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Short Arc Angles-Only Initial Orbit Determination For Reliable Reacquisition Of Low Earth Orbit Objects, Isabella Rackemann

Master's Theses

Low Earth orbit (LEO) is becoming increasingly congested, furthering the need for accurate tracking and catalog maintenance. Initial orbit determination (IOD) is the first step in this process, providing a preliminary estimate of an object’s state given observations. When it comes to LEO optical observations, a large portion of them are inherently short in duration. Angles-only IOD methods struggle with this data, often producing highly inaccurate solutions that limit reacquisition capabilities. This study expands on prior short arc IOD research, testing seven classical and assumed circular orbit (ACO)-modified angles-only IOD algorithms on real LEO observational data spanning 0-4 degrees of …

Experimental Methods For Cryogenic Rare Event Detection: Cuore And Cupid, Alessandro Libenson

Physics

This senior project was written with the primary purpose of serving as a introductory guide for undergraduate students learning about the experimental methods used in the CUORE and CUPID Collaborations. In particular, this project is geared towards getting students in Dr. Gutierrez's research group at Cal Poly up to speed on what CUORE and CUPID actually do. I wrote this as an undergraduate aiming to help future undergraduates. For Cal Poly students, I would suggest the following prerequisites before reading this paper: Electronics and Instrumentation, Quantum Laboratory 1, and the equivalent of the coding/analysis class. It is also important to …

Kinetic Sculpture For The San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, Yotam Barr, Reynaldo Farias, Natalie Krueger, Priscilla Puei Ci Lam

General Engineering

Flower Power designed, fabricated, tested, and installed a wind-driven metal lavender and bee sculpture for the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden Children's Garden. The project provides a colorful kinetic installation that complements the existing poppy sculpture while remaining child-safe, durable outdoors, manufacturable with campus resources, and low cost to the sponsor. The final sculpture consists of a steel main stem installed in a sleeve-style concrete foundation, three green branch clusters, independently rotating purple lavender bud assemblies, decorative leaves, and a bee. The sculpture was fabricated from steel tube, sheet metal, bearings, printed ASA components, paint, and foundation materials. The installed …

Science-Related Rhetoric And Action By United States Presidents From 1977-2017, Amanda E. Shea

Interdisciplinary Studies

Presidential rhetoric and executive action have played an important role in shaping how scientific issues are presented to the American public. This project examined how United States presidents from Jimmy Carter through Barack Obama (1977–2017) employed science-related rhetoric and policy regarding climate science and reproductive health. Findings suggest that reproductive health remained a partisan issue throughout the study period, while climate science shifted from a largely bipartisan concern to a more partisan one over time. The results also indicate that presidential rhetoric and executive action were not always aligned, with several administrations using science-related rhetoric more extensively than corresponding policy.

Sensory, Light, And Sound Box, Galilea Andrea Portillo, Hannah Elizabeth Henderson, Marcus Kiyoshi Kanenaga

Mechanical Engineering

The Sensory, Light, and Sound Box senior project outlined an adaptable, mobile sensory environment designed to improve cognitive and visual processing skills for students with Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) at the Oceano Education Center. Currently, the market lacks accessible solutions tailored to these non-verbal, low-mobility students, making traditional classrooms overwhelming. This project outlines the modification of an existing static layout into a functional, three-sided wooden over-bed frame that accommodates a standard hospital bed. Our team manufactured a structurally stable verification prototype under a $500 budget, integrating slow-closing outward-hinged walls for safety, dual Bluetooth speakers, and a synchronized LED projector that …

Stakblocks, Micah Satoshi Inoshita, Ava Rose Doerschlag, Cody J. Ellis, Zach M. Lawton, Fernando M. Nalin, Nicholas Humphrey, Aiden Reed Anderson, Sara Maya Suratkal

Mechanical Engineering

Researchers developing sustainable building materials from agricultural waste need a faster way to prototype and evaluate small-scale samples under controlled temperature and pressure before scaling to production. Sponsored by Professor Pete Schwartz of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, whose work focuses on sustainable technology for developing communities, this project aims to create a prototype testing device for researchers studying agricultural-waste bricks, with the University of Malawi as a potential future testing partner. The final product is intended to inform improved future designs rather than serve as a production-ready device, ultimately supporting the development of affordable, sustainable building materials for communities …

Toro Cover For Bob Packer, Bailey Smolinski, Brandon Petty, Arturo Ramirez, Kathryn Proctor

Mechanical Engineering

Small pools, spas, and hot tubs are common in residential homes, yet small pool owners face persistent tradeoffs between critical features such as weight, ease of use, and appearance in pool covers currently available on the market. Most products optimize a single attribute at the expense of others. For example, solar covers are energy efficient but structurally weak, safety meshes are cost-saving but intensive to install, and retractable covers are automated but expensive. Beyond these tradeoffs, existing solutions often demand multiple people to install, take time and effort, occupy valuable deck space, and sacrifice the surrounding aesthetic. Therefore, small pool …

Foldable Transfer Platform, Toby Sagi, Ashton Heiati, Triton Johnson, Zachary Denis

Mechanical Engineering

The report details the design and results of a Hoyer lift to transfer patients between wheelchairs and our sponsor's, Beacon VTC Santa Maria, vans. The lift disassembles into 3 main pieces, allowing the lift to be stored in the back of the van. The lift uses a hydraulic actuator to rotate the boom. We handed over our project to Beacon VTC Santa Maria for use in their facility!

Package Access Platform, Tyler Connor Moyers, Austin Sien, Brooke Almaraz, Aiden Montano

Mechanical Engineering

This Final Design Review (FDR) presents the completed package access platform project following fabrication, assembly, and verification testing of the final prototype. The project focused on the development of an adjustable and modular access platform capable of adapting to varying workspace requirements while maintaining operator safety and structural stability. The finalized design incorporates adjustable platform dimensions, modular frame expansion, integrated OSHA-compliant handrailing, and adjustable support legs to accommodate uneven surfaces and changing operational needs.

Golf Ball Marking Machine, Isabella Brinkman, Erin Maxwell, Benjamin Nash, Matthew Nicacio

Mechanical Engineering

The Golf Ball Marking Machine was designed, manufactured, and tested to provide a compact and cost-effective solution for applying durable identification markings to golf balls. The system integrates a gravity-fed hopper, singulation mechanism, motorized marking chamber, and automated discharge system to process golf balls with minimal operator intervention. A computer control system coordinates the marking cycle, enabling consistent application of a circumferential stripe. Verification testing demonstrated compliance with requirements for size, weight, power consumption, safety, and marking durability while maintaining a tabletop size footprint. The prototype achieved an average throughput of 5.43 balls per minute and successfully validated the feasibility …

Let's Talk Twenties, Yuwa R. Tennen

Graphic Communication

“Let’s Talk Twenties” is a senior design project that explores what it really feels like to be in your twenties...the highs, the lows, and everything in between. It focuses on creating an open, relatable space where conversations about identity, relationships, and personal growth feel honest and normalized. The goal is to break away from the pressure of having everything figured out and instead highlight the shared experiences that define this stage of life.

Through thoughtful short-form content, branding, and storytelling, the project combines engaging visuals with real, meaningful content to connect with young adults. It emphasizes authenticity, inclusivity, and emotional …

Independent Apparel Brand Launch Campaign Strategy, Nick S. Schottenfeld

Graphic Communication

Soleil Lune is an independent California apparel brand with an established visual identity, a growing social media following, and a live product collection but lacks a coordinated marketing system to connect those pieces into a unified launch. Without that structure, the brand’s Instagram, Shopify store, and print materials were operating independently, making it difficult to build consistent customer trust or drive sales. This project developed a full launch campaign producing a print and digital lookbook, 10 Instagram campaign assets, a printed poster, and a branded care insert card all designed to work together to tell the brand story, grow the …

Enhancing The Downtown Slo Farmers’ Market Experience, Nicole D. Cung

Graphic Communication

The Downtown San Luis Obispo Farmers' Market is a popular weekly event that attracts residents, students, families, and visitors. However, attendees often face challenges such as locating vendors, accessing product information, and navigating crowded areas.

This senior project builds upon a previous team project completed alongside Sameeha Siraj and Michelle Kim. The original project focused on identifying user needs and developing a mobile application concept to improve the market experience. For this senior project, the concept was expanded and refined through additional design development, user experience improvements, and usability evaluation.

Using research gathered through surveys, interviews, and observations, the project …

Cor(E) Brand Direction, Jake T. Tokatlian

Graphic Communication

COR(E) is a new record label founded by an artist named Lil Uzi Vert, and for my project I have taken the initial steps to develop their brand identity and create physical products for the label. To achieve this, I made a brand book to help define COR(E) and provide a set of design guidelines, a Spring issue of a quarterly magazine that provides news and behind the scenes of the label’s artists, and a CD design including a cover and tracklist. I believe there is a gap in the market for bringing physical media into the music industry and …

Design For Repairability: Analyzing The Evolution Of Smartphone Repairability To Generate Design Insights, Pranav Peddinti

Master's Theses

Smartphones are a major part of daily life, allowing people to communicate, browse the internet, shop, and enjoy entertainment. However, smartphones tend to be replaced quickly and therefore contribute to the growing electronic waste problem. The lifecycle of a smartphone can be extended by designing them to be more repairable, making it easier for owners and users to perform the repairs themselves. By only replacing failing components, the device can be in use longer, reducing the waste and pollution generated by replacing the device entirely. Therefore, product designers and engineers must focus on designing smartphones to be more repairable. Design-for-repairability …

Contribution Of Slotted Web To The Cyclic Behavior Of Bare And Composite Beam-To-Hss Column Connections, Pablo Ulargui Ramos

Master's Theses

Slotted web connections produce consistent and meaningful improvements in the cyclic behavior of bare and composite beam-to-HSS column connections. Across the eight connections investigated in this thesis, the introduction of a slotted web increased rotational capacity by approximately 7% to 37% and increased cumulative energy dissipation at the strength-degradation limit by approximately 37% to 81%. These improvements were accompanied by only a small reduction in ultimate flexural resistance on the order of 3% to 8%, attributable to the loss of web cross-section at the slot and, for the more flexible H/t = 16 columns, to increased out-of-plane deformation of the …

Cal Poly Rodeo Program, Keith J. Johnson

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

The purpose of this project was to evaluate and improve livestock welfare practices within the Cal Poly Rodeo Program while supporting the program's core values of student success, western heritage, and program excellence. Livestock play a critical role in collegiate rodeo by providing educational opportunities, athletic competition, and hands-on learning experiences for students. As public awareness of animal welfare continues to increase, rodeo programs must demonstrate responsible stewardship and ethical animal management practices.

This project assessed current livestock management procedures, identified areas for improvement, and implemented educational and operational strategies designed to enhance animal health and welfare. Key performance indicators …

A Polygon Approach For Satellite Coverage Computation Problems, Caleb I. Arbreton

Master's Theses

During celestial body observation mission planning, predicted sensor coverage is a key analysis tool used by designers to inform concept of operations. It enables trade studies by applying a metric to assess how well different sensor, satellite, and constellation configurations can observe a mission's region of interest. The effectiveness of the studied components is then paramount in determining whether they are justified in the system architecture. Coverage computation becomes more difficult as sensor types and regions of interest (RoIs) deviate from simple shapes, and as problem formulations seek higher-fidelity results. These simplifications include: conical camera sensors, RoIs represented as simple, …

50,000 Spectra And Counting: Preparing For A Roman Spectral Atlas, Maya Jordan Seagraves

Master's Theses

Slitless spectroscopy with the Hubble Space Telescope's Wide Field Camera 3 \linebreak (WFC3/IR) enables simultaneous spectral coverage of all sources in a field, but large-scale single-orientation datasets remain challenging to process. We developed a pipeline that automates HSTaXe spectral extraction across hundreds of Hubble Space Telescope observations, enabling efficient processing of 84 fields and producing over 50,000 spectra from three filters (F110W, F125W, and F160W) and two grisms (G102 and G141). This was achieved by creating a companion Python package, the Module for Infrared Label Analysis (MILA), that integrates data calibration, extraction, and visualization. To assess the scientific utility of …

Dot Product Engine Based Neuromorphic Hardware For Continuous-Time Biomedical Signal Classification, Sanjeev Srinivasan

Master's Theses

Accurate diagnosis of pathological conditions from biomedical signals, such as electrocardiograms (ECGs) is often performed offline, making it time-consuming, costly, and inefficient, especially when abnormal patterns are rare and long-term monitoring generates large amounts of data. To address this, this work proposes a compact, scalable, and programmable neuromorphic system designed for real-time preliminary arrhythmia detection and classification using ECG signals, that can be extended to other biomedical signals. The proposed design processes ECG signals using a delta modulation-based spike encoder, followed by classification with a dot-product engine (DPE) based spiking neural network (SNN) processor and winner-take-all (WTA) circuit. The architecture …

Analyzing A Hot Player: A Holistic Approach To The Hot Hand, Faran Igani

Master's Theses

This paper develops a continuous-time, continuous-state framework for studying “hot hand” performance within NBA games. Rather than defining performance in terms of discrete shot outcomes or short streaks of makes and misses, it tracks a player’s contribution using John Hollinger’s Game Score continuously throughout the game. The Game Score metric aggregates multiple on-court contributions through weighted in-game statistics, evolving as play progresses. This approach allows for the construction of a single metric that indexes a player’s performance over the course of the game. To evaluate whether observed within- game surges reflect genuine “heat” rather than random variation, a simulation-based null …

`Youdrawitr`: Integrating Interactive Graphical Testing Into The `Ggplot2` Ecosystem, Alisa Krasilnikov

Master's Theses

`youdrawitR` is an R package inspired by the New York Times ‘You Draw It’ series, where readers are invited to sketch their own predictions before seeing the actual data. In a similar spirit, `youdrawitR` allows users to draw predicted values directly onto statistical graphics, creating a more engaging way to study how people interpret visual patterns. Earlier versions of the tool required knowledge of JavaScript D3 to extend or adapt the package, which created a barrier to entry for many statistical researchers. Further, the package was limited in scope, supporting only scatterplots. The redesigned `youdrawitR` builds on the familiar `ggplot2` …

Hot Hands Or Chance Happenings? A Simulation-Based Approach For Wnba Teams, Ruben Jimenez

Master's Theses

The hot hand is a polarizing topic in basketball analytics: fans, stakeholders, and even players themselves assert confidently their belief or disbelief in the idea that players who perform well will continue to do so over an extended period of time. Statistical research has been conducted since as early as 1985 to attempt to disprove or prove the existence of this phenomenon. More recent works have refuted the earliest objections to the hot hand’s existence, with conclusions aided by robust simulation techniques. In this work, we compare hypothesis tests using multiple simulation techniques to explore the hot hand at the …

Is The Hot Hand Real? Evidence From A Permutation And Hierarchical-Based Analysis, Cameron Z. An

Master's Theses

The hot-hand phenomenon, often described as the tendency for individuals to experience prolonged streaks of success that exceed what would be expected under random performance, has been widely studied across many disciplines, particularly basketball. Early studies attempted to evaluate this effect through various techniques, often concluding that the hot-hand phenomenon was largely a myth. However, recent studies have begun to revisit previous analyses using improved statistical techniques, with some claiming evidence of a discernible hot-hand effect. This study examines the presence of the hot-hand effect in the modern NBA by testing whether observed shooting patterns deviate from those simulated under …

Effects Of Hot Water Dipping And Sub-Zero Saline Chilling On The Microbial Safety Of Broiler Carcasses And Recycled Chilling Water, Elen Zhu

Master's Theses

Broiler meat became the most widely consumed meat within the United States and across the world in 2019. The trend of increasing broiler consumption is expected to continue due to affordability, health benefits, and production efficiency. To meet the growing demand of broilers, a substantial number of birds need to be produced and processed while minimizing bacteria contamination, water consumption and wastewater generation.

In this study, the microbial safety (mesophilic aerobic bacteria, coliforms, and Escherichia coli) of broiler carcasses and post-chill water (red water) was assessed, using innovative processing techniques and red water recycling. A total of 144 broilers …

Independent And Combined Effects Of Early-Life Iron Deficiency And Antibiotic Exposure On Growth And Hematological Outcomes In A Piglet Model, Ginger M. Fitzpatrick

Master's Theses

Iron deficiency (ID) affects over 2 billion individuals globally. Children under 5 are at increased risk of ID due to rapid growth and are especially vulnerable to its negative consequences because of iron’s essential role in cognitive development and immune maturation. ID is the leading cause of iron deficiency anemia (IDA), with IDA affecting approximately 40% of children in this age group. Antibiotic (abx) exposure is also prevalent during early life and may disrupt growth and through gut dysbiosis, with increasing use posing additional risk in younger populations. Geographically, there is overlap in regions with high anemia prevalence and those …

Effects Of Atomic Oxygen Exposure On Stressed Drag Sail Materials For Low Earth Orbit Applications, Nazanin Sadeghian Dezaki

Master's Theses

As low Earth orbit (LEO) has become an increasingly valuable region for satellite operations, it has grown increasingly congested. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) deorbit regulations require satellites to be deorbited within 5 years of launch, and drag sails represent a practical means of meeting this requirement. An important consideration for drag sail design is the effect of atomic oxygen (AO) on sail materials. To address the gap in the literature regarding the behavior of stressed drag sail materials under AO exposure, a new test plate was manufactured for the California Polytechnic State University minimum atmospheric experimentation (MAX) AO chamber. …

Computer Vision Methods For Detecting Counterfeit Usd Bills, Tyler W. Jones

Master's Theses

This thesis addresses the global challenge of counterfeit paper currency by proposing a classical computer vision framework for distinguishing genuine United States Dollar (USD) bills from counterfeit ones using image data. In contrast to existing approaches that rely on a large number of easily reproducible visual features, this work prioritizes the detection of a single, robust security feature: the ultraviolet (UV) reactive security strip embedded in genuine USD bills of denominations $5 and above. By focusing on a feature that is inherently difficult to replicate, the proposed method reduces the likelihood of counterfeit bills being misclassified as genuine.

The system …

Spaceotter: A Floating Spacecraft Simulator Air Bearing Vehicle For Hardware-In-The-Loop Experiments And Research, Alexander Debartolo

Master's Theses

Growing interest in nanosatellites has increased demand for accessible ground-testing methods, which have historically been expensive and restricted. Floating Spacecraft Simulators (FSS), built around Air Bearing Vehicles (ABVs), address this gap by approximating a zero-gravity, friction-minimized environment suitable for testing spacecraft control systems, robotics, and propulsion on the ground.

This thesis presents the design, realization, and initial performance characterization of the Space Optically Tracked Testbed for Experiments and Research (SpaceOTTER) ABV, developed for the Cal Poly Space Robotics Lab. SpaceOTTER is the first step toward emulating the 3 degree of freedom (3-DOF) planar dynamics of a simulated spacecraft and is …