The Development Of A High-Performance Distributed Battery Management System For Large Lithium Ion Packs, Christopher B. Grasberger

Master's Theses

A high performance battery management system (BMS) for large capacity cells was designed, built, and tested in a cycle of three revisions. The BMS was designed for use in applications where the battery pack configuration is unknown: parallel, series, or any combination. Each of the cells is equipped with its own battery management system to allow a peer-to-peer mesh network to monitor the safety of the cell. The BMS attached to each cell also is equipped with a 25A DC/DC converter to perform active balancing between cells in a string. This converter can transfer charge to (or from) a cell …

Fog Protocol And Fogkit: A Json-Based Protocol And Framework For Communication Between Bluetooth-Enabled Wearable Internet Of Things Devices, Spencer Lewson

Master's Theses

Advancements in technology have brought about a wide variety of devices, such as embedded devices with sensors and actuators, personal computers, smart devices, and health devices. Many of these devices are categorized as “wearables,” meaning that they are intended to be carried and used on one’s body. As this category increases in popularity and functionality, developers will need a convenient way for these devices to communicate with each other and store information in a standardized and ecient manner.

The Fog protocol and FogKit framework developed and demonstrated for this thesis address these issues by providing a set of powerful features, …

Measuring The Influence That Components Have On Pedestrian Route Choice In Activated Alleys, Samuel Hirsher Gross

Master's Theses

This paper explores how cities have integrated formal planning into improving public space. Through a review of literature on the topic, this the paper identifies the potential design has to renovate narrow streets and alleys, within the public right of way. By preforming an assessment of plans and programs, this paper identifies the common themes or components that have been used by planners, architects, and engineers to improve the urban environment for pedestrians. Based on this information, a pilot study was created to measure the influence the most common components have on pedestrian route choice. The results are then compared …

Psychosocial Motivators For Obstacle Course Racing: A Qualitative Case Study, Aracely Rodriguez

Master's Theses

This study explored the psychological and sociological motivations of adult female and male obstacle course racers. A qualitative case study approach was used to explore the views, experiences, and motivations of obstacle course racing (OCR) participants. Descriptive statistics and cross tabulation was used to interpret responses to the 297 online questionnaires. A content analysis approach was used to analyze the qualitative data gathered from three focus groups with a total of 20 obstacle course racers. Three theories formed the basis of the study: Self-Determination Theory (SDT), Achievement Goal Theory (AGT), and Social Leaning Theory (SLT). Overall, findings supported previous research …

Designing An Effective User Interface For A Mobile Application, Cynthia N. Kim

Graphic Communication

The purpose of this study was to determine the best user interface design practices for an iOS mobile application created for Pre-R, a local start-up company that offers physician house calls and telemedicine services throughout San Luis Obispo. The study included initial background research on best user interface design practices, mapping out and implementing the entire process of designing for mobile applications, conducting usability tests on potential users, and making changes according to the test results. Usability tests allowed for a greater understanding of the effectiveness of Pre-R’s mobile interface design prototype. Results from the usability tests have indicated a …

Cookie Dough Portioning Tool, Alex Haughton, Courtney Shipp, Grant Wittenberg

Mechanical Engineering

The Brown Butter Cookie Company (BBCC) is located in Cayucos, California. They sell handmade cookies made without eggs. After a batch is made, dough pieces must be portioned by hand. This process is time consuming, labor intensive, and limits the number of cookies they can make.

Our task was to design a machine to replace or improve this step of the process. After talking with the members of the BBCC and creating a list of specifications for our device, the team has formulated a detailed design of a cookie dough portioning tool for the BBCC. This report includes information on …

A Proposal For The Program “Information Communication Technology For Development” (Ict4d) To The Cal Poly Campus, Mika Jennifer Raz

Communication Studies

California Polytechnic State University is a university that prides itself on the “Learn by Doing” motto. A qualitative study was completed to analyze students and faculty views on the amount of “Learn by Doing” and interdisciplinary work that is currently done within specific colleges and courses. By proposing an implementation of the Information Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) program to the Cal Pol campus, students will have the opportunity to en- gage in more “Learn by Doing” and interdisciplinary work. Positive feedback was retrieved, however several organizational barriers arose.

Practical Experience At Cal Poly Poultry Unit And Development Of A Poultry Curriculum Guide, Weston Forbes

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This internship/project report includes two components approved by the author’s graduate committee. The first is a Poultry Curriculum Guide that will be used by the author upon returning to his home country of Jamaica. The second consists of an internship report that documents what was done while working at the Cal Poly poultry unit. This experience provided the author with knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for someone who will enter the poultry industry. This experience was extremely helpful in assisting the author to gain production skills necessary to be an effective agriculture teacher in Jamaica.

A Comprehensive Review Of The Food And Drug Administration, The 510(K) Application Process, And Fda Certification For A Diagnostic Device, Taylor Davis

Biomedical Engineering

The company G-Force CRC LLC is currently experiencing the dichotomy of the FDA's conflicting role right now as they begin to approach FDA approval. G-Force CRC LLC is a small medical device company headquartered in San Diego, CA. The owner of the company, Dr. Ian Purcell, is an Otoneurologist apart of Alvarado Hospital. His medical practice mainly deals with patients who have balance disorders and therefore the devices that he has developed over the last 6+ years are primarily used to assist in the diagnosis of those balance disorders. G-Force CRC LLC was officially created in the summer of 2013 …

Conversion Of A Gas Combustion Engine To An Electric Motor In A Porsche 924, Ashley Weed

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This paper is a walk-through of converting a gasoline Porsche 924 to and electric engine. The paper begins with steps on how to remove the gasoline engine. It then goes into setting up the electrical system for the new electric vehicle and then follows up with the motor installation. The end of the report discusses the testing and results of the electric vehicle and finishes up with recommendations to anyone who attempts a similar project.

Renal Artery Stent Fatigue Test, Braden Cooper, Munir Eltal, Jennifer Hawthorne, Ashley Schaefer

Mechanical Engineering

In today’s world of medical innovation, regulations and requirements set by organizations such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials) can inhibit rapid innovation by demanding rigorous testing of new designs. For arterial stents, the standard is that each design must be tested to simulate 10 years of life in an environment congruent to an in vivo environment. Endologix in Irvine, California develops and manufactures minimally invasive treatments for aortic diseases, with a focus on stent grafts for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). …

Parkinson's Freezing-Of-Gait Device, Megan M. Gerlach, Austin J. Krause, Berizohar Padilla

Mechanical Engineering

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Washing Environment On The Resistance Of Silver Plated Nylon And Stainless Steel Conductive Threads, Stephanie Villavicencio

Materials Engineering

Electronic textiles are the integration of small electronics into a textile foundation. This means that the material can function as an electronic conductor or device while retaining all the properties expected of tradition textiles including flexibility, washability, and strength. With the increasing integration of these materials into clothing it becomes important to consider the life span of material. Three varieties of conductive thread were chosen, one silver plated nylon and two stainless steel, sized thick and thin. 12” samples were cut and hand sewn in to pieces of muslin cloth. Samples were divided into groups of hot or cold water, …

The Economics Of Successful Billboard Advertising, Alexa Thomas

Graphic Communication

This study explains the economics of billboard advertising, specifically pertaining to the internal and external elements that make them effective for both consumers and the brand. Billboards have been used as an advertising medium for more than a century, and are still used today. The question is, “What about billboards make them so effective?” Secondary research was examined to better understand the history of billboards, how they compare to other mediums, and the elements experts consider throughout the campaign process. After analyzing secondary articles and studies, primary research was conducted by interviewing a sample of consumers and experts to determine …

Integrating Ability-Based Design In Printed Electronics, Kimberly Eder

Graphic Communication

The purpose of the study is to determine if a printed electronic device can be adaptable to the visually impaired, the role that accessible design has in the development of printed electronics, and to determine if integrating accessible design prohibits usability and performance.The findings will provide better understanding of how to modify a printed electronic paper device to suit a wider range of end users and the relationship of usability and accessibility in printed electronics.

Experts in the field were interviewed to get information and feedback about the project.Also, a human research experiment was conducted.Cal Poly students, from different areas …

Internal And External Influences On Individual Journalists, Karen Melissa Garcia

Journalism

This research paper is based on a study of the internal and external influences that affect an individual journalist and their produced work. There have been studies that research how media organizations influence the general public but there are many factors that come into play when creating the news. A journalist is influenced by their morals, beliefs and opinions or internal factors when making news decisions. Journalists are influenced by external influences as well, such as their news organization, guidelines and universal ethics.

The purpose of this study is to gain an understanding of the process that a journalist must …

Cal Poly Dining: The Avenue Redesign, Eric Calbonero, Derek Nollsch, Casey Reilly

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Executive Summary

Campus Dining is planning to close VG’s Cafe during the 2015-2016 school year; as a result, the remaining restaurants on campus need to accommodate the additional student demand. The student team consisting of Eric Calbonero, Derek Nollsch, and Casey Reilly met with Campus Dining’s Director of Operations, Greg Yeo, about this issue—he directed the team toward a redesign of The Avenue Food Court. To redesign The Avenue, the project team focused on several key deliverables as follows:

• Study current customer trends in The Avenue

• Develop a proposed facilities layout and design

• Perform a capacity analysis of The Avenue …

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China's Rare Earths In Emerging Green Technologies: An Economic, Environmental, And Social Rationale For Policy, Gabrielle Amar

Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies

No abstract provided.

Defining The Problem: A Feminist Perspective, Gabrielle Watson

Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies

This project defines “The Rape Tunnel” problem. Before beginning the research portion of this project, background information is provided to the intended audience so that anyone reading the document can get up to speed with understandings within social justice, stakeholder histories, Indigenous perspectives, and the history of getting the project approved. From there the paper moves into a lab repot with findings that reveal a tunnel (designed as a storm drain for hundred year peak flows) is frequently being used by Cal Poly students as a walkway to campus. Also, students commonly refer to the space as “The Rape Tunnel.” …

Consumer Evaluation: The Link Between Body Mass Index, Reward Sensitivity, Product Liking And Emotion, Malori Comer

Master's Theses

The objectives of this study were: (1) to evaluate consumer acceptance of cheeses varying in fat and sodium levels, (2) to determine if sensitivity to reward and body mass index has an effect on product liking based on fat or salt content, (3) to evaluate the use of FaceReader technology during consumer evaluation and, (4) to determine if consumer’s self-selected, conscious emotions matched with the expressed, subconscious emotions acquired by FaceReader.

Consumer acceptance testing (n=108) was conducted on two medium cheddar cheeses with varying fat levels and two low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheeses varying in sodium levels. Attributes were measured using …

Gods And Gurus In The City Of Angels: Aimee Semple Mcpherson, Swami Paramananda, And Los Angeles In The 1920s, Amy Hart

Master's Theses

This project focuses on two case studies as representative examples of Los Angeles’ progressive tolerance in the period of the 1920s: The Pentecostal mega-church of Aimee Semple-McPherson, and the Vedanta Ashram of Swami Paramananda. Both religious institutions opened in Los Angeles in 1923, just thirteen miles away from each other, and continued to thrive side-by-side throughout the twentieth century until present day. Each religious figure spoke to a part of the growing Los Angeles population: McPherson’s staunchly Christian, emotionally-driven, Hollywood-style ministry appealed to a large number of Los Angeles natives and newly-arrived immigrants, rocketing the emerging Pentecostal denomination into nationwide …

Screening Of Biocontrol Organisms For The Management Of Phytopathogenic Fungi And Foodborne Pathogens On Produce, Antoinette Boyee De Senna

Master's Theses

The multibillion dollar agricultural industry is an important part of the United States economy, and the management of factors that affect crop and human health is imperative to maintaining this economic sector. The fungi Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium pallidoroseum, and Fusarium moniliforme are the causative agents of several plant diseases and can cause significant crop loss both before and after harvest in commodities such as strawberries, lettuce, citrus, and grains. Fungicides are employed to control these phytopathogens, but the use of these chemicals has led to an increase in fungicide resistance and may negatively affect the environment and human …

The Impact Of A Controlled 10-Week Pistachio Feeding Crossover Trial On Blood Lipids And Measures Of Adiposity, Alison Helen Bushnell

Master's Theses

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States and has negative impacts at both the individual- and population-level through reduced quality of life, economic burden, and strain on the healthcare system. Dietary modifications, such as pistachio consumption, may help prevent CVD and two of its leading risk factors: dyslipidemia and overweight/obesity. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of pistachio consumption (20% daily energy need) on measures of adiposity and blood lipids in healthy young adult females. This study utilized 10-week crossover feeding trials at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo …

Criticality And Risk Assessment For Pipe Rehabilitation In The City Of Santa Barbara Sewer System, Rossi Carmelo Rossi Ii

Master's Theses

Aging sewer infrastructure is posing greater and greater risk to the health and well-being of City residents. Issues can range from pipe blockages in sewer laterals to Sanitary Sewer Overflows. This thesis develops a risk analysis method that can be used by municipalities to maintain and rehabilitate sewer assets. Risk combines the effect of Likelihood of Failure (LOF) and Consequence of Failure (COF) to perform a complete two-dimensional analysis that allows for relative comparison between different pipes in the system. The LOF rating has been equated to pipe integrity while the COF rating was related to the environmental, economic, and …

The Effects Of A Novel Exercise Training Suit On Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Body Composition And Leg Strength, Trevor M. Curry, Steven C. Davis, Aydin Nazmi, Don Clegg

Master's Theses

ABSTRACT

The Effects of a Novel Exercise Training Suit on Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Body Composition and Leg Strength

Trevor Michael Curry

The physiological responses to physical activity or exercise using external load carriage systems (LCS) in the form of weighted personal protective equipment, backpacks, or vests have biomechanical and human performance implications. It remains unclear whether a new unique LCS in the form of a weighted (5.45 kg) full-bodied exercise suit can induce greater improvements in performance and body composition. Twenty-one healthy males (20±3 years; 24.9±3.6 body mass index (BMI); 25.1±6.4% total percentage body fat ( % fat); 120.1±17.3 kg lean …

Utility Scale Solar Projects In California: An Initial Survey, Meaghan Mroz-Barrett

Master's Theses

The lack of a comprehensive database for both concentrating and photovoltaic utility-scale solar power projects, those with a generation capacity of greater than 50 MW, hinders the ability of researchers and policy makers to examine the state of solar development in the state of California. This research project seeks to fill this gap in understanding by creating a database of proposed and developed projects in order to examine trends in proposals, process time, approvals, and construction starts. Existing literature was evaluated to determine potential factors for project success in approval and construction. Upon determination of these factors, the project database …

Understanding And Incentivizing Workforce Housing: A Professional Project For The City Of San Luis Obispo, Jennifer L. Wiseman

Master's Theses

Adding workforce housing to the City of San Luis Obispo Zoning Regulation is a needed component to successfully begin, and promote, the development of housing in the City to those making between 121 and 160% of the Area Median Income. This regulation would ensure eligible households are provided with housing choices within the community, preferably the community in which they work. The addition of Workforce Housing has been a large phenomenon throughout the State of California, and the County as a whole, as housing market prices increase and most salaries maintain at a steady rate. It is important to note …

Using The Papathoma Tsunami Vulnerability Assessment Model To Forcast Probable Impacts, And Planning Implications, Of A 500-Year Tsunami In Cayucos, California, Andrew Robert Marshall

Master's Theses

This report focuses on using the Papathoma Tsunami Vulnerability Assessment Model (PTVA) to demonstrate the vulnerability of Cayucos to a 500-year tsunami, and using the results to inform specific planning recommendations. By modeling inundation with GIS and analyzing building attributes via the PTVA model, this study has gone beyond any previous vulnerability assessments of Cayucos. Findings include: delineation of the most vulnerable areas, estimates of numbers of lost civic buildings, commercial buildings and houses, as well as estimates of people displaced from tsunami damaged homes. The report goes on to discuss what mitigation measures are in place and what further …

Development And Validation Of A Tibiofemoral Joint Finite Element Model And Subsequent Gait Analysis Of Intact Acl And Acl Deficient Individuals, Nicholas Czapla

Master's Theses

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative condition of articular cartilage that affects more than 25 million people in the US. Joint injuries, like anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, can lead to OA due to a change in articular cartilage loading. Gait analysis combined with knee joint finite element modeling (FEM) has been used to predict the articular cartilage loading. To predict the change of articular cartilage loading during gait due to various ACL injuries, a tibiofemoral FEM was developed from magnetic resonance images (MRIs) of a 33 year male, with no prior history of knee injuries. The FEM was validated for …

The Impact Of Self-Practice Qigong On Strength Gains And Wellbeing During Off-Season Training For Fall Sport Athletes, Christopher Shawn White

Master's Theses

The use of mind-body therapies, such as Tai Chi, yoga, Qigong, and meditation are frequently reported as a means of coping with anxiety and depression. Despite these findings, there is little knowledge of Qigong exercise being able to impact elite athlete’s physical and mental states during off-season training. Purpose: Determine the efficacy of Qigong to facilitate strength gains and wellbeing in collegiate anaerobically trained athletes. Methods: Seventy-three athletes (47 M, 26 F, 18-22 years) volunteered to participate in a Qigong exercise group or standard care group. Strength gains were measured through a vertical jump test and a 3 RM front …