Digital Commons Network^™

Development Of Ex-Situ Accelerated Chemical Stress Test Protocol For Common Anionic Exchange Membrane Chemistries, Michael D. Friend, Michael D. Friend

Master's Theses

The development of sustainably produced hydrogen fuel (“green hydrogen”) is key for the transition to clean energy sources. Green hydrogen is produced via water electrolysis. As with many clean energy sources, one of the major barriers for scaling water electrolysis is cost. A newer category of water electrolysis is Anionic Exchange Membrane (AEM) water electrolysis. AEM electrolysis systems have the potential to cost less as they do not require the expensive precious metal catalysts the current high preforming Proton Exchange Membrane water electrolysis technologies do. However, AEM lifetimes must be long enough to be cost competitive and AEM chemical durability …

Efficacy Of Immersive Virtual Reality Gameplay In Environmental Attitude Change: The Case Of Abandoned Offshore Oil Platforms In Santa Barbara, Arun Prasad Srinivasan Manoharan

Master's Theses

Public perception plays an important role in shaping conservation policies and decisions, especially in contested environmental spaces. Offshore oil platforms, historically viewed as environmental hazards, have been found to serve as marine habitats that support diverse marine life. However, public perception remains largely negative, influenced by concerns over pollution from past oil spill accidents. Traditional environmental education methods, such as lectures and documentaries, often fail to engage audiences effectively or shift entrenched opinions. This study explores the efficacy of immersive Virtual Reality (VR) gameplay in changing environmental attitudes, specifically in the context of abandoned offshore oil platforms in Santa Barbara, …

Performance Of Neural Networks On Fpga For Embedded Devices Using Hls4ml Framework, Alam N. Romo Lopez

Master's Theses

As machine learning models such as neural networks are investigated for their applications across many fields, the demand for models that can be implemented on an embedded device grows. Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) have become an attractive option for implementing these models in hardware. This thesis considers the viability of FPGA implementations for machine learning on low-resourced embedded systems. The hls4ml project is a promising prospect for machine learning on FPGA devices. To test hls4ml, we used a model trained on the MNIST digits dataset, which was then synthesized for the PYNQ-Z2 device. We fine tuned the performance by …

Yolot: A Recurrent Yolo Model For Robust Video-Based Automotive Object Detection, Dylan Jay Baxter

Master's Theses

Though incredibly effective at detecting objects in isolated frames, modern object detection models are often not designed to take advantage of information present in previous frames of a video stream, despite that data being readily avail- able. To address this shortcoming, this paper proposes YOLOT, a modification of the widely used YOLOv8 object detection model, which seeks to utilize this temporal information with the addition of recurrent structures. In the design of YOLOT, a series of recurrent convolutional modules were inserted at backbone and neck outputs and the final and most effective design was found to be the insertion of …

From Classroom To Career: My Digital Marketing Journey With Disney And Grc, Hailey Jones

Graphic Communication

This senior project highlights my work as a Digital Marketing Intern with The Walt Disney Company from June 2024 to January 2025. It features key projects and accomplishments that show the development of fundamental marketing and their applicability in the workplace. Besides, this project incentivizes students in Cal Poly on how co-op internships could be extremely advantageous. It touches on internships' benefits of having real-world experience coupled with the development of highly-wanted skills and networking. This project to be hosted on the Graphic Communication Department's website speaks about flexible options within the major and the competitive advantages offered by the …

Defining Inclusive Ux Design: Key Criteria And Industry Insights For Creating Equitable User Experiences, Layla M. Bakhshandeh

Graphic Communication

This study establishes key criteria for inclusivity in UX design to aid designers in creating more inclusive practices. Analyzing inclusivity guidelines from Adobe, Slack, Microsoft, and Google, the scope expanded to include the top ten UX-related companies, such as Apple and Amazon, to reduce bias. The identified criteria are community, diversity and representation, non-discrimination and equity, and adaptability. Interviews with professionals revealed limitations in terms of diversity and highlighted the need to address power and accessibility. The study also linked inclusive design to universal design principles, emphasizing error prevention and adaptability. The final criteria consist of Inclusion, Community, Communication, and …

Float Element Design, Bryn Lewis

Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies

I have spent the last three years as a Design team member of Cal Poly Rose Float, the last year as a Design Lead. As a member of the design team, I followed blueprints, bent pencil steel into shape, and welded those pieces together. I worked as part of a team, and eventually led my own small team. Cal Poly Rose Float teaches its members many skills and abilities. Not just bending and welding metal, but also teamwork and leadership skills. However, it doesn’t teach us everything. Every leadership member gives input on the overall theme and design of the …

Realistic Bionic Arm Development For Transradial Amputation, Bailey A. Wall, Lilly Noel Curdy, Ruthie Mccall, Courtney Mahoney, Andres Trejo

Biomedical Engineering

The VeraLimb realistic bionic arm is intended for use by individuals with a trans-radial amputation or congenital limb deficiency below the elbow to provide functional hand and arm movements. This advanced prosthetic device is designed to mimic a biological hand's natural motion, dexterity, control, and aesthetic, giving the user a higher sense of restored limb functionality. It offers an experience that closely restores motor function in a way that resembles having a natural hand rather than interacting with a mechanical device. The VeraLimb is suitable for daily activities, allowing users to grasp, manipulate, and interact with objects. It is designed …

Gather: Combating Food Insecurity With Accessible Solutions, Claudia Maldonado

Graphic Communication

t Throughout my college experience, I have met countless students struggling to maintain a healthy lifestyle, in large part because they do not have the resources to cook healthy meals, are on tight budgets, lack transportation, and simply do not have the time. Through my senior project, I aim to address the issue of food insecurity for college students by completely redesigning and prototyping a concept developed collaboratively with my team members, Callie Russo and Reilly Yuen, during the UX Fest SLO competition (Maldonado, Russo, & Yuen, 2024). This intuitive app, Gather, would link food-insecure college students' CalFresh profiles to …

Operating Room Forcing Function, Olivia Rankin, Makena Moragne, Sasha Rovinsky

Biomedical Engineering

The Operating Room Forcing Function system aims to address the persistent issue of wrong-site, wrong-procedure, and wrong-patient errors (WSPEs) in surgical settings. WSPEs are largely caused by circumvention of the timeout procedure (a planned pause before incision to stop and confirm crucial details of the procedure to be performed known as ‘The Universal Protocol’). The goal set forth by our sponsor, Dr. Robert Turbow, is to develop a lock-out mechanism that requires a timeout to be performed by all appropriate personnel before an operation can begin.

Hospitals are extremely complex systems with competing values, productivity pressures, fast paced work, tight-coupled …

The Suture Guide, Nicole Schnettler, Ciara Murphy, Jocelyn Corona Cabrera

Biomedical Engineering

In the surgical field and specifically wound closure, there is a growing demand for techniques that allow surgeons to quickly, accurately, and ergonomically close surgical wounds while still optimizing patient recovery and not compromising the cosmetic appearance in wound closure. Currently more advanced and developed products exist for laparoscopic suturing, but not for superficial suturing. This project aims to find a way to close the most superficial layer of the skin in surgical incisions that is faster and more comfortable than current suturing techniques. The design process began with stakeholder interviews and market research, identifying key shortcomings of current manual …

Space Crash, Tyler T. Le

Computer Science and Software Engineering

Space Crash is a game made using Unity Game Engine which utlizes a rollback netcode in order to handle online multiplayer. The purpose of such netcode is to predict user inputs accross the server in order to cause less delay between players who are playing through the network.

Vanlife Desalination, Emily Rhee, Tomas Franco, Marco Jimenez

Mechanical Engineering

Van life can be defined as the unconventional lifestyle of living in a car, van, or motor vehicle. Living in a motor vehicle allows for you to effectively live in whatever location you deem fit, and with that comes certain standards that need to be met; one being fresh potable water used for drinking, hygiene, and basic living. The scope of this project is to design a system that can effectively remove salt from seawater (desalinate) and can be integrated into a van that can be used for off-grid living.

In this project we worked to create a design that …

Development Of Planetary Drive System For Formula Sae Electric Race Car, Brian Wong, Bradley Maruoka, Joshua Charles Fine, Madison Kai

Mechanical Engineering

Hub motors are compact electric motors mounted directly on each outboard wheel hub. Utilized in Formula SAE and Formula Student vehicles, this configuration offers several advantages over traditional drivetrains, including packaging optimization within the chassis, vehicle traction, and improved efficiency. Although hub motors are not yet common in 4WD vehicles, they are being explored for use in EVs and may become more common in the future. Every year, Cal Poly Racing FSAE designs and builds a formula-style race car. To improve drivetrain performance, the team is investigating the achievability of a hub motor 4WD drivetrain, requiring extensive research, development, and …

Wind Turbine Rotor Test Stand, Ashlen Brooke Sperry, Cayley Mckee, Kristofer Lee Pascua, Francisco Medina

Mechanical Engineering

Dr. Lemieux and the mechanical engineering department at Cal Poly are renowned for the countless projects that allow students to be a part of hands-on learning and the “Learn by Doing” experience. One such experience is the wind energy class that requires students to design, build, and test wind turbine rotors; however, a test stand for these rotors is needed. Dr. Lemieux and the senior project team will design and build a test stand that will enable the simultaneous testing of two student-designed rotors at the existing wind turbine site. In addition to energy measurement, Lemieux emphasizes the importance of …

Modular Construction And Integrated Project Delivery: Cal Poly Slo’S Student Housing Expansion, Nikita Taktarov

Construction Management

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is addressing the increasing demand for on-campus housing through an innovative modular dormitory project. This project, which adds approximately 4,000 new beds, marks a shift from traditional construction methods to a more efficient and collaborative approach using the Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) model. Unlike traditional CSU contracts that place most of the risk on contractors, this model promotes shared responsibility between the university, architects, and builders, leading to better cost control and project efficiency. A key feature of this program is the use of prefabricated construction, where building components are assembled off-site and then transported …

An Analysis Of Factors Affecting Retention Of Skilled Trades Workers At Construction Companies, James R. Walsh

Construction Management

Construction trades are going through a difficult time in recruiting right now and have been for the past 5 to 10 years. More tradesmen and women from the baby boomer generation are retiring and the rate of replacement by younger people is not enough to keep the workforce at the numbers that would be ideal for a healthy construction industry. This paper delves into what companies can do to make work a place that employees want to be and aims to provide strategies companies can use to retain a quality workforce.

Pre-Vent Cpap Belly Device, Brandon D. Nguyen, Cameron A. Zipper, Eugina Lee

Biomedical Engineering

The CPAP Belly Pre-Vent device was developed to prevent stomach distension caused by Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) treatment in premature neonatal patients under 2 kg. CPAP therapy provides critical respiratory support but can lead to air accumulation in the stomach due to esophageal insufficiency. This accumulation, known as CPAP belly, can interfere with lung expansion and feeding efficiency. The goal of this project was to design, develop, and test a device that passively vents excess air from the stomach to alleviate these issues.

The main phases of the project consist of identifying customer requirements and translating them to engineering …

University Avenue Bike Plan, Emma Meyer

City and Regional Planning

The University Avenue Bike Plan provides recommendations for bicycle infrastructure along the 1.7-mile University Avenue corridor in Palo Alto, California. The plan includes background, existing conditions, community engagement, alternatives of conceptual designs, and implementation tools. The University Avenue Bike Plan builds on Palo Alto's Bike and Pedestrian Transportation Plan and informs the multiple University Avenue related projects and plans that are underway.

Urban Agriculture Technical Advisory, Katherine Rose Ivanjack, Kylie J. Preciado

City and Regional Planning

This project serves as a senior capstone, aimed at exploring the potential of urban agriculture to address critical challenges in sustainability, food security, and community development within California cities. This project highlights practical and innovative approaches to urban farming that can be adopted or adapted to suit the unique needs of urban areas across the state.

Drilled Displacement Columns As A Method To Mitigate San Francisco 'Bay Mud', Cole Soderman

Construction Management

This case study investigates the process of drilled displacement columns as a substitute for traditional pile foundations. The setting for the project is in California's infamous 'bay mud' which poses in the form of building settlement. The case study begins with a run down of what drilled displacement columns are compared to traditional pile foundations. To gain a diverse perspective several parties were interviewed on the process of drilled displacement columns. The interviewees include members of the general contractor's team, the subcontractor, and the Owner's Representative. The universal positives were time and materials which result in reducing the price for …

Type Qualifiers As Catalysts For Language Evolution, Jasper Kahn

Master's Theses

Mainstream programming languages continually evolve to make correct and perfor- mant programs authored in the language easier to write. Successful new languages often succeed by improving on these qualities over existing languages that have not evolved fast enough. Many improvements derive from research in Static Analysis, but there is often a significant lag between the research and features becoming available in mainstream languages. This thesis focuses on the theory of type qualifiers as a possible means of accelerating the adoption of research results into common usage. Type Qualifiers have a two-decade lineage of static analysis tools, with active research today, …

Introduction Of An Industial Construction Topics Course In The Cal Poly Cm Curriculum, Connor N. Merz

Construction Management

The industrial construction sector represents a significant portion of the construction industry, yet it remains underrepresented in many academic programs, including the Construction Management (CM) curriculum at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly). This research investigates the feasibility and interest in introducing a dedicated industrial construction elective course to bridge this gap. A student survey was conducted to assess interest levels and determine relevant topics for the course, while an industry interview provided professional insight into necessary competencies. Survey results indicated strong student interest, with 71% expressing a willingness to take the course. The study identified key topics such as …

Examining Construction-Phase Challenges In Mass Timber Projects: Insights From Industry Professionals, Cole Polly

Construction Management

Mass Timber has emerged as an innovative structural alternative in the construction industry, based on its sustainability advantages and comparable level of performance to traditional materials such as steel and concrete. This engineered wood, including Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT), Glue-Laminated Timber (glulam), and Nail-Laminated Timber (NLT) is characterized by its ability to scale up for large format projects and lower environmental impacts. However, there are practical challenges that happen during the construction phase of mass timber projects. This research aims to explore specific challenges that contractors, architects, and structural designers have encountered during their past or current experiences working with mass …

Cal Poly Gateway Decathlon: Cost Estimation And Planning For A Sustainable Mass Timber Home, George Stasinos

Construction Management

The Gateway Decathlon is an international collegiate competition that challenges university teams to design, build, estimate, and operate innovative and sustainable housing solutions. Cal Poly SLO’s entry to the competition is a mass timber single family home addressing sustainability, energy efficiency, and climate change issues in California. The research of this paper focuses on cost estimation and project planning concerning equipment and labor specifically. The aim is to create a feasible and accurate construction budget. While previous efforts have been conducted on this project, design changes and new scope additions require a comprehensive reassessment of the material, labor and equipment …

Optimizing Biofungicide Use In Managing Winegrape Powdery Mildew On The Central Coast Of California, Edgar G. Godoy Monterroso

Master's Theses

Grapevine powdery mildew caused by the fungal pathogen Erysiphe necator is a persistent threat to wine grape production in California. While synthetic fungicides remain the primary management strategy, increasing concerns over pesticide resistance, environmental impact, and regulatory restrictions have driven interest in biofungicides as a sustainable alternative. However, their efficacy is inconsistent, requiring research into optimized application strategies, integration with synthetic fungicides, and their effects on disease suppression, grape yield, and fruit quality.

This two-year study (2023–2024) was conducted at two vineyard sites, Trestle Vineyard in the San Luis Obispo Coast AVA and a commercial vineyard in the Arroyo Grande …

Risc-V Gpu Acceleration On Low-Cost Embedded Systems, Fadi M. Alzammar

Master's Theses

The Vortex project from Georgia Institute of Technology was created to provide an open-source hardware and software GPGPU research platform based on RISC-V. Skybox was introduced as an extension to Vortex to provide dedicated support for 3D graphics rendering acceleration as a complete GPU platform. This work presents contributions to the render output unit of Skybox, including the development of a blend unit, cache bypassing mechanisms, and performance monitoring metrics. With these, Skybox has succeeded in its goal of accelerating graphics rendering on RISC-V platforms. This work also establishes a foundation for adapting Vortex to low-cost embedded platforms such as …

Treating Ground Water For Agricultural And Individual Consumption, Gabby Miller, Bronson Scott, Michael Clawson

Biomedical Engineering

This project, conducted in collaboration with Cal Poly seniors and Da Vinci High School students, aims to develop a solar-powered groundwater purification system. This system is designed to provide clean water for agricultural use and individual consumption, addressing the growing concerns of groundwater contamination and accessibility needs. The final prototype integrates a gravity filtration system combined with chemical purification, utilizing aluminum sulfate and chlorine to remove particulates, bacteria, and organic compounds.

The research phase involved an extensive review of groundwater contamination issues, existing filtration technologies, and market analysis. Key design constraints included cost-effectiveness, ease of maintenance, and minimal energy consumption, …

Tiny Temp Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Infant Temperature Monitor, Alexandria Lukacsffi, Sydney Dedrick

Biomedical Engineering

This document outlines the key steps taken in the specification, design, and functionality of the Tiny Temp Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Infant Temperature Monitor. The BICEP team identified temperature monitors for infants in incubators in the NICU as an area of need after surveying hospitals in the San Luis Obispo area. Current thermometers are oversimplified in design, consisting of only the temperature probe and a piece of adhesive holding the probe directly onto the infant's skin. As a result, the adhesive is weak to prevent harm to the infant and, therefore, falls off the infant easily and frequently, posing a …

Peripheral Vagus Nerve Stimulation (Pvns) Device For Epilepsy, Logan P. Beckstrand, Alexander P. Crary, Grace E. Heller

Biomedical Engineering

Our research team developed a PVNS for Epilepsy device which is intended to act as a preventative measure against seizures for patients with epilepsy. The device is a less invasive alternative to the VNS device on the market using electroacupuncture at the Shenmen and Xin points along the posterior pinna to stimulate the vagus nerve.