of rovers sponsored by Murray. Through ideation, comparison studies, research, and prototyping, the RAT team determined a design capable of fulfilling the sponsor’s specifications. The concept design is lightweight, durable, and capable of 4 degrees of freedom. With two links and a mechanical claw, the rover arm has the capability to retrieve small rock samples from Mars's …

Bike To The Future, Wanjiku Gichigi, Luisa Shu Yi Chiu, Alexander Kalman Dunn, Georgia Ann Holmes

Mechanical Engineering

Brian Higgins is a veteran with retinitis pigmentosa who enjoys biking. The motivation for this project was to design and manufacture a refined prototype of a bike attachment to assist Brian in safely biking to and from work. The customer needs, problem definition, background, design development, final design, testing, costs, and recommendations are provided in this report.

The solution for this project, as laid out in the design development section, was to design an assembly that would detect objects in the biker’s path and relays that information to them. The design incorporated a dashboard to conceal components within, protect them …

Aged 539 Graduate Internship Report-Golden Valley High School, Madison R. Zittel

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This internship and project report includes documentation required in meeting the quality criteria for secondary-level programs of instruction in agriculture. The documents are concurrently used for the Agriculture Incentive Grant review process at Golden Valley High School conducted by representatives of the California Department of Education. The supporting material includes information to receive state and local funding, outline the goals and objectives of the program, along with an overview of Golden Valley High School, the agriculture program and the community.

Aged 539 Graduate Internship Report: Cal Poly Rodeo, Hannah Steagall

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This report details the role of an assistant coach with the responsibility of overseeing practices and supporting advancement.

Aged 539 Binder, Sierra Spratt

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This report details the role of an assistant coach with the responsibilities of managing coaching support and events.

Aged 539 Graduate Internship Report - Cal Poly Rodeo, Delisa C. Fracchia

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This report details the role of an assistant coach with the responsibility of managing social media.

Same Polytechnic College Tanzania Build 2022, Paulina Robles, Anna Yamauchi, Surina Marwaha, Tia Kelly, Dillon Schneider, Audrey Hoang, Connor Gilligan, Jennifer Viveros, Jenna Beutelschies, Robert Hardwick

Architectural Engineering

In collaboration with The Mbesese Initiative for Sustainable Design, the Cal Poly senior project team has designed, engineered, and prepared construction documents for a new vocational training college in Same, Tanzania, a rural area in the Mt. Kilimanjaro region. Upon its completion, the college will offer quality and practical educational opportunities for up to 1,200 students; in the interim, individual structures will be occupied immediately, adding value to the community throughout the construction process. The campus will house continuing educational programs, sports and agriculture fields, as well as hotels and other community-facing structures.

Guidelines For The Eeri Seismic Design Competition, Kate Robinson

Architectural Engineering

The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) has been dedicated to exposing undergraduate students to the wide range of interdisciplinary subjects related to earthquake engineering through the Seismic Design Competition. In 2022, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) sent 14 students to Salt Lake City, Utah for the competition – to compete with 31 other teams who all tackled the competition problem statement uniquely. The 2022 team was tasked with the research, design, analysis, and construction of a new structure to be built in downtown Salt Lake City, with the goal of replicating the design sequence of real-world …

Paso Robles Residence, Kaylie Dipaola

Architectural Engineering

The Paso Robles Residence is a light framed single family residence. Architectural plans were designed by Nina Nazarov Hambly at Catch Architecture, formerly Hambly Homes. Conclusions made in the soils report by Beacon Geotechnical Inc were used to design the foundation. Structural plans and calculations were made by Kaylie Di Paola and reviewed by licensed engineer Nick McClure. Structural plans include the complete framing and foundation plans and construction details. Calculations were made in accordance with the 2019 CBC, ASCE 7 and NDS. This report with cover the architectural design, structural analysis, and all of the building systems that function …

Cal Poly Campus Safety: Policy Proposal, Alan Cazares, Phung (Karen) Bich La, Junhyun Kim

City and Regional Planning

As described in this project, the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo is in need of improving the campus’s sense of safety and safety features. With an increasing student population and increasing dangers, the importance of safety for all is becoming evident. The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that it is essential to have proper safety features and preventative measures in place to keep the student and faculty population safe. The project’s goal is to produce safety recommendations that could be used to amend the existing 2035 Campus Master Plan. Currently, safety is not a topic extensively covered in …

Deep Ocean Vehicle (Dov) Scientific Payload, Nichole "Nikki" T. Arm, Mason Gariepy, Brianna Roberts, Kyle C. Walsh

General Engineering

This report aims to provide technical insight into the Deep Ocean Vehicle project performed by the Barrel Eye Explorers. The project was a part of the 2021-2022 Interdisciplinary Senior Project class at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. The team consisted of Nikki Arm, Mason Gariepy, Brianna Roberts, and Kyle Walsh who were engineering students in the Mechanical, Materials, General, and Industrial engineering departments, respectively. This project was sponsored by Dr. Crow White and overseen by Karla Carichner. The project was a continuation of Nikki Arm’s internship with Global Ocean Design during the Summer of 2021. The lander, Deep …

Digital Forensics Range, Cody P. Shanahan, Bryson Y. Shishido, Samuel R. Mckee, Justin Siu, Lisa Li, Maxwell Brewer

Computer Engineering

The Digital Forensics Range was developed to serve as an online training for groups interested in computer forensics. This year's team had the goal to expand upon last year, by adding a new forensics image, unity scenario, and additional AWS functionality. The team still wanted to continue with last year's goals of keeping the training easily runnable, quickly deployable, and rapidly scalable through the use of the cloud. Adding to last year's work, this year's team hoped to further increase the educational value of the simulation with more practice, and the addition of feedback. The training is meant to be …

A Study Of Best Practices To Address Food Deserts In The United States, Hannya M. Moritz

City and Regional Planning

Urban and rural food deserts have become increasingly prevalent throughout the United States. Food deserts impact disadvantaged individuals the most, with larger populations of minorities, higher rates of poverty and unemployment, and lower rates of secondary and higher education seen within their populace. Food desert populations face many barriers with regards to the affordability and accessibility of fresh, healthy foods. This results in a multitude of long-term negative health outcomes within these populations. For these reasons it is important for planners to address the needs of food desert populations, working towards more equitable neighborhoods and improving overall quality of life …

Gender, Sex, & Emerging Adulthood, Katarina Andrea Reyes

Psychology and Child Development

Emerging adulthood is a key developmental period when individuals explore and make meaning of their intimate relationships. National trends suggest that experimentation with non-committed relationships has increased (Olmstead, 2020), particularly for females (Netting & Reynolds, 2018). Young women utilize casual sex to explore sex, while men use sex for pleasure (Sizemore & Olmstead, 2017). Moreover, the double sexual standard impacts women’s sexual satisfaction and self-esteem (Williams & Jovanovic, 2018). Little research has examined how sex influences emerging adult’s self-esteem. Previous research has primarily relied on survey data to understand women’s and men’s experiences. Narrative identity scholars posit that individuals can …